Anybody missing a peacock? (Ventura County)

[tom e]

I know this is a longshot, but I figure the peafowl world is actually pretty small and so I'm posting in the hopes that they might be on this board.
We have a beautiful peacock out here hanging around looking for food. He sort of circles the chicken yard most of the day, probably trying to find a way in so he can eat. I don't know if he can be caught- I understand these guys can fly, but I'm willing to try and help if someone wants to come get him.

I'm really looking for his OWNER here, so not going to let him go to somebody who obviously isn't the owner. PM me your number and where you live in town if you think he might be yours and I'll contact you.

I'd hate to see this guy get snatched by a coyote, so to that end, by the weekend I'll be calling animal control.

Also, is it possible that he and my rooster would get along? I think if I opened the gate for an hour or two he'd walk right in, I'm sure he's eying the feeders. Might make it easier for his owner to catch him if I had him contained in the coop, but I'm not willing to do that if there is a good chance he'd attack my rooster, or vice versa.. He's fluffing up the back of his neck feathers at my birds, and I don't know if that is agressive or not.. Thanks!

 

[stoopid]

I hope you find his owner, and thanks for posting here.
I have a peahen and a rooster living together, they are best buds.
Try it and see, I don't think there are any crazy diseases that can be transmitted between the two.
Good luck!

 

[tom e]

Thanks, I guess I will try it and stand by to break up any fights.

 

[Kedreeva]

Try it and see, I don't think there are any crazy diseases that can be transmitted between the two.
Good luck!

Unfortunately there are diseases that can be transferred, but the main concern would be your rooster giving the peacock blackhead (type of worms). They can live in chickens without causing any problems but kill a peacock in a matter of days.

That being said, we put our mean roosters in "peacock jail" until they go to the butcher so that they don't attack any of the little kids that visit the farm. The peafowl don't start fights with them, but if the roosters start to fight each other you can be the peas are there to break it up and restore order, and they'll defend themselves with a good double-foot kick to the face of any rooster dumb enough to mess with them first- which, in our time making use of rooster jail, doesn't usually happen more than the first time, and no harm done.

The "fluffing up" of the pea's neck feathers that you are seeing is not like a rooster raising his hackles for a fight. When peafowl poof their necks up, it is a sign of caution or fear- they are basically saying "What the heck??" So your bird is probably just a bit confused and worried about the birds it doesn't know.

 

[tom e]

Ah! Thanks for the insight. In that case, I'll refrain from putting them together. Wouldn't want the owner to be cautious of bringing him home because of interaction with my chickens. I think I'll just hope for contact from them and ask them what they would like me to do.

What are the chances that the owner could catch him? I don't imagine that they are very easy to get ahold of..

 

[new 2 pfowl]

Hello Tom,
I'm in VC and I'm PMing you!

 

[tom e]

Sweet! I'll wait for the message!

 

[tom e]

OK, just talked to new2peafowl and to a neighbor- I think I'm worried about nothing. As someone who doesn't keep these birds, I just assumed they needed to be locked up or they'd get eaten. Also that somebody was likely frantic out looking for him, lol.

My neighbor says "Nope, there are about 6 out here that wander, and they've been coming here for treats for a while. Just enjoy them!"

Non-crisis averted..

 

[Kedreeva]

What are the chances that the owner could catch him? I don't imagine that they are very easy to get ahold of..

It's a lot easier to catch them when they are in an enclosed space. If it were my bird, I would want you to pen it if you could, even if it was with chickens. I could worm it when I got home easily enough, but if it can't get to the food it wants it stands a chance of wandering off and then I'd have lost it again. Unless they had hand raised, they are almost impossible to catch out in the open without cornering them or getting them someplace they can't fly off. Some people can, but I've never seen it.

Edit: good to hear! In that case, give it some treats and enjoy the beauty! They like just about anything you can toss out to them but some favorites are watermelon, banana (which is also really good for them), corn, dry cat food, scrambled eggs, plain green yogurt, frozen berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries).

 

[tom e]

Hey all, if anyone wants to see more pictures- this guy is on my blog as well! http://allthumbsgreen.blogspot.com/...howComment=1341609565290#c6678248146084698185