Hatching Eggs

[poultryfan73]

Hi im new to this forum. Im interested in peafowl . Are they breeding yet? Would they do well with other types of poultry i.e chickens, turkeys and guinea fowl? Are they aggresive? Will the hens sit on eggs? Are they easy to raise? How many should i get for my first time? Should i putt the eggs under a broody hen or would it be easier to putt them into an incubator? Sorry for so many questions. If you guys could answer in as much detail i would really appreciate it.

 

[Choctaw Valley Farm]

Well we have started to get a few eggs, Some of us set our eggs under broody chickens for a couple of weeks then move them to the incubator, some go right to the incubator, and once in a while a peahen will go broody we have about 20 peahens and only 2 go broody towards the end of breeding season.

Peafowl have to be a least 2 yrs old to get fertile eggs.

We do not run our Peafowl with any other bird, Peafowl are a lot like Turkey Poults once you get them to a certain age it's smooth sailing.

Out of the 6 yrs we have been raising Peafowl only 2 got aggressive.

I would get a pair of Blues or Black Shoulders if you are going to free range, if you are going to build a pen you could get a Pied pair. (if at all possible I would get at least 2 hens of three varieties mentioned)
I probably didn't answer all your questions but I know someone else will get on here and help out also.

Steve

 

[poultryfan73]

Yes my poultry are free ranged during the summer and in november i lock them up for the winter. Since i answered that question.... what breed would you reccomend id get? I like the pied ones but whatever you suggest ill listen to because ive never had peafowl.

 

[deerman]

Well if you are going to free range, just remember the ones with alot of white stand out for preadors. Peahen set for 28 days, depend on your area predators kill alot of setting peahens.

I set mine under broody hens for first week,then in the incubator. If no broody hens , straight into incubator.
I dont mixs mine with chickens.

Most of my peahens will set, but i break them up. Sometime i will let them hatch last clutch of eggs(Aug.) Best to keep peachicks of the ground the first few weeks. Peahens make good mothers, but peachicks can pick up worms and etc from the ground.

If peahens have alot of room, most will set. I even have two setting on same nest before.

 

[Choctaw Valley Farm]

Well since you are going to free range I would just stick to the India Blues because the hens are also dark.

Steve

 

[poultryfan73]

Okay should i get adults or peachicks? If they are anything like guinea fowl i think i should get chicks. Im thinking about getting pied or blue and if i do get them im getting a trio i think.

 

[Choctaw Valley Farm]

Well if you get Pied's like deerman said with all the white on them it will be hard for them to hide from predators, if you just wanted birds for free ranging and didn't want eggs I would get three or four Black Shoulder Males.

Yearling birds are the best when you get them pen them up for 4 to 6 months then open the pen and let them come and go at will if you have free range chickens or guineas they may even run with them.

Good Luck.

Steve

 

[poultryfan73]

Quote:
Ook i think im gonna get 6 black shoulder eggs and putt them under a broody hen. When they mature i will keep only 1 male and 2 females. That will give me options to keep the best looking ones.Then the chicks will grow up with chickens. Does that sound like a good idea?

 

[Kev]

Yes good idea. If you let the hen raise the peachicks, they will stick to her like glue and she will teach them where home, food, water and roost is. Easy! Only problem is.. really a good idea to keep them confined to a predator proof pen until the peachicks are of good size to be safe against most hawks. About 2 months.. 3 months is better.

 

[poultryfan73]

Quote:
Yep thats what im going to do. I want the peafowl when they are older to roost with my chickens at night. I never had a hawk problem so i dont think im going to have to worry about that. I dont have a place to keep the momma and her hatched peachicks so i guess im going to have to build something. That or im just going to have to let mother nature do her thing.