I started a thread about 3-4 months ago, trying to capture all the new discoveries I found with peafowl, since I had never raised any before.
It's obvious to most on this site, but raising peafowl is a LOT DIFFERENT than raising chickens. Being new at this, I thought I might add a few thoughts that most of the "How-to" permanent posts on peafowl for beginners DON'T include.
For one:
NEVER, EVER, try to catch peafowl by a leg, or even two legs, like you might do with a chicken. If you do this to a chicken, they might flap their wings trying to get away for only a short while, but doing this to a peafowl sends them into a violent struggle. I did this once, and quickly released my grip. I truly feared the bird might break its leg struggling to escape. Pea leg bones feel so much more spindley and longer than chicken legs, I worried I might injure him.
The way I catch my boy, if without a net, is try to corner him in the pen and come down slowly on him & gently from above, grasp his wings against his body. Peafowl, like their pheasant cousins like to fly straight up, even if you're over them. They will fly straight into your face.
My 70 yr old neighbor who got peas, but didn't do his research first, actually broke his bird's leg trying to catch him. The bird had to be put down. Had my neighbor known otherwise (he's a veteran backyard chicken raiser). Which is why I'm posting this.
I've only been keeping peas since August. I know nothing basically, but I hope anyone lurking here and reading will do their research before getting birds.
HERE'S ANOTHER:
Peas, at least mine anyway, will void their bowels fast and hard when stressed, for any reason. It's a natural thing with most organisms on our planet. Pea poo has got to be the stinkiest, messiest, stickiest poo around, save for pig poo. And human, LOL.
Don't wear your favorite blouse, shirt or jacket when trying to catch peas. Yes, I discovered this. Just passing this along.
PEAS ARE FUN:
I believe as little handling of my birds as possible is necessary for their feather development. Start stroking them, catching them a lot and petting them and I find this breaks their feathers often. Mine are eye candy, rather than pets. I think of them like pets, but they don't think of me as their owner. I feel more like their zookeeper.
Anyone else have any beginner thoughts, not covered in the other literature?
It's obvious to most on this site, but raising peafowl is a LOT DIFFERENT than raising chickens. Being new at this, I thought I might add a few thoughts that most of the "How-to" permanent posts on peafowl for beginners DON'T include.
For one:
NEVER, EVER, try to catch peafowl by a leg, or even two legs, like you might do with a chicken. If you do this to a chicken, they might flap their wings trying to get away for only a short while, but doing this to a peafowl sends them into a violent struggle. I did this once, and quickly released my grip. I truly feared the bird might break its leg struggling to escape. Pea leg bones feel so much more spindley and longer than chicken legs, I worried I might injure him.
The way I catch my boy, if without a net, is try to corner him in the pen and come down slowly on him & gently from above, grasp his wings against his body. Peafowl, like their pheasant cousins like to fly straight up, even if you're over them. They will fly straight into your face.
My 70 yr old neighbor who got peas, but didn't do his research first, actually broke his bird's leg trying to catch him. The bird had to be put down. Had my neighbor known otherwise (he's a veteran backyard chicken raiser). Which is why I'm posting this.
I've only been keeping peas since August. I know nothing basically, but I hope anyone lurking here and reading will do their research before getting birds.
HERE'S ANOTHER:
Peas, at least mine anyway, will void their bowels fast and hard when stressed, for any reason. It's a natural thing with most organisms on our planet. Pea poo has got to be the stinkiest, messiest, stickiest poo around, save for pig poo. And human, LOL.
Don't wear your favorite blouse, shirt or jacket when trying to catch peas. Yes, I discovered this. Just passing this along.
PEAS ARE FUN:
I believe as little handling of my birds as possible is necessary for their feather development. Start stroking them, catching them a lot and petting them and I find this breaks their feathers often. Mine are eye candy, rather than pets. I think of them like pets, but they don't think of me as their owner. I feel more like their zookeeper.
Anyone else have any beginner thoughts, not covered in the other literature?
