Help with peas please!

[Almosta Farm]

That's why I was asking about a database. I don't even know what state they came from ... NC, Virginia or elsewhere. I'm somewhat leary of Craigslist but have called shelters and law enforcement in the area I got them.

 

[DylansMom]

That's why I was asking about a database. I don't even know what state they came from ... NC, Virginia or elsewhere. I'm somewhat leary of Craigslist but have called shelters and law enforcement in the area I got them.

I don't think there is really any database for lost or stolen Peas. I would suggest Craigslist, but put NO details in the Ad. Just title it "Peacocks Found" and explain that you have reason to suspect they were stolen. Ask callers to describe, sex, coloring, age etc...The boy has a nice visible yellow patch on his face and some white feathers so he is not a cookie cutter IB where they all look identical. Keep in mind they may have been purchased by someone who didn't realize they needed to remain penned for a long while to get used to their new home. I hear so many stories where people bring them home and just turn them loose thinking they will automatically stay. If that is the case their real owners may not even be able to give a good description because they didn't have them long enough, and the person selling them may have just gotten lucky and caught them. Good luck with them!

 

[Almosta Farm]

Another question ... when do peafowl molt? Is there a specific season or age?

 

[DylansMom]

Another question ... when do peafowl molt? Is there a specific season or age?

You are in NC, so I'm guessing it will be around late summer for you. Up here in Pa the early ones start at the end of june and the late ones start the end of Aug. The molting will last for a long time, but the train itself usually only takes a week or two until it is all molted. The shedding of the body feathers can go on for 2-3 months. Youngsters go thru several molts that can happen just about any time. I've had juveniles molt in Feb & March before. Once they reach 2 years it will usually start to occur once a year at the normal time.

 

[Almosta Farm]

So if mine are around a year, or maybe less, I shouldn't be worried about them losing feathers? My chickens don't usually molt this time of year, so I didn't know if it was just a normal molt or not. I'm seeing body feathers and the flight feathers that had been clipped when I got them.

 

[DylansMom]

So if mine are around a year, or maybe less, I shouldn't be worried about them losing feathers? My chickens don't usually molt this time of year, so I didn't know if it was just a normal molt or not. I'm seeing body feathers and the flight feathers that had been clipped when I got them.

With Peacocks you don't really ever have to worry about them when they molt, they never have the really hard molts (like some types of chickens will) that leave them almost bald. I have a coming 2 year old white male and he just quit molting a few weeks ago, he shed feathers slowly all thru Feb. & March. Since your's are not quite a year they are probably still going thru those sort of random juvenile molts. As they mature they will start to follow a normal schedule. Once mature a really out of whack molt could be an indication of some other problem, but right now I would think you have no reason to worry.

 

[Almosta Farm]

Thanks!

 

[DylansMom]

Thanks!

You're welcome. Enjoy your Peas.