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schnapper · **Posted:** Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:03 am

Hello all.
I have two Indian blues, a cock and a hen. I have only had the cock for a few weeks and the hen for a few days.
They live in a large pen (8m x 8m x 2m high) with three ducks and two geese.
One of the geese is laying but not the ducks (apparently they never have though I am certain 2 of them are girls).
When I first put my hen in the yard she was very pleased to see my boy and pretty much stalked him for the first half hour. He was very intimidated and pretty much ran away from her.
Since then however he has overcome his shyness and is displaying regularly.
A couple of questions...
I noticed the Indian Runners bullying my boy this morning (chasing and biting him), but then an hour later he was jumping on them and pecking them in the back of the head.
Is this a pecking order thing that is best left to run its course or is it fun and games with a little randiness thrown in?
With breeding season upon us should I find somewhere else to house the waterfowl for the time being?
With my peafowl being so new will they still mate?
The hen appears fully grown though is "young". I don't know her exact age. At what age will she be ready to mate?
Also, I have seen other posts mentioning using drums for nests. My goose has built her own nest in the long grass and I have been told that is sufficient for her. What style of box or nest would be best for my peahen? If I raise it of the ground slightly it should discourage the ducks from getting into it. Is that a good idea? Is it possible to artificially incubate peafowl eggs instead?
Any tips or suggestions would be much appreciated.
:?:

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

Hi schnapper, we would recommend that during the Breeding season you house the Waterfowl somewhere else, just to play it safe as it could get serious. If your Peacock is displaying and he is of age i.e. 2+ years then he will mate with her given the chance. Peahens will cycle in the second year but usually lay full rounds in the third year. You can use Drums for nests or an "A" framed tin (that is a sheet of iron bent in half) Many Peahens will prefer to use a pit (hole in the ground) with some lining. Some Peahens will use elevated nesting sites and some won't it will depend on the hen. You can use an Incubator to hatch Peafowl eggs, in fact that is our preferred method, you can also use Chooks such as Bantams, and they will happily sit on 3-4 eggs.

Thanks
Peacocks Australia :lol:

schnapper · **Posted:** Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:07 pm

Thanks for your help.
I currently have two broody chooks so the chances of one of my other three being broody when I need it is pretty slim. Shame, because that would probably be the preferred option as I don't have many options with rehousing the other birds.
It's quite possible the peahen I have is under 2 years though so I will consider getting an additional hen if the opportunity presents itself.
The general consensus seems to be that a trio is best anyway.
I like the idea of a white one.....what happens when you breed a blue with a white?

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

Hi Schnapper, India Blue to White = all India Blue split to White. These birds will show white feathers in the flights and/or throat. A trio is the best option just watch the Peahens in the breeding season, they can be a little protective of their nest site.

Thanks
Peacocks Australia :lol:

schnapper · **Posted:** Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:07 pm

Me again... :roll:

Today I found an egg in the peacock/goose/duck shelter that I can't identify.
It is definitely not a goose egg (I have a number of them already) but as my Indian Runner and Khaki Campbell have never layed previously I don't know what their eggs look like. I have seen duck eggs before and I would have to say this egg is of a similar size (possibly a tiny bit bigger) though is not tinted or coloured, but rather an almost translucent white. At first I thought it might be a "soft" egg as the shell seems almost see through. It is quite solid to the touch though. :-?

I have placed it under my sitting goose (though it was quite cold to the touch already when I found it).
Is it a duck or a peacock egg?
Should I just put it back where I found it in the hope that the "owner" is encouraged to lay more and start a clutch?

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

Schnapper, sounds like a Peahen eggs, also sounds like her first one, usually the first egg or two will have poor shell I.E. insufficient shell density and they rarely hatch. Peahens will continue to lay regardless whether you take them away or not.

Thanks
Peacocks Australia :lol:

schnapper · **Posted:** Mon Sep 24, 2007 1:32 pm

How exciting. :-D

Now for the spooky part!
I had to move my goose in order to place an A Frame shelter over her "nest". I didn't like how exposed she was....
The Peahen egg was gone!!!! :!:

However, what appears to be an identical (if not the same) egg is back where I found the first one, some 6 metres away :!:

Is it possible the peahen retrieved her egg? Quite a good effort if she did!

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

Schnapper, it's unlikely to be the same egg, the first egg was probably broken due to poor shell density. Peahens lay every second day and usually in the same area, a shallow hole in the ground.

Thanks
Peacocks Australia :lol:

schnapper · **Posted:** Mon Sep 24, 2007 2:01 pm

I couldn't find any sign of a broken egg, hence the confusion... :oops:

I have removed the new egg. Can I "store" it like I do with chicken eggs. My two broody chooks only have a couple weeks till hatching so I can't put it under them, the goose is obviously too heavy and my incubator is currently occupied.
It also has a fairly opaque shell though again it seems solid to the touch.
Would I be better off waiting for "better" eggs.
As she is young, does the fact she is laying signify she is now of "child bearing" age? Also, I haven't seen her get all that friendly with my boy yet (not that I've been perving mind you). They are both new, he's been here about 5 weeks, her about 2!
If I leave the eggs where they are, and she doesn't sit on them for a while (till she has a proper clutch) will they lose fertility as the nights here are definitely in the single figures temperature wise?
I would love to get some chicks this season but don't want to waste my time and have my hopes crushed.

Thanks again for the help.

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

Hi Schnapper, Yes you can store them the same as a Chicken egg, (don't forget to turn them each day) but after 10 days they are unlikely to develop. Yes if a Peahen lays it means she has commenced her cycle, don't worry if you don't see them mate, most people don't. Cold temp has little affect on eggs, if they have not been incubated, but direct sunlight & heat will. We would recommend you wait for better quality eggs, if the shell does not improve them the hen has a calcium deficiency, do you feed them shell grit/calcium supplement? And did the previous owner feed them grit/calcium supplement?

Thanks
Peacocks Australia :lol:

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