Dimensions

[Frosty]

I see all of these pictures of your beautiful set-ups... I need to build a pen just for the peafowl, and would like to ask how big are your pens? What do you cover them with, and where do you place supports to keep the covering from collapsing under snow? Any information is appreciated! I will add that I have 2 peas, I think they are a pair, and I don't plan to need space for more than maybe 4 because if I get over run the neighbors would probably form a lynch mob and you'd see me in the news wrapped in the cover netting!

 

[Imp]

Quote:
I don't have peas, would love some, but don't think the neighbors would be happy with the noise. Found this thread with a little info that might help you.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=98490

Imp

 

[Frosty]

Thank you, Imp... I can find the required minimum dimensions, I was just hoping that some of the folks with beauitful set-ups caould share info on what they have, and how they work top covers and netting in snow areas. Guess I could just keep doing what I have been doing and watch for canopy shelters to go on sale.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Use the largest mesh netting you can find with high breaking strenght. I use 2 inch toprite aviary netting 90 lb per mesh. Of course here in south Georgia we dont get a lot, did get some Friday though!
My pens are 25 wide and 50 long, but you shouldnt need near that for just 2-4. I 'd say 10 wide by 25-30 long would be plenty. I have 6 foot high side walls, picthed up to 12 foot tall in the center with large 4x4 post. Ate 8 foot or so, I tie them all together threw the center with 2x4's. This gives it a good support, plus the peafowl love to roost on it.
The back side of each pen has a 8x8 shelter in them with additioal roosts, but they never use them unless it is just down right nasty out.
Hope that helps a little

 

[Frosty]

That helps a lot, thank you! I know that there are 'minumums' required, I want my birds to be happy. I have been walking around as I take care of the critters, trying to envision where I want it. Places that would look good in the summer, now I look and see all of the snow that I would have to keep clear to keep access.
So I guess my requirements will be:
1. Access to electricity to be able to plug in water heater
2. An area that won't be totally inaccessible in the winter due to snow/drifting snow
3. As far from the neighbors as possible to try not to bother them
4. Close enough so that I can enjoy them (the peas, not the neighbors!)

Anything else that I should consider?

I am going to have to keep them in a secure pen, no question there. I have some neighbors down the road who have just been nasty since we moved here 17 years ago (we never did anything to them, but there are a lot of people in this area who don't like 'outsiders'... if your great great grandparents didn't settle here way back when, they don't like you). I had a problem last summer where their dog came up and dug under my chicken tractor and killed all but 7 of my replacement layer flock. And I know that if my birds went down there, they would shoot them.

One thought... I do have a small building, around 10' x 10' with an 8' x 10' pen attached. The pen is a metal pipe frame from one of those portable green houses, and is completely covered in chicken wire (DH gets those green houses that get covered in that semi-clear tarp stuff, gets one a little bigger, and I steal his smaller ones for my birds. He should know better by now to hide them from me!

) Right now my turkeys are in it (need to re-do their pen to repair from when snow collapsed every thing - the netting held up but collapsed the pen sides in). Would that work for winter quarters, then move them to a bigger pen farther away for the summer? Then I wouldn't need electricity to the bigger pen, wouldn't have to worry about access due to snow, and I could put the bigger pen out back somewhere around the garden and enjoy the peas while I am taking breaks from weeding, etc... (since a lot of my summer time is out in the garden anyhow). So would that be big enough for them? And since I would like to seperate out the turkeys for breeding season, would it be ok to put a trio of turkeys in with the peas?

I really do appreciate all of the info here!