GORGEOUS: A family's problem is our dream!

[Frosty]

He really is beautiful, congratulations! Don't try to force him to let you pet him, that would just scare him (as I'm sure you know). You can always get a hen and hand raise some babies. A hen might make him more likely to stick around, too.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

20 years is what i have been told on here heck any pea that cam make it free ranging for 5 years is a smart critter in my book,
Some of mine are turning 2 soon and have been free ranged sense they turned 4 months, so far so good , only had one incident with a critter and my dogs just happen to be in the area, the hen was fine lost some feathers and what ever it was got a 6 pack escort out of the area

My sister just reminded me that our interloper peacock came from about a mile up the road where a lady kept several. When he disappeared after 5 years, he went back home! I never knew that, but always wondered what happened to him. Pretty as they are, it's amazing that they are so wily and have such good survival instincts.

 

[amsunshine]

Yes, we've considered getting a hen (or two? what are the recommendations on that?). We know another "neighbor" (3 mi. away) who raises them and has adults and babies available. What does it take to hand raise a pea chick? Or can the mama raise them?

 

[amsunshine]

Oh and: I guess he's been roaming around there for upwards of 5-10 years or so. He lived by a river and there are no doubt lots of coyotes and some bobcats and rumor has it even a mountain lion now and again, so it's amazing that he has survived so long and is so beautiful.

 

[NateinFL]

Cool pet to have for sure. Did you name him yet? Does the barn you have for him have sunlight he might be miserable in there. Peacocks are social animals so getting him a hen would be nice for him I'd think if you have the space for one.

 

[amsunshine]

Yes, he has a name: Solomon because he reminds me of royalty. The barn where we have him is an old one, and the door is covered with wire, so the breezes can blow in. It has another wooden door you can close over it for winter. The sunlight streams through that doorway in the morning as it faces east. It also comes in on a limited basis from the south on one part, as that end is covered with a kind of hard plastic-type mesh. There's decent ventilation because of that, but we still have a fan running in case he gets too hot. Here it is just after 8 and already 95 degrees. He is housed with 4 almost-adult chickens (2 roosters and 2 hens), and he bosses them around, so he's not alone. They'll have to do till he gets a hen. Having a hard time finding anyone who wants to part with an adult hen around here!

 

[Kedreeva]

He is housed with 4 almost-adult chickens (2 roosters and 2 hens), and he bosses them around, so he's not alone. They'll have to do till he gets a hen. Having a hard time finding anyone who wants to part with an adult hen around here!

Be careful housing him with chickens, as they can carry things that are deadly to peafowl (like Blackhead), but be asymptomatic. Should probably give him a dose of wormer just in case.

 

[amsunshine]

Oh, dear. Where do I get wormer, how do I administer it, and what brand name should I look for?

 

[Kedreeva]

No worries! I doubt it's even a problem at the moment if he's been free ranging for a while anyway, just a good precaution to take. The easiest wormer is ivermectin (Ivomec is the most common brand name) and you can get it at any Tractor Supply. Otherwise, you can order it online and have it shipped, I'm not sure where else sells it face to face. You administer it either in the water (I don't do it this way so I'm not sure on the dosage... think it's 3cc per gallon?) or give a 1CC injection subcutaneously. Ivermectin will also help to clear up any external parasites as well, like mites or ticks.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Beautiful!