Getting peacock eggs in a week!

[mtgrl]

Yes, but in which way is this related to peacocks? Chickens, I know, can carry these diseases and spread them to quail, and so it's advised to not house them together. But what about peacocks? Can they also be carriers of certain diseases that could be harmful to quail or vice versa? Everything I've read so far has said that peacocks shouldn't be kept with chickens because they could catch something from the chickens, so I assume that they are as equally vulnerable as quail and hopefully won't pass anything to them.

I may have to keep the quail and peacocks together temporarily if this is possible, until I can build a larger pen for the peacocks (they should be fine as far as space until they are adults, according to what I read). So any info about that would be much appreciated.

 

[DylansMom]

Yes, but in which way is this related to peacocks? Chickens, I know, can carry these diseases and spread them to quail, and so it's advised to not house them together. But what about peacocks? Can they also be carriers of certain diseases that could be harmful to quail or vice versa? Everything I've read so far has said that peacocks shouldn't be kept with chickens because they could catch something from the chickens, so I assume that they are as equally vulnerable as quail and hopefully won't pass anything to them.

I may have to keep the quail and peacocks together temporarily if this is possible, until I can build a larger pen for the peacocks (they should be fine as far as space until they are adults, according to what I read). So any info about that would be much appreciated.

I know nothing about quail, as I stated earlier. However I have had Peafowl for almost 20 years now. It relates because Peachicks are really incredibly fragile for the first 12 weeks, we do not even like to let them make contact with the ground for that length of time. Their immune systems take time to mature, more so than chickens and most other poultry. They are also very good at hiding disease until it is too late to save them. We often say that by the time you discover they are sick, they are halfway dead. It relates in that you need to research the diseases that they and quail are susceptible to, because if housed together or even in proximity they will share whatever they contract. You also need to arm yourself with the medications needed to treat both birds, and the information on how to dose them correctly, because dosages will differ due to the obvious size difference. Wild birds will transmit many diseases to both your quail and Peas so unless you can house them in a sterile environment, you are gonna face disease of some type. The question is really, how prepared you will be to save them. After 20 years I still lost some chicks to cocci last year, and cocci is found in the soil everywhere, you cannot get rid of it, you can only help your bird survive it and build up a resistance. I have peacocks, chickens, guineas and turkeys, but I also have amassed an impressive stockpile of medications to treat all of them for whatever may pop up. I guess what it all boils down to is, Peacocks are not easy birds, they are not easy to hatch, they are not easy to raise, they are not easy to house or to free range. To do any of it correctly takes research and planning and if done on a whim it will most likely fail. We do not like to see this happen to you, or to the birds you plan on raising. We see far too many sad stories on here, because people simply did not have the proper knowledge ahead of time. By the time they come here for help, it is usually too late.

 

[mtgrl]

I know about the disease that quail are susceptible to; and I've read through those that peacocks can contract, and I have antibiotics on hand, I was just wondering if peafowl are like chickens in that they are more likely to be carriers of a disease that quail are more vulnerable to. I haven't been able to find an answer to this either on this forum or the quail forum or anywhere online, presumably because few people have kept the two birds together (although in that peafowl 101 it said at least one person was able to without any adverse results). But it sounds to me that they are both rather vulnerable species to diseases and react about the same to them and so they should be fine to house together for awhile (the peacocks shouldn't be carrying any hidden disease that could kill the quail or vice versa)... thank you

I have already dealt with sick quail, and given them antibiotics just in time, they fully recovered. Also dealt with a hen losing her leg, I treated it, she never got an infection, today she can walk and get around just fine. Also have a vet down the road I consult and she thinks they are doing excellent.

Peacocks sound like they are very similar to quail in that they are very fragile creatures and need about the same kind of care. So far my quail have been doing very well, I have had pretty good success raising them, and it's proved to be easier than I thought it would be, so, since I've had no problems taking care of the quail, (who are also very vulnerable to disease) the peacocks shouldn't be much more of a challenge and I think I'm ready for them. The only difference is the size. The peacocks need more space. The only problem I have right now is that I ran out of funds to finish the garden in time (I know I have to predator-proof it before I can keep them there) and I don't have a place for them... either them OR the quail. But I will need to build a predator-safe garden regardless of whether I have peacocks or not. I already have 9 quail chicks living in my room, and as soon as they grow they will need a place to live. I had presumed that I would have the garden done by the time they were old enough to move outside; but I hadn't accounted for the cost of the hardware cloth that is necessary for their protection.

