getting peafowl- questions!

[birdbrain5]

i get to pick out 2 peafowl for my christmas present but id like to learn a little bit first! i really want a male and a female. i found 2 different ads for sale in my area. one of them says the peafowl are 6 months old, and lists a few different colors. they are $45 per bird. it doesnt say if they are sexed or not. the second ad sounds like they are roughly the same age, maybe a bit older. they are being sold in "pairs" for $120. i assume that means they are sexed and paired. i have no idea how to tell, or what peafowl look like at 6 months old. can anyone tell me how or if i can tell a peacock from a peahen this early? and could you send me some pictures of what they will look like. how old is a male when he has a full train?
anything i should know about them before i get them? i read up some and plan to read more, but so far i understand they can be noisey? and that most people dont let them free range? i let my chickens and guineas free range and planned to do so with the pea's once they were old/big enough and settled here. are they real flighty like the guineas? any advice would be appreciated! thanks

 

[deerman]

Quote:
Ok unless they are white ,at 6 months you can sex them by feathers, so you can get a pr for 90.00. depend on what colors or really patterns how to sex the blackshoulder males will be darker on the back.

The noise is mating call of the adults male, which breed at 2yr and get full train at 3 yr. see if i an get some pics how to sex for you.

If freeranging keep them penned for months not weeks.

 

[SuperPeacockman]

You need to get a pair, males with no females will run off at the first opportunity. You can read all you want on most of the varieties here http://database.amyspeacockparadise.com/ . As for breeders look on the UPA breeders list for some if you cannot find anyone local I have had good dealings with Leggs Peafowl Farm, their website is ver useful to with info on genetics, breed history. I would start out with a lower value breed like India Blue or Black Shoulder, dont get white unless they are DNA sexed because you could end up with two males. If you have any other questions on anything regarding peafowl PM me. You can sex them at 3 months because males will show barring on their backs and female will be more solid colored. Check out this post the second pic is a male see how there is barring on his back https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=424248.

 

[deerman]

Quote:
Great...look at post #8 all those are marked, only one male is mark F. those are two colors....but look at the barring males....no barring females. Study the pics . you should be able to tell, now Blackshoulder will be different