INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

I had trouble posting tonight too. I think it's a BYC-wide problem. I finally found the "@" link thingie in the limited editor that is available tonight. Look at the top and right next to the link sign is the "@". If you click on it you can enter the names there. You could edit your post and re-do the @ links that way to fix it.

It worked, thanks!

I'm thinking how fun it would be to have a couple peas wandering around over the 4 acres that are fenced. But wonder if they'd stay or if they'd just go somewhere else.

What do you feed a pea?

Flock raiser is fine, they need a better protein than chickens. I toss a lot of mealworms to him. chopped meats, cooked eggs etc.He does not like nightcrawlers wont touch them! My first group stayed put until my DF had open heart/then rehab and we were gone so much. They migrated to my neighbor. He had just lost his wife so I left it alone. Then he sold them, and didn't even ask me I am sometimes a little too generous I guess.
Anyways, these 2 I was afraid to release and kept them in a large coop. When the hen passed the other day, I let him out. He was mourning, and didn't want to lose him too. After seeing he has already become attached to our flock, I should have released them sooner. He is also much more social than I realized. Even with the moult, he is sleeping in the huge dogwood tree at the end of the driveway! I give my youngest calf his bottle right after daybreak, and he flies down to see me. Using a lot of protein based treats right now until his molt is over.

 

[Lengerich Farms]

So, I've been thinking (that might be part of the problem

) about how to expand my flock next spring when I rebuild my coop, and I came across Guinea Fowl. Does anyone have any experience with keeping Guineas? Are they worth it to have around? Do the wha taste similar to chicken or dick eggs? I saw these guys and had to find out if they would be worth the trouble

I don't want to overwhelm myself, but I would like to get the most usage out of what land we have to work with.
(And I think these will be an easier sell to the wife than a goat would be)
TIA!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

So, I've been thinking (that might be part of the problem

) about how to expand my flock next spring when I rebuild my coop, and I came across Guinea Fowl. Does anyone have any experience with keeping Guineas? Are they worth it to have around? Do the wha taste similar to chicken or dick eggs? I saw these guys and had to find out if they would be worth the trouble

I don't want to overwhelm myself, but I would like to get the most usage out of what land we have to work with.
(And I think these will be an easier sell to the wife than a goat would be)
TIA!

I keep them, and enjoy them a lot. Funny to watch, they look like they are on wheels as fast as the walk lol! We are rural, few neighbors and most everyone near us keeps some form of poultry, waterfowl or livestock. They aren't for everyone, but I adore them.
The pros, they won't damage a garden or crops, just pick off the bugs. Great alarms for predators. Eat a ton of ants, ticks, bees and mice! Awesome free range birds, but owls will pick them off at night. Will coop up if trained to do so, and free range well during the day. Eggs are really tasty, about bantam sized or larger. As a table bird, they surpass pheasant, we do eat them, and are very easy to process. Will aggressively go after hawks and snakes. Fox too unless he catches them! Can be very broody, Dad will help brood and will be ferocious protecting eggs and keets. Easy to incubate and hatch. Very hardy in a brooder. They also fly well.
The cons, they can be noisy. I am hard of hearing so I don't care, lol! Young birds alert at just about anything like a plastic bag blowing in the wind. Snow, an new car in the drive..silly things that don't much matter. Males can be very territorial, so you need pairs. If there's extra boys, there will be fights. Dominant cocks will be relentless and wear down the less dominant boys. Hens will also fight extra hens. Unless confined, they are not always good parents but brood very well. The mothers forget the keets don't do well in wet conditions. Will also fly up to things the keets can't reach. The demeanor varies by bird, but they tend to be timid. I have had very few human social guinea. And they fly well! So if you plan to confine, trim a wing.
Hope this helps and feel free to ask questions.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@jchny2000

Do you try to house the guineas or just let them free? I've only heard them one time. Crazy noise they make!


I do think that peas wandering around would be fun.... I don't think I'd try to house them though. I guess if I feed them they would hang around. But we live on a busy highway.... Wonder if they have enough sense to keep off the road?

 

[racinchickins]

...

Pea fowl.... Now I have a question.

Do you house them or do they roost in the trees outdoors?

In our old home...in town... a pea showed up one day. Hung around the neighborhood for about 6 mos. Roosted in the trees behind the houses way up high. It finally left in the spring when I think he went looking for female companionship.

But that has me wondering. Since he wintered outdoors all on his own, is that advisable (to let them roost outdoors) if I got one or 2 to just wander around the property?
Mine free range. The male has been all the way to the end of my 600 foot driveway (following our trail of blackberry plants...) The females have hung out not too far from the barn. The females and juvie females all roost in the barn at night. The male roosts in our willow tree by the driveway entrance except when a bad storm is coming, then he roosts in the barn. They were all rescues that were used to free roaming year round. Mine did just find overwintering, but they had a barn for shelter. Not sure what they had before they were rescued. There were open faced sheds and buildings, so I'm betting they used those if they needed any shelter at all.

I'm thinking how fun it would be to have a couple peas wandering around over the 4 acres that are fenced. But wonder if they'd stay or if they'd just go somewhere else. What do you feed a pea?

