Getting new peachicks.

[bravevline]

Soon I am buying my first peachicks and would like tips on raising them. We have chickens, ducks, and geese, and I'd like to know how these birds will act around them. What feed do they eat? Any other info will be greatly appreciated.

 

[casportpony]

Soon I am buying my first peachicks and would like tips on raising them. We have chickens, ducks, and geese, and I'd like to know how these birds will act around them. What feed do they eat? Any other info will be greatly appreciated.

Welcome to the wonderful world of peafowl! My biggest concern with raising peafowl is histomoniasis (blackhead), but maybe that's because I've spent the last 24 months dealing with it.

What I've learned from this forum is that it's best to keep peachicks off the ground until they are at least 6 months old, so that's how I'm going to raise my 2013 chicks.

IMHO, if you're going to raise them in a mixed flock, you should have the medication to treat outbreaks of histomoniasis on-hand. For chicks I keep metronidazole suspension 50mg/ml (prescription needed) and fenbendazole 10% wormer, for adults, same wormer and metronidazole in 100mg and 250mg tablet form, no prescription needed.

-Kathy

 

[CarlisleCluck]

I'm sure this question has been covered numerous times in other threads, but I'm going to bring it up anyway. How do you keep your chicks "off the ground" exactly? Are they in a cage in your house? Outside? On a platform? If it is a cage, how big is it? What exactly do you use for the "box/cage", where is it located (inside, outside, within a larger fenced area outside?), and what do you use for "bedding"?
I just got 3 peachicks that are a few weeks apart in age (~5, 7 and 9 weeks). I have them in a small dog crate/cage which is ok for now, but won't be for long. I have them in my basement with a heat lamp, and I left the tray on the bottom of the cage and put down pine shavings. During the day I have put them outside on my porch in a tote bin with pine shavings and weighted down screens on top. This isn't going to be adequate for long, and transporting them back and forth has caused me several scratches!
What exactly is the concern? Is it that their poop should drop down through the cage floor so they can't "accidentally" eat it? Is it so that they don't eat bugs?
I am feeding them medicated turkey crumbles (starter)...which I haven't seen them eat yet (nor have I seen them drink water). They did eat a few spinach leaf stems...

 

[new 2 pfowl]

You might take a look at this thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/704066/ill-show-you-my-setup-if-you-show-me-yours-heavy-pictures

 

[casportpony]

I'm sure this question has been covered numerous times in other threads, but I'm going to bring it up anyway. How do you keep your chicks "off the ground" exactly? Are they in a cage in your house? Outside? On a platform? If it is a cage, how big is it? What exactly do you use for the "box/cage", where is it located (inside, outside, within a larger fenced area outside?), and what do you use for "bedding"?
I just got 3 peachicks that are a few weeks apart in age (~5, 7 and 9 weeks). I have them in a small dog crate/cage which is ok for now, but won't be for long. I have them in my basement with a heat lamp, and I left the tray on the bottom of the cage and put down pine shavings. During the day I have put them outside on my porch in a tote bin with pine shavings and weighted down screens on top. This isn't going to be adequate for long, and transporting them back and forth has caused me several scratches!
What exactly is the concern? Is it that their poop should drop down through the cage floor so they can't "accidentally" eat it? Is it so that they don't eat bugs?
I am feeding them medicated turkey crumbles (starter)...which I haven't seen them eat yet (nor have I seen them drink water). They did eat a few spinach leaf stems...

For me the concern is histomoniais (blackhead).

-Kathy

 

[AugeredIn]

Keep them up on wire so the poop drops through.

 

[casportpony]

That's a nice set-up!

-Kathy

 

[AugeredIn]

Best investment you can make except for the best incubator you can by to get them to hatch.

 

[bravevline]

I'm sure you can just let the mothers sit can't you?

Best investment you can make except for the best incubator you can by to get them to hatch.