Interested in pea fowl, advice for a newbie?

[Jedwards]

I'm interested in getting pea fowl and I've read that quite a few types are cold sensitive. I live in Pennsylvania and winters here can get cold and I was just wondering what breed would be the most ideal? Thanks everybody!

 

[Cindysid]

The India Blues are pretty cold tolerant. The greens are more sensitive. A lot would depend on what kind of shelter you can provide. I know that there are a lot of pea enthusiasts in Pennsylvania.

 

[Jedwards]

Well for their pen I was going to use a 15x15 chain link dog pen and I was going to build a tall coop and attach it to that, I figured that should hole a couple? Thanks for the info, I'll look them up!

 

[new 2 pfowl]

Do you have much in the way of predators there? I had my boy in a chain link pen while he was recovering from an incident, and I found that many creatures can just walk right on through chainlink!

Our wonderful peaperson DylansMom is in PA, so she may be able to give you some good advice: https://www.backyardchickens.com/u/254231/dylansmom

And, by the way:

 

[Jedwards]

Around here we have a huge problem with red fox. We raise muscovy ducks and we lost 3 broody hens this week most likely due to those buggers. But I think the chain link should keep them out and the pen won't be far from the house. Thank you for the advice and the warm welcome haha!

 

[casportpony]

Around here we have a huge problem with red fox. We raise muscovy ducks and we lost 3 broody hens this week most likely due to those buggers. But I think the chain link should keep them out and the pen won't be far from the house. Thank you for the advice and the warm welcome haha!

Welcome to BYC!

Make sure your pen is covered, 'cause the foxes I have seen climb chain link!

-Kathy

 

[DylansMom]

Around here we have a huge problem with red fox. We raise muscovy ducks and we lost 3 broody hens this week most likely due to those buggers. But I think the chain link should keep them out and the pen won't be far from the house. Thank you for the advice and the warm welcome haha!

Do you have any dogs? I've found that just their presence on the property seems to make the foxes go around as opposed to thru. We had a chainlink Pea enclosure for many years with no predator issues, but it was right next to our dog kennel which housed several dogs. I have lost several hens to fox over the years, but they were always off our property when taken, all we found were the feathers in the neighbor's field. We had 32 Peafowl, in IB, BS, White, Cameo, Purple, Pied, Opal, and Spalding, all made it thru this past winter without issue. We also have a Burmese Green and he does need heat, which we provide. Just stay away from the greens and you will be fine. Where in PA are you located?

 

[casportpony]

The foxes haven't been here for a few months, maybe that's because they got tired of my dog chasing them, lol.

-Kathy

 

[zazouse]

how high do you plan on making the coup and how big of an area?How high do you plan to put the roost in the coup ?will it be open air or totally enclosed with a doorway?

Might wanna put a hot wire round the chain link fence, i have 3 dogs here that have no problem climbing any fence and foxes are no exception, also bob cats can scale a fence in seconds.
Not my photos, found on google images

sadly these look like somones so called pets

 

[Trefoil]

While 15 x 15 makes a nice sized holding or hospital pen, its not large enough for a single pea as a permanent pen. The more room you give them the less problems you will have will aggression and disease. There is also the roost problem, peas prefer to roost at least high enough so that their tails in full feather don't touch the ground, and they need to have 2x the height of their roost in landing space to avoid injury. The more thought and planning you put into housing, the more success you will have with your peas. The actual birds are the cheapest cost of owning peas, but they are also the "reward" at the end.Its worth the trouble and expense to insure trouble free pea keeping. Making your pen and "coop" predator proof will save you years of worrying about predators and allow you to enjoy the wildlife around you. Good luck and of course WELCOME !