Are peacocks protective of peahens?

[Rhyahcf]

So our ganders will protect the females, and we actually lost 2 of our ganders this winter to a predator because they were protecting the flock. Do peacocks do the same thing? I ask because I assumed they would, but we had a fox come up in the middle of the day right next to our house. During the day our Peafowl pair free range and don’t go much further than the house and the pond. I heard the geese and the peahen squawking and looked out to see a huge fox behind a tree. I chased him off and then realized I could not find my peacock. I freaked out thinking he got taken because he wasn’t answering the peahen’s calls either, but after a few minutes saw his scared butt up on our roof. So do peacocks not protect the females when in danger, or is my peacock just a jerk who only looks out for himself? Because he left her on the ground and flew his happy butt onto the roof safe and sound.

 

[KsKingBee]

I have never seen a peacock try to protect a hen or chick.

 

[casportpony]

I have never seen a peacock try to protect a hen or chick.

Ditto that.

 

[peacockfarmer1]

i actually have some 2 yo peacocks and ive noticed that they pick the hens, im thinking about separating them bc they have plucked one hens crest off i have 4 males and 5 hens in this pen all 2 yo blackshoulder so i dont think they are particularly protective

 

[KsKingBee]

i actually have some 2 yo peacocks and ive noticed that they pick the hens, im thinking about separating them bc they have plucked one hens crest off i have 4 males and 5 hens in this pen all 2 yo blackshoulder so i dont think they are particularly protective

That is probably just over grooming, I have hens that will remove the crest feathers from cocks. It is a behavioral thing, cocks will bow to the hen asking for preening and some hens just get carried away. In juveniles when the feathers first come in they will pick the crest feathers, (and elsewhere), for the blood in the fresh blood feathers.

 

[KsKingBee]

If you have a pen where all the crest feathers are gone except on one bird, then you can assume who did the picking.

 

[peacockfarmer1]

naw actually only one hen has her crest gone and her feathers on her back look like they been picked. idk but im about to put her in a different pen today

 

[KsKingBee]

naw actually only one hen has her crest gone and her feathers on her back look like they been picked. idk but im about to put her in a different pen today

Sounds like some breeding damage.

 

[peacockfarmer1]

View attachment 1335555

Sounds like some breeding damage.

thats defintley good news but shes the only one that looks like that and her back is kind of missing feathers so now im thinking breeding like you said they are all 2 year olds but all males have 2 or so foot long trains
im really hoping to get some eggs