Introducing new peacocks to new free-ranging home

[SusanPA]

Hello! I have a peacock and 5 peahens in a small barn with an attached aviary that I just brought home today. They will be free-ranged here on our 10-acre farm. I plan on keeping them in their sanctuary for about a month before letting them out to explore. I just had an idea: would it be smart to let them out close to 'bed time', so that rather than have the inclination to fly off or venture too far away, they go up into a tree to sleep, or up on the roof where our other peacock sleeps? He doesn't venture far from the house, he's a terrific bird, but his mate was injured and subsequently fell to a predator. Any insight would be helpful! Thanks.

 

[SnackMeat]

When I have a group like that (and this is for chickens, ducks, or turkeys, I haven't tried peahens or peacocks) I will let out 1-2 of the group out in the afternoon but where they have access to seeing their friends where I have them shut up. Then I rotate-- 1-2 from yesterday would stay shut up and then the others.

I find they tend to stick close to where I want them, if they can see their friends who can't free range. And then eventually, all of them get let out.

 

[SusanPA]

When I have a group like that (and this is for chickens, ducks, or turkeys, I haven't tried peahens or peacocks) I will let out 1-2 of the group out in the afternoon but where they have access to seeing their friends where I have them shut up. Then I rotate-- 1-2 from yesterday would stay shut up and then the others.

I find they tend to stick close to where I want them, if they can see their friends who can't free range. And then eventually, all of them get let out.

Once peacocks are out, they're out. Definitely not at all chicken-like! It's been quite the learning curve with these birds, that's for sure. They're more like wild animals as opposed to domestic fowl. They do what they're gonna do, you know? Three flaps of their wings and they're in the top of a tree. My first pair of peacocks were let out too early, and ended up over a mile away in someone's yard. Had a devil of a time trapping them! But eventually, after being penned again, they imprinted on the farm here and hung around the house. I just don't want to go through all that again!

 

[SnackMeat]

Fair. So they don't stay bonded to their own mates? Because I know the chicken version is a lot different but I've let them out too early and they've all ****ed off (fences? Psh. Not for meeee!) but if I keep 1-2 locked up, say in a crate or cage, the others tend to stick close.

But I also don't know how food motivated peahens are. I think part of it isn't bonding but being able to see the caged ones being free fed, versus everyone out to range gets fed in the morning, and at night (and treats but you have to be fast because not everyone is fast enough to get equal amounts.)

 

[SusanPA]

Fair. So they don't stay bonded to their own mates? Because I know the chicken version is a lot different but I've let them out too early and they've all ****ed off (fences? Psh. Not for meeee!) but if I keep 1-2 locked up, say in a crate or cage, the others tend to stick close.

But I also don't know how food motivated peahens are. I think part of it isn't bonding but being able to see the caged ones being free fed, versus everyone out to range gets fed in the morning, and at night (and treats but you have to be fast because not everyone is fast enough to get equal amounts.)

These new birds haven't been given fruit before, but grapes and raisins are a favorite among peacocks in general. While still housed, I plan on giving them fruit every morning so they realize that this is the place to be. August is the wrap-up for breeding season, so there isn't that hormonal pull that would exist in, say, April. They do enjoy the company of their own kind but will unceremoniously go on walkabout without a second thought. Just trying to figure out a way to minimize them going all Jack Kerouac as soon as they're eventually turned out.