AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

Hi! My peas are about 4 weeks old and boy are they getting large fast! I have 2. They are still in quarantine...also known as the kitchen. They have been on turkey starter plus a mealy worm now and then. Can I start adding to their diet or should I be changing it? I read something about Gain mix but am not sure what that is. I am hoping eventually to have them free range in the day and sleep in the bird house and/or outdoor secure pen at night with the chickens and guineas. I was told they should be kept separate from other adult birds for 5 or 6 months so I am trying to plan separate housing....they are getting a little large for the kitchen already! Would they be better off with their own indoor/outdoor pen even after the 5 months? I have 17 guineas now (5 babies) and 11 chickens. I am just not sure how to proceed. I read the link you sent with all the possible health issues and now I'm afraid to do anything. Also, what book would you recommend? I have 2, The Wacky World of Peafowl and Living with Peacocks...both nice books but the information is a little general. Also at what age do they start roosting at night? I have a stick in their day cage but thus far have been putting them in their baby box at night mainly because they have gotten used to it and the routine...they quiet right down. I don't want to overthink things but also want to do what's best for them....they are sooooo interesting and they are getting tiny little feathers sticking off the tops of their little heads! I love the peas. Thanks!
Gay from Virginia, USA

Hi yag113, This Article should help.

Incubator Hatched Chicks.
All Incubated chicks stay in the Incubator for 36 hours after hatching, they are then moved into "Brooder Boxes" as a group. Our brooder boxes are located in the "Brooder shed" which we believe is very important for Peachicks, the boxes have 50% fully enclosed shelters with one or two heater lights (75w) in each shelter. These heater lights stay ON for the first 2 weeks 24/7, then they are put on timer to come on 5.00pm, off 8.00am(subject to weather) The floor of the "Brooder boxes" is completely covered with "Turkey Starter" we also have 4 auto feed hoppers filled with "Turkey Starter" in each box. We ONLY feed "Turkey Starter" for the first 6 -8 weeks depending on growth rate. After 8 weeks we slowly begin weaning with onto a coarse grain mix, 25% at a time over 4 weeks keeping a close eye on them to make sure they are ALL feeding well. We strongly recommend you do not feed the Peachicks foods that can contain Bacteria, such as kitchen scraps. Fresh water is given twice a day without fail, this is very important as their immune system is yet to fully develop. The Peachicks will stay in the "Brooder Boxes" for a minimum 10 weeks usually longer. We then move the chicks to our "Juvenile Pens" (subject to weather) these are one third the size of our normal pens (including height) and have 50% shelters, with 6 inches of wood shavings in each. We do not mix Peachick batches, this means Batch no1 will go in "Juvenile Pen" no1, Batch no2 will go in "Juvenile Pen" no2 and so on.. The Peachicks will have NO contact with any Adult birds, especially Peafowl, Chickens, Guinea Fowl ect... they stay in the "Juvenile Pens" for 5-6 months minimum and are vaccinated (usually at 3 months of age) within that time.


Hen Hatched Chicks:
We do not allow Peahens to Incubate or raise chicks, we will and do use Chickens (Including Pekin Bantams) but under strict conditions, all our "Peafosters" as we call them are kept away from all other birds especially Poultry, they are penned away from all other Chickens and at no time in or out of the breeding season will they come in contact with other Poultry. They are not allowed to free range at any time, and are kept on a strict diet and like all our birds they are vaccinated with Baytril, Emtryl, and wormed, but they are given one additional dose prior to incubation of Peafowl eggs. All "Peafosters" are set in our "Brooder Boxes" in our "Brooder Shed" and are treated the same as Incubated Chicks including heater lights where needed.


Important points:
Peachicks are very susceptible to a couple of diseases and must be treated like a new born human baby (sterile conditions) "Turkey Starter" will help build their immune system and vaccinate them. They should NOT have ANY contact with Adult birds, particularly Peafowl, Chooks, Turkeys (excluding the foster bird of course) this is one of the most important points and will help to insure your Peachicks stay strong, healthy & disease free. Peachicks are most susceptible from age 0 - 20 weeks so it's important to give them the best start in life. Over the years we have developed these procedures (above) which in turn has improved our success rate to 90%. (including Hatching) We cannot emphasize enough that a good breeding plan is accentual to breeding success regardless of what you are breeding and remember "Prevention is better than cure". Peachicks MUST have heat for at least the first 6 weeks, they are very happy in 35c and need the heat to aid growth and mobility. If you have more than one batch of Peachicks, you should wash your hands from brooder to brooder and anything in one brooder should never go in the other, including Chicks. Do not mix Peachick batches, do not allow them to have contact with each other or any birds. Do not introduce a juvenile bird to the flock until they are at least 5 months old (6 or more is better)



The above is a Guide only.

Article by Peacocks Australia / January 2006


Thanks
P.A

Thanks Peacocks ,That is a Brilliant Guide