I'm trying my best to plan ahead and avoid any mistakes, and for the most part I've planned out every possible challenge I can foresee-how I'm going to keep out bears, gophers, snakes, hawks, etc., an alert system to warn for intruders, what I'm going to plant for the best possible health, like hops for its antibiotic benefits, corn, sunflowers, etc., how I'm going to keep their water dishes clean, how I'm going to keep them warm in the winter, and how I'm going to keep them safe from disease.

I obviously don't want to lose ANY birds. They are mine, they cheep all night unless I let them sleep in the palm of my hand. That's why I'm sleeping on the couch every night so I can hear if a bear is trying to break into the coop, that's why I'm running out every night in the middle of the night to kill skunks and foxes trying to claw in (though I'm pretty sure they can't get through the hardware cloth), that's why I check on the chicks several times a night just to be sure they're okay.

That's why I'm asking as many questions as I can on here from those who have actual personal experience, although I am spending hours researching and googling on my own too, and asking my parents who used to own poultry, I'm envisioning every possible scenario and considering every available option so I can plan ahead for the best solution to every single problem I might encounter. That's why I would like to get a diversity of opinions from many different individuals. You might assume that because I ask many questions on here, I am not making an effort to find out the answers on my own, but that could not be further from the truth. I like to have second and third opinions, from people who have actually had trial and error experience. Their counsel is the most valuable form of information. Everything is planned out. I just need some more info to be extra careful about my choices, and I need to find a way to make the funds necessary in time. That is my concern. I need to check and double check every piece of information before I take action. That's why I wanted to be completely certain about whether peacocks and quail can stay in the same area without spreading disease to each other or fighting before I did it, a question I haven't really found an answer to anywhere yet. But from what I've read, I can conclude that they can at least sometimes be kept together without any aggression, and that they both seem to be equally vulnerable to disease and so hopefully they should be able to live together for some time without any considerable risk of danger to one another. Anyway, that's what I'm going to have to do, unless somebody can give me a specific reliable reason why they should not, because otherwise they will have to stay outside the pen until I'm finished with another place for them and they are at a far greater risk there. Once I have the money to finish this garden and get it fenced in, I can move them all outside and they should have enough room until I can build a larger area for the growing peacocks.

Anyway, the guy who is giving me these peacock eggs doesn't have a place for them either. That's why he's desperately trying to find somebody to give them away to.

Thank you for the advice, and for your concern. I can assure you I'm doing everything I can to provide for the health and protection of my birds.

 

[zazouse]

You are on the wright tracks, lots to learn here and we learn things together so it is more interesting and fun.
I use a baby monitor to hear things going on outside , but all i really hear is my dogs so i only use it when the dogs are running around the house barking, that means there is an owl in the area and i use roman candles to take care of that problem, they don't come back EVER but on occasion a new one that don't know better will happen by and we train that owl a lesson as well

Did you know peafowl are a member of the pheasant family ?

 

[casportpony]

I have had quail with peafowl

 

[new 2 pfowl]

It's great that you are doing so much research and preparation, and that you are so concerned with the well being of your birds.

I assume that this person offering you eggs is a peacock owner? Have you considered the possibility of waiting until next egg season to take pea eggs, so you have more time to prepare? Just a thought.

 

[mtgrl]

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That's a great idea. I should really get one of those! Then I could sleep in my own bed again.

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Quail too. Good to know they are all in the same family! I have a wild ringneck pheasant living here that has claimed my yard as his territory-a few weeks ago I saw him crowing on top of the chicken coop! I seem to have a pretty thriving ecosystem.

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That's great. Did it all work out well?

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I don't know actually. I never met him before. I just overheard him telling somebody how he had a bunch of peacock eggs and he had no idea what he was going to do with them because they were all going to be hatching soon and he didn't have a place for them, and how he really needed to find somebody willing to take them. My original plan actually was to take it easy and expand gradually and wait until next summer to add more species (I was planning on getting some golden pheasants and ducks too), but since this guy doesn't have a place for them either, and was so eager to give them away, and since I did feel a need to get a larger bird to accompany the little guys, I figured I will just have to make something work. At this point, I don't think waiting another year is really an option. I already have quail that are gonna need somewhere to go. If nothing else, I'll just have to pitch a tent outside and sleep out there while I build the fence. It'll be more comfortable than the couch, anyway...

I might have to get on Kickstarter and see if I can raise some funds for the farm. I'm pretty much bankrupt right now, I don't know how I'm going to get the money to finish it, but I gotta get it soon