Amorous Peacock !

[msmolly]

Hi Peafowl friends- I'm back! My four Peachicks all survived dispite non-stop rain this summer- and the health scare that Kathy got me through! Thank you Kathy

. They have all since gone off to there forever homes, so things are back to "normal" around here...sort of.
My problem now, is that my Peacock "Blue" (5 years old) has become obnoxiously amorous and vocal. Normally he is a true gentleman.
He free ranges with my chickens and the one Peahen I have left, takes care of them, and is a sweet and gentle pet to us humans.
Suddenly, he is screaming non-stop, chasing the chickens, pecking and jumping on them and this has been going on for two weeks! He will actually be running full out... and panting, while chasing one of my hens. I keep having to catch him and lock him in the pen, to give the chickens some peace. He is also fanning his tail non stop- and I think he's got eyes for my mini van!
Whats up with him??? Do they have salt peter for birds? Any suggestions?? Thanks, Molly

 

[zazouse]

It is the way of the Peacock, i also hated it for 3 months and now all is back to normal except he will not yet take a treat from my hand like he use to, course i stepped on his shedding tail a few times to get more train feathers so i could sell them

I learned once that hump on the top of his neck went away for good he was done with breeding and he returned to normal.
I hate breeding season, wished i could fix all my boys, i don't like the change in them, they act like they don't know me


Please post photos of your survivors in the show off your peas section when ya can.

 

[msmolly]

Thanks Zaz, I guess he wasn't old enough till now, to show this truly obnoxious side. He's still sweet to me, but I've read from other threads that they can start attacking us? I hope not- he's my boy! Interesting about the neck hump- I have noticed that recently and wondered about it. My other males in the past never lived with me this long- One got hit by a car and one had to go to another home as we were moving )-: so I'm realizing he's my first 5 year old male. Would another female help or no? I used to have 2 females, but my 9 year old hen died early spring- so i'm down to just one peahen. He's more interested in the chickens though....perv! Are your's shedding tail feathers already? Is that also the timing of the "settle-down" phase? Molly

 

[zazouse]

Just stay out of the area he is fanning, he has claimed that as his mating area.
My boy probly woulda jumped me had i not gave him plenty a space, i watched how he was when other birds were treated when they got near him. so like them i gave him his space, course mine are not penned so it will be different for other folks.

i got 20 imprented wee peas and they are the ones that concern me, some will be for sale. but i wanted to keep 1

 

[Joe.G]

Isn't breeding season ending up north? I know My Males have no Train feathers left, no more calling and the lump on there necks are gone.

 

[msmolly]

Isn't breeding season ending up north? I know My Males have no Train feathers left, no more calling and the lump on there necks are gone.

Here in Ohio- My male is still in full train, still has a neck lump, but has suddenly quieted down- so I'm thinking the tail will start dropping soon. Its interesting though- he has been coming in at night recently and roosting in the hen house with the chickens- which he usually doesn't choose to do until winter. The hen house has a timer on the lights to extend the daylight hours for laying.
Sooo.... I'm wondering if the lights are causing Blue to hold on to his tail longer?.... Can't be the temps- because we've been having cool 70 degree days- more like Fall weather lately. Do you think its the lights? Molly

 

[msmolly]

Just stay out of the area he is fanning, he has claimed that as his mating area.
My boy probly woulda jumped me had i not gave him plenty a space, i watched how he was when other birds were treated when they got near him. so like them i gave him his space, course mine are not penned so it will be different for other folks.

i got 20 imprented wee peas and they are the ones that concern me, some will be for sale. but i wanted to keep

I'm happy to say, the even while fanning, Blue is still very kind to us. I can even stroke his tail- which I have to do- to move him out of the way of the car. Like I said- he has eyes for my mini-van
and is always right behind it, strutting his stuff. He and the my peahen still eat out of my hand and come to my call. I wonder if his complacency is due to the fact that he is the the only male bird on the property- so doesn't need to be competitive? I have noticed though, that he won't eat any food in front of the hens (chicken or peafowl) during this breeding, strutt-mode. If he's fanning for the van or other inanimate objects, and the hens aren't around- he will actually take treats off the ground while fanning! He was not imprinted either- he was raised in a barn with lots of Peafowl, and not free-ranged or given individual attention until I got him at 2 years old. As far as animal behavior goes- I'm more surprised than anyone at how well this bird has worked out. Always learning some thing new from them.