Free Agent Peacock just showed up

[sn0wwhite]

Hello,
I'm looking for a bit of advice. I have 4 hens in the city (that the maximum I can have) and two days ago a peacock showed up in my neighbors yard. Being captivated by his beauty, my daughter and I gave him some scratch, chicken feed and water. He ate, drank and hung out next door for most of the day then left.

Yesterday evening he returned next door. I talked to him for a bit and my chickens were out in the yard. We left for a bit, and when we came back he was hanging out in my yard with the chickens. He did seem hungry so he got some more feed and when the girls went to bed, he left again.

He's back again this morning.

Is it ok for him to hang out with my chickens? Is there anything I should be concerned about or reason I may want to chase him off? He is quiet and a bit shy, he walks off if I get close but sticks around. Doesn't seem aggressive... the hens don't seem bothered by him.

 

[DylansMom]

Hello,
I'm looking for a bit of advice. I have 4 hens in the city (that the maximum I can have) and two days ago a peacock showed up in my neighbors yard. Being captivated by his beauty, my daughter and I gave him some scratch, chicken feed and water. He ate, drank and hung out next door for most of the day then left.

Yesterday evening he returned next door. I talked to him for a bit and my chickens were out in the yard. We left for a bit, and when we came back he was hanging out in my yard with the chickens. He did seem hungry so he got some more feed and when the girls went to bed, he left again.

He's back again this morning.

Is it ok for him to hang out with my chickens? Is there anything I should be concerned about or reason I may want to chase him off? He is quiet and a bit shy, he walks off if I get close but sticks around. Doesn't seem aggressive... the hens don't seem bothered by him.

He doesn't really pose any threat to your hens and he would probably like to hang around and join the flock. Peacocks like the company of other birds. Unfortunately while he is quiet now, I doubt he will remain so. Peacocks tend to be very loud and vocal this time of year, much louder than roosters in fact. If you are in the city there may be a No-rooster ordinance because of noise and he will be subject to this as well. If you can get more pics of them please post them, he looks like he could be purple black shoulder, but I can't tell for sure.

 

[sn0wwhite]

Sure, here are more pictures. He seems to like it here and even the Chihuahua and he seem to be ok with each other now.

He did back himself into a corner and made some noise. It wasn't too bad though... do they crow like chicken rooster? Might they make noise at night? Roosters are not allowed in my city, but at this point he isn't really "my" peacock. We did call the city animal control and they said they don't do anything about it unless someone calls to complain about him. They've had reports of him around for the last couple of weeks, but no one has called to report a missing peacock.

 

[sn0wwhite]

I should mention, behind my house is a Nature Preserve. I think that's where he's going at night and just hanging with us during the day. We call him Free Agent Kevin after this guy:

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=20442559

 

[Peafowlssssssss]

I agree he looks like purple black shoulder, beautiful peacock

 

[DylansMom]

I agree he looks like purple black shoulder, beautiful peacock

Yes, I do believe he is a purple bs, if you were closer I'd be on my way to pick him up! LOL! I'm trying to hatch myself a purple male, for my 2 purple hens. They have a very loud mating call that goes on 24 hrs a day, sounds a lot like a child or woman screaming "Heeeelp meeeee" If you check out youtube you should be able to find lots of videos of them hollering, then you will have an idea what it's like. The males like to roost in trees at night so he probably is sleeping in the preserve.

I should mention, behind my house is a Nature Preserve. I think that's where he's going at night and just hanging with us during the day. We call him Free Agent Kevin after this guy:

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=20442559

 

[sn0wwhite]

He is really beautiful. Is there any chance that he could become aggressive? So far he just walks slowly away if we get near him, but we are not trying to approach him. I'm just moving around the yard doing my thing. He cornered himself behind the chicken coop and gave a yell - yes, he's loud. But it was just a few loud "OWs" and when he figured out he had to turn around he was fine and quiet again.

 

[DylansMom]

He is really beautiful. Is there any chance that he could become aggressive? So far he just walks slowly away if we get near him, but we are not trying to approach him. I'm just moving around the yard doing my thing. He cornered himself behind the chicken coop and gave a yell - yes, he's loud. But it was just a few loud "OWs" and when he figured out he had to turn around he was fine and quiet again.

Usually the only time we see aggression is when a Peacock was imprinted on humans as a hatchling. Human imprinted Peas think they and humans are the same thing, so when they reach maturity they can see people as either a potential mate or a potential rival, and that is when they can become aggressive. If he had been imprinted he would probably be friendlier, but there is no way to know for sure. If he does decide to stay just be prepared for the noise issue, I have never heard of a male who didn't get loud during breeding season(approx. April thru August).

 

[sn0wwhite]

Thank you for the information. It makes me feel better about letting him hang around.

 

[Paintedheather]

Congratulations on your new addition to the flock!