Getting into Peafowl.

[MillersFarm]

Alright, So before I ask any other questions.. Is it worth it? I'm just getting into breeding poultry and so far i've got all sorts of chicken breeds, Ducks, Geese, Ornamental pheasants, turkeys, and guineas. And now i'm really wanting some peafowl.. Will I make a profit breeding these birds? I plan on just shipping eggs, But the thing is, I know nothing about peafowl. What should I feed them? What should I house them in? What breeds are most popular and will make me the most money?
Are they expensive to raise?

For housing I plan on building an enclosed run that's about 80 ft long and 40 ft wide (10 ft tall) and a coop that's about 12 x 10.. How many peafowl do you think that could hold? I was thinking about starting out with just 4.

What should the chicks and adults be fed? I'm completely clueless on that subject..

Whats a good ratio?

Do they need any special treatment..?
If you have any other advice on raising peafowl I'd love to hear it~!

 

[SimoneG]

I just got into them last year I bought chicks so far the most expensive part has been the purchase price and the pen building (but going in I knew it was a 3 year wait before they'd start laying & selling eggs/chicks) if you wanted to start right away I'd say buy mature birds a little more up front cost but not the 3 yr wait. I was told that if you only have 1 pen pick a color Pea that you like & go with that instead of having a bunch of mixed colors split to whatever other color (very confusing as a beginner) by the time they are old enough for breeding I'm planning to have 3 seperate pens. 1 for the bronze white eye pair, 1 for the violette pair and 1 for the only mixed pen purple & purple pied which is 3 hens and 1 male. Also if you have more than 1 male per pen during breeding season they will fight. The files on here but they are very helpful to read thru (& print off for future use). Good luck! I know I enjoy just watching mine and I'm so glad that I did get them. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/peafowl-sticky-topics-index.389059/

 

[casportpony]

These are good questions for @KsKingBee.

 

[williamsingr12]

Sounds like you should avoid the peafowl as you already have a lot going on. peafowl do require special care and attention and some diseases immune to chickens can kill your peas in just 3 days if you miss the signs. If your still intent on peas, then learn everything about them first especially the warning signs of infections, before you build your pen and way before you buy anything. If you do get them them get chicks and take the 3 yrs to work with your birds so they are tame or get adults and first break in your pen and they are gone for good . Lots of people sell them so dont expect to get rich from it at all ,but more or less end up with a bunch a birds you cant get rid of like others that are now eating them they have too many.

 

[auroaSfarm]

I want an Emu, random right? lol

 

[williamsingr12]

I want an Emu, random right? lol

LOL, peacocks are a handful as they are only less then half the size of one of them dinosaurs ..

 

[MillersFarm]

Sounds like you should avoid the peafowl as you already have a lot going on. peafowl do require special care and attention and some diseases immune to chickens can kill your peas in just 3 days if you miss the signs. If your still intent on peas, then learn everything about them first especially the warning signs of infections, before you build your pen and way before you buy anything. If you do get them them get chicks and take the 3 yrs to work with your birds so they are tame or get adults and first break in your pen and they are gone for good . Lots of people sell them so don't expect to get rich from it at all ,but more or less end up with a bunch a birds you cant get rid of like others that are now eating them they have too many.

I have realized i've got quite a lot on my plate for a beginner, So i'm downsizing to just chickens, pheasants, and ducks. I wouldn't start building anything for peafowl until next year anyways since i'm just focusing on what I have this year.. Their pen would be away from my pheasants and chickens since I try to avoid things like diseases spreading through my birds.
I certainly don't expect to get rich from raising peafowl, But I do know that they are quite popular around my area yet no one seems to sell any? Thought i'd give it a go..
I was considering buying them as juniors but that's starting to sound like a bad idea. Def want my peas to be tame.
I do know peas can be very loud as well but i'm surrounded by 40 acres of land so I don't think my neighbors would be much of a problem either. Thank you for the helpful reply~ I'll definitely be reading up as much as I can before actually buying the birds..

 

[casportpony]

DylansMom used to offset her feed costs by selling chicks and feathers.

 

[williamsingr12]

Go with a concrete floor if you can to help keep the diseases down and you can power wash it down and clean it properly and no worries of earth worms coming into play, they carry the nematodes which infect your birds with the coccidiosis and black head both come from the dirt and these worms, the one parasite crawls back up the birds vent from when they dig in the dirt and lay in it and they get infected and kills in 3 days ! Get chicks so if they ever get out they wont fly away, take the time and do it right, also with concrete its easier to watch their poop over a roost so if one gets sick you see it right away, learn all the signs of a sick bird. This site has everything you need to know to be a great bird owner of peas. Know what meds you need with correct dosage and have them on hand before you get peas, like I said in 3 days a bird can die , but they are magnificent to own. If you really want mature birds that will lay eggs , how far are you willing to drive? Your pen would have to be built right away and have proper shelter from snow and rain storms. I have to do something with mine after getting bad news yesterday that my heart is failing my birds are big concern now finding them a good home. My male must be kept penned or he attacks his own images in everything especially cars or such like glass windows. 3 females go with him all 3 yrs old laying more eggs then you would know what to do with, I ate a bunch last year, this year they have 2 cluthces, one hatch of 6 so far, idk what to do with them either ?

 

[auroaSfarm]

LOL, peacocks are a handful as they are only less then half the size of one of them dinosaurs ..

But they are so cute and wild lol! I think my state won't let me get one though..