free range ?

[soap&eggs]

hi.maybe someone in the past as already asked this & i just havent found post yet. I have 2 male peacocks, ages unknown. i have had them penned for just over 3 yrs. from what i understand previous owners caged them also. was wondering about allowing them to free range days locked in nights. do most clip wing so unable to fly ? do they roam like guinneas? i have seen them free range in park-zoo, and in barn yards. as far as i know there isnt anyone within a 10 mile radius with any, guess i am trying to figure out a way how to give them some freedom but afraid of flying off, which i doult id beable to catch.

 

[6littlechickies]

I would not clip the wings and free range. This is the birds only line of defense in the event of predators or stray dogs. If penned for three years they will probably stay if fed well, no guarantees though.

 

[deerman]

Agree also would not clip....when youdo try only let one out , make sure anything that will chase them are up...dogs, kids, and etc.

Best if you had other birds even just chickens....even two male like to be near each other,

 

[soap&eggs]

thanks for advice...i do free range all other poultry..and did figure they would stick around for a while without flying off..just didnt know about wing clipping for sure. but fear of losing them has kept me from giving them some freedom. they do have a huge run pen & housing..and fed wayyyy too good !!! i have in past left door wide open hoping one would venture out,but no luck. is it true they will mow down flower gardens or plants? thanks.

 

[Kev]

Do NOT push or shoo them outside. You did the right thing, simply open door and see. Also agree with if one get out, try to calmly close the door, so the one still inside can act as "call back" for the one outside. Important not to let anything scare the bird their first times out, they need to learn where everything is on the outside. If they get scared, they may fly so far away they get lost(reason for keeping some peafowl shut in, many times the 'lost' bird will follow the sound of other birds back home). So, that is why no dogs, no kids.... and no chasing or trying to catch by anybody including you.

Once they have been outside they will learn where home is, from then on not a problem if they get scared, they will come back because they know the area by then.

They are not bad like a flock of chickens, but they do eat some flowers and plants, usually like walking around taking a couple bites here and there. and will bathe in nice soft dirt- which usually is the flower or veggie bed.. they being big birds, yes it is a big hole/mess where they bathed.. that maybe make you mad. And then you will see the peacock standing up on a fence post with the sun shining off him or fanning his tail on lawn, you forget all about the troubles they caused.

 

[skelly]

I kept my trio of India blues up for about 4 months before letting them out.I let them out one at a time and that was 4 months ago.So far no problems.
Mine are totally free range too.I don't put them up at night.If they want they have the barn to roost in but the seem to prefer the tree by the pheasant pens.