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Let me introduce you to Larry, the peacock. He's a young guy still looking for the “right” peahen. But as you can see, he already has the makings to be a beautiful piece of living lawn art. He belongs to one our local Dgers and has been a continuing source of amazement and enjoyment to all of us reading the thread for some time. And he is the inspiration for this article.
Peacocks are members of the pheasant family. The word peacock actually refers to the male bird, while females are peahens, and the young are peachicks. A group of these together is referred to as a bevy
There are but two naturally occuring peacock species, the Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus from India, often called Blue peafowl and the Green peafowl Pavo muticus which lives farther east in Burma, Thailand, Indo China, Malaya and Java. The latter peafowl has three subspecies: Spicifer in Western Burma, a duller, bluer race; Imperator in Eastern Burma, Thailand and Indo China, much brighter wid greener: and muticus in Java, which is still more brilliant. The last two are usually kept in America at present, and probably mixed, but for practical purposes they are just the same, the differences being noticeable only on close examination. There are many mutations and breeds that have been developed and are commonly available from peacock breeders.
The India Blue Peacock is commonly kept and bred in captivity by people across America and around the world. They are not expensive and thousands of them are bought and sold each year. They are hearty and easy to keep, even in cold districts. The Green species is not bred as often as the India Blue and is therefore more expensive. You can see that the tail of the green peacock is exceptionally beautiful! The Green is more susceptible to cold and needs to receive adequate protection from the cold. Peafowl can be quite sociable and often display their feathers right in front of you in the springtime. Many also live and breed in parks and gardens. The male peacock in the spring not only displays his gorgeous tail feathers, but also utters its famous call which is always a delight to hear!
While the peacock is a wild bird by nature, they have been domesticated in many countries. The raising of these beautiful birds can be both a time consuming and worthy hobby. One of the first things that a new owner of peacocks and peahens will learn is that they can and do become stressed. These grand birds like peace and harmony. They need a lot of room to move around in to be happy. Many zoos have them walking around quite tamely, getting plenty of attention from everyone for their gorgeous colors and attitude.
When many people think of a peacock, the first thing that comes to mind is the beautiful colors of this bird's feathers. Blue, green, gold, and the appearance of what looks like an eye, right in the center of some of the feathers, are the trademarks of this bird. They also have a crest, or crown, on top their head, making them appear even more regal than they already do. The peacocks beak is on average an inch long in a full-grown bird. Reaching heights of over three feet, an adult peacock's ‘train' of tail feathers can be sixty inches in length. A peacock does not come into this full glory of feathers until he is about three years old. For centuries, the peacock's feathers have been used to adorn clothing and people themselves. And Peacock feathers are popularly used in unique crafts and decorations.
Where can you raise peacocks? Just about anywhere, as long as you provide them with adequate shelter from extreme temperatures. Their feet are the one area of concern for those that raise them where the temperatures can be quite cold. Make sure that they do not get wet, then frozen, feet. Make sure that your birds are kept out of the wind, given ample straw or other safe material for their bedding, along with proper food and water, and you will be able to raise them even in a colder climate. Peacocks and peahens also should be provided with sturdy perches. A peacock can have a wingspan of up to six feet, so make sure that this is taken into consideration when building a pen and perches. Peacocks need, and will use, all the stretching room you can offer them.
What do peacocks eat? They can be fed game-bird feed , along with cracked corn. Wheat can also be added to their diet. Peacocks will also eat just about anything they can get their beaks into, so be sure that garbage and debris such as paper is not left in their reach. Larry did in fact eat the screen off the patio door. They have been known to eat the cat's food and the dog's food also, and while it doesn't do them any harm, it is not recommend it. If you are able to give them access to your yard at times in the summer, they will also eat grubs and green grass and love you for it in return! Watch your flowers though, as they will mow down a whole garden full in a very short time. Peacocks seem to be drawn to light colors also, especially white, so keep this in mind if you give them access to your yard or other open area.
Hatching new chicks can be done either the natural way, letting the peahen sit on her nest of eggs, or by putting them in an incubator. If you choose the second, the incubation period is 28 days, and you should keep the temperature a steady, (very steady!) 99.5 degrees. A peahen may lay eggs only once a year, or several times a year. I believe this has a lot to do with her stress factor. A happy peahen will lay more eggs, more often, while a stressed peahen may not lay any eggs at all, or just one or two only once. Keep noise and activity to a minimum around your pen if you are trying to have your peahens hatch the eggs too. A peahen will abandon a nest if she feels that too much commotion is going on.
If you choose to raise some of these fascinating birds, you will have some work ahead of you, but you will not regret it!
Credits: Pictures and information about Larry from jeri11, thanks for sharing. Additional information about peafowl provided courtesy of the gamebird.com
About Catherine Smith
Hubby and I have been doing Organic Gardening off and on for over 25 years. Just finishing the Virginia Master Gardening classes at the end of Nov 07. I love talking and teaching gardening to anybody that will listen.
Posted by Sheronjo (from Franklin, TX) on March 17, 2008 at 1:00 PM:
Our neighbor had a lovely, blue peacock named Henry. He was a joy to watch and he was always welcome in our yard. However, he began to attack me. It became so un-nerving, I would take a broom with me when I walked to the mail box. I consulted a professor at Texas A&M and his opinion was that because Henry had no mate, he considered me a rival and was vetting his frustration on me.