I started with 2 males and 2 females. One male disappeared, but I've heard peacock calls in the distance and neighbors have reported a peacock wandering through their properties. My guess is the other male drove him off as there apparently weren't enough girls for both. The others stick around and know where there food comes from. As far as food goes, mine get flock raiser along with everyone else. The moms managed to raise 3 babies on that and free ranging. They like our berry bushes (we had to cover gooseberries and blackberries from them) The forage well and LOVE grasshoppers (all my birds do). I don't do much supplementation for my flock beyond appropriate kitchen scraps and occasional chicken crack (scratch). I use the scratch to get all the birds in the barn or I throw it in a coop if I'm trying to catch someone. The peas do like it, but don't come running like everything else does. They just kind of saunter in and stay on the edges. The male will waltz in and scatter the other birds if he sees anything he particularly wants. He is the king now that I've gotten rid of my turkey toms. They would chase him when they were around.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@racinchickins

Do they roost outside? What about winter?

 

[racinchickins]

@racinchickins

Do they roost outside? What about winter?

The adult and juvie females all roost in the barn at night. The male roosts in our willow tree by the driveway entrance except when a bad storm is coming, then he roosts in the barn. They were all rescues that were used to free roaming year round. Mine did just find overwintering and they had a barn for shelter. Not sure what they did before they were rescued. There were open faced sheds and buildings, so I'm betting they used those if they needed any shelter at all.

 

[Sebrightmom]

Anyone raising show quaily Black Copper Marans? I have a friend looking for hatching eggs to buy.

 

[ellymayRans]

The fella in Middletown is David Bradley. Very good friend, have known him about 5 years. He is a FaceBook BYC Member.
Peafowl and the eggs are edible. They are a low quantity layer typically. I keep them for flock alarms, and eye candy. Just love how stunning they are. There a a few other members that can discuss pros and cons, I have limited experience on them.
They are pretty hardy. Mine did fine last winter. Just a shelter out of the wind is fine. I know the chicago zoos have them wandering around, or used to. My first encounter as a 1st grader, I was so amazed by how beautiful they are. Wanted to have my own ever since! Peacocks stay put better on a large property with plenty of interaction. And other peas, of course! I am planning ro get my fella some buddies. He is getting spoiled and free ranging until I get him set up, and introduced to his new friends. Kicking myself for not letting him out sooner! He is a real sweetheart. Loves the geese and ducks. They do help alarm the flock about arial and ground predators. Loud honks if something isn't right.

I really think each persons scenario/surroundings/interaction varies. I believe there is a way of working with them daily that eventually leads to a successful free ranger. Plenty of reasons that could cause them to fly or simply walk away. I've heard a lot of stories of them just up and leaving. After being penned and on the property for years and the moment they get that opportunity they are gone. It's certainly an expensive and heartwrenching risk you take. I believe a flock of any other birds in addition to a good amount of human interaction (even from a distance) and they will stay around. I've never had my adults leave.

Wander very little and really not more than a few hundred feet.
I live in a small rural neighborhood. 1 acre of land in a cul de sac with 3 other houses in the cul de sac. Mine have never slept in the trees and always chose our rooftop or the deck railing if being harrassed by owls on the roof.

In addition to free range they've always eaten all flock, game bird or layer feed. Whatever I put out really. Table scraps etc. they will certainly eat up your veggie garden, berries and mine love any hot pepper plants! Habenaro, super chilis, etc, peppers and the plant!! Their pruning always creates bushier plants with tons of peppers once I realize they've done it and protect them! Lol!

I wouldn't let any of your concerns be discouraging enough to not try them. They are lovely creatures and I hope I never live without them. I've only had them going on 3 years now I think. This year I just had horrible luck with chicks. Never had any trouble with them last year?!? Honestly this year and me with any chick has been a Bust! So!??!

 

[Mishlerfarm24]

Pea fowl.... Now I have a question.

Do you house them or do they roost in the trees outdoors?

In our old home...in town... a pea showed up one day. Hung around the neighborhood for about 6 mos. Roosted in the trees behind the houses way up high. It finally left in the spring when I think he went looking for female companionship.

But that has me wondering. Since he wintered outdoors all on his own, is that advisable (to let them roost outdoors) if I got one or 2 to just wander around the property?
@indyshent @jchny2000

I have a peafowl but I am very new to it. I housed mine for about 2 months to get him familiar with us and the chickens, ducks and fed him in the same spot everyday so that he would learn where the food was to keep him home verses wondering off and not returning home. We slowly let him out towards evening time and he didn't go very far and went back into the coop. I did this every other day and now he comes out all the time and goes in when it's time to go in. He's still a little skiddish from time to time but he's getting better. But I will have to say there were two nights where when I went to close the chickens in that he was not there. So I went looking for him for about 20 mins and walked back to the coop and finally looked up and he was on top of the coop next to my chicken weathervane!!! But so far so good!! I am a little nervous about when mating season comes. In the beginning I wanted to get a male and female but my fiancé said no and I went and got a peafowl anyways...lol! I read that it would have been better to have a pair to keep them grounded at home verses wondering off looking for a mate! So I'm in the process again looking for a female!