Frightened Hiding Peahen DOB 7/13/09

[Tootsie]

I have a white peafowl seems full grown now. She appears to be frightened and is hiding a lot. I do provide a few hiding places in their coop. First I thought she was trying to do an egg. Her DOB is 7/13/09 . She is in with a 2+ year old peacock and a 4 yr old peahen and 12 chickens. She has been in with them since November. They are in an area with an indoor 8 x 12 and outdoor 10 x 10. She is a lot of the time either hiding or trying to get to the other side where other chickens are but no peafowl. I noticed this start at least a few weeks ago.

The man I got her from swears she is a girl but he has been wrong on other chickens I got from him in the past. I was wondering could she be hiding because she is a HE??? The male in there (Alan) is usually pretty tame but I saw him chasing the only rooster in there yesterday which I also never saw before.

Can anyone advise me on this and what to do?

 

[Choctaw Valley Farm]

First if it is a hen she is not full grown and will not lay eggs until she is two, with this being the male's first year to breed he may not know how to treat and be nice to the lady's yet, And it could also be the other hen picking on the White one, so you may need to move the White one until after breeding season.

Now few people will say they have yearling hens lay eggs and also have lots of hens that go broody, I can't say for sure we have been doing this for years and have never had a yearling lay an egg. SO

.

 

[Tootsie]

I have never actually seen any of them being mean except yesterday when I saw Alan chasing the red roo. I took some pictures of her. I do see her white feathers about the most though. Would it help to determine sex by looking at the pictures. If so I can post them here? Also you are saying Alan is just getting old enough so that is probably why none of Nellie's eggs hatcvhed last year then.

Let me know and thanks so much.

 

[deerman]

Yes if you are seeing alot of her feather around, my guess the other peahen or chicken are picking on her.

Odd of her laying are not good, now I have had yearling lay, but that is not the normal. Know other who have also, so I keep my yearling hens with older peacocks, just in case. Never Had a yearly peacock be fertile, so that the reason you didn't get fertile eggs last year.

We may be able to sex your white by a pic. but whites are harder to sex.

Steve, yes my cameo bs silver pied ,one of my first peahens to lay, when broody already. Now removed her eggs today, so she will lay more.

 

[Tootsie]

I took these last night

I did let her move into the front part of the coop with some silkies and other chickens and she seems much calmer. I also noticed some small scabs on back of her head so I will try and take pictures of that too for you guys to advise.

Is there a special part of her I should zoom in on to help determine her sex?

Thanks guys! Let me know.

 

[Choctaw Valley Farm]

Sure looks like a Male to me, I would almost bet money on it.

Steve

 

[DMFarm]

It a male the guy that sold him to you was wrong again.
Doug

 

[deerman]

Yep, thats a male....

 

[Tootsie]

Well at bedtime the peachick (I still call it peachick) had nowhere to perch so she...well I guess... he... wanted to go back on the other side so in the morning I will let him back in the front so he doesn;t have to deal with any stress and try and set up a perch sufficient for him. Does this mean I will be best to keep him in the other group away from the pair? And would that explain why so frightened/timid when it is daytime in that group? I always wanted a white male so I guess now I have one.You guys are great, by the way .

 

[Tootsie]

OH and what is it about the peachick that tells you it is a male? I know with chickens it is the hackle and saddle feathers and someitmes the comb, just curious. Thank you.