With their talons and beak, they can do some damage so be aware.
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Subject: Gorgeous but very messy...
Posted by Connie_W (from Austin, TX) on March 12, 2008 at 11:49 PM:
I lived in a gated neighborhood about 5 years ago on Lake Austin that had a colony of peacocks and peahens, and all but one family who had NO patio/deck wanted to get rid of them! They leave huge piles (about triple the size of a chicken's!!) of excrement everywhere! Perhaps they can be trained to "do their business" elsewhere?
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Posted by doccat5 (from Fredericksburg, VA) on March 12, 2008 at 11:54 PM:
I don't know, but that's an interesting and critical question. I'll see what I can find out. Hmm, I wonder about peacock do for compost? I'll talk to Larry's mom about that one.
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Posted by Connie_W (from Austin, TX) on March 14, 2008 at 12:16 AM:
Well, if you wanted to use the "doo" for compost, it would be difficult, to harvest, as it's the same consistency of a chicken's...you would have to scrape it up....you don't get a nice little "turd" like most animals! :-) That's why we didn't like them....the "doo" was too hard to clean up unless you mopped it up!
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Posted by bivbiv (from Central FL, FL) on March 14, 2008 at 12:26 PM:
Connie, that's interesting to hear since our neighborhood peacocks leave very solid sausage-shaped, "calling cards" on our front porch. I'm always chasing them out of our yard because I don't want to step in their mess. It sounds as if their diet might account for this distinct difference.
There is a flock of at least six peacocks in this neighborhood, and--beautiful though they are--we consider them pests. They've damaged tiles on our roof, and I discovered they're not just partial to white flowers: They love my red pentas. My neighbor shot bb's at them because they ate all his lettuce. That doesn't pierce their skin (he doesn't want really to hurt them), but he thought it might scare them away. However, they're not like Pavlov's dogs; it took three or four encounters before they stayed away.
Maybe I'd be more willing to put up with their mess, their ugly squawking, and their appetite for my plants if they'd at least shed a pretty iridescent feather or two in my yard. But no, I've never found a single one!
Sorry, but I really wish these pieces of living art would move to someone else's neighborhood.
This message was edited Mar 14, 2008 12:47 PM
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Posted by Connie_W (from Austin, TX) on March 14, 2008 at 7:31 PM:
Wow...that's strange! I thought that "our" peacocks' runny doo was normal because they are from the chicken family (tell me if I'm wrong, someone!) and we all know about chickens' doo. :=) Well, we lived at the peacock compound for about 2 years and "ours" (no thanks!) always did the "run" so maybe it does have something to do with their diet.
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Subject: Wonderful pictures and great article
Posted by slcdms (from Ripley, MS) on March 12, 2008 at 6:17 PM:
Thanks for the great article about these birds. We have enjoyed watching Larry grow up.
Those are some good pictures of him too.
Sandra
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Subject: Among My Favorite Birds
Posted by MistyPetals (from North Augusta, SC) on March 12, 2008 at 6:06 PM:
I appreciate this article, I have always found this bird both beautiful and unique. And, as living lawn art, what a special spectacular specimen.
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Subject: Loved that title!
Posted by McGlory (from Southeast, NE) on March 12, 2008 at 12:26 PM:
Living Lawn Art, huh? That's great! I won't be raising any peacocks, but I so enjoy admiring them. Good job! :-)
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Posted by doccat5 (from Fredericksburg, VA) on March 12, 2008 at 12:28 PM:
Thanks, :) Larry is just sooooooooooooooo Mr. Cool! And he's still a baby peacock!
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Posted by TamaraFaye (from Fritch, TX) on March 12, 2008 at 2:50 PM:
oh, i can't wait to talk my DH into getting some. a friend will be hatching some out this year. the neighbor who doesn't like chcikens ain't gonna like these either LOL. but all the other neighbors enjoy driving by and seeing our free range chickens, it feels so "farmy". so i think everyone will have to drive slower down our road to gape at our Lawn Art. think i'll have to get a pair, name one Lawn, the other Art...
thanks for a wonderful article!
tf
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Posted by soapwort243 (from South Milwaukee, WI) on March 12, 2008 at 5:16 PM:
I would LOVE to have one in my yard, but couldn't where I live. I like to visit a garden center, where there is a couple of them, freely walking around. They're just gorgeous and they'll let you walk right up next to them!
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Posted by jeri11 (from Central, LA) on March 12, 2008 at 5:47 PM:
I loved it!!! Thanks so much!!! I printed it and read the entire article to Larry and he just strutted!!! I think he was pleased too!!!!
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Posted by TamaraFaye (from Fritch, TX) on March 12, 2008 at 8:20 PM:
maybe with all this fame he will find the peahen of his dreams...
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Posted by jeri11 (from Central, LA) on March 12, 2008 at 9:08 PM:
Larry is peahen deprieved due to my DH said no more animals and there are new cats dumped here everyday!!! LOL!!! He can always dream!!!
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Posted by TamaraFaye (from Fritch, TX) on March 12, 2008 at 10:32 PM:
;-)
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Posted by picabo (from Nashville, TN) on March 13, 2008 at 10:10 AM:
