Breeding questions

broken bird · **Joined:** Sun Nov 05, 2006 7:34 pm **Posts:** 125

I have two general questions about breeding:

I have fair size runs for my breeding birds, big enough for the boys to display with out running into a wall and high enough the allow them to perch.

The first question I have is: is it better to have a pair or a trio in the breeding pens?

I have enough pens to have all birds in a large run.

The second question: are old 200 litre drum good enough as a breeding nest, or would something else be better?

Very new at this, so asking advice.

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi Broken Bird, A trio is a better option for breeding but you may find the in some cases the Peahens will bicker in the breeding season so keep an eye on them. We have not used Drums for hens to lay in but see no reason why you couldn't. Some breeders use a sheet of corrugated iron bent up like a tepee and this seems to work.

Thanks
Peacocks Australia :lol:

Pam Jackass · **Joined:** Sat Jun 18, 2005 7:21 pm **Posts:** 284

Hi BB. AS you have seen from our place they like to choose their spots. They seem to like a high wall behind them or something similar eg our woodpile. Hubby is going to build cubicles in our aviary of black weed mat in the hope that at least some of them think to nest in there... we will just leave the cage door open, and leave it to them. It is privacy that they seem to go for. We had a bit of trouble with 2 year old Blanche dominating one year old Bianca so we had to put food out in a few places as she would always chase the younger bird away. I bet you are getting excited about the coming nesting season. We are. Pam

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi pam, just a word of caution when using weed mat, make sure you roll the edges to prevent fraying. Weed mat is a woven material that easily frays and can wrap around the legs of Peafowl.

Look forward to some Photos when you finish.

Thanks
Peacocks Australia :lol:

Jeff Trescott · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:18 pm

Now he tells me, just kidding we had a Guinea fowl caught up in it what a mess, took me half a hour to cut it off both legs, she is ok but. It was very stressing to get it off, the wife was in tears.
we took it all down.

Jeff

Jeff Trescott · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:40 pm

Hello I am Jeff's wife Beverly, the truth is Jeff was just as upset as I was, Spottie was wraped up tight in the black string and I thought she was going to die. The string had cut into her legs and she was crying out it was horrible. I put some savlon cream on her legs and that helped. Bev

Hello Brett & Peter

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi Bev, It is totally understandable that you would both be upset, none of us like to see our birds suffer, if we loose a bird here it affects everyone.

Thanks
Peacocks Australia :lol:

Jeff Trescott · **Posted:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 9:03 am

She's fine now the legs healed so fast i was supprised, by the way i didn't name the bird that was the wife.

Jeff

Jeff Trescott · **Posted:** Sun Jul 29, 2007 9:07 am

pam
the wife loved the names of your birds she named one of our Muscovies Blanche, which part of aust are you?

Jeff

Pam Jackass · **Joined:** Sat Jun 18, 2005 7:21 pm **Posts:** 284

Hi Jeff. NE Vic. We used to have Blanche and Bob as in Hawke, but Bob died and we sold Blanche, so when we got white ones I started the white theme. So we have Blanche and Bianca and I think our latest white girl will be Vanilla Creme, as that is our favourite dessert. The boy is Lord Snowtime after a coloured Standardbred horse. Janb gave me the idea with her Lord Snowden, the best name ever I reckon. Everybody can rest easy as we didn't use weedmat for the nests. Al did them today and we hessian for the cubicles with no edges. He has also fixed up all our last year's nesting cubicles in and under the woolshed and under the tank. I bet with all those great safe sites they all go and find another place!!! They are already checking out the scenes. Hopefully we will be a bit better prepared this year but Murphy's Law and all that!!!Cheers, Pam

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