Java Green Peafowl

[escondido]

Hello
I am new to peafowl. Just received my first juvenile pair of java greens from a well known breeder. The birds are beautiful, however their faces are very pale yellow versus the bright yellow I would expect from this breed. I asked the breeder about this and he claimed the yellow would become substantionally more pronounced as the birds mature or their diet is adjusted. These fowl are about 12 months old and were sold to me as pure java greens, muticus muticus. Your opinions based on experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[new 2 pfowl]

Can you post pictures?
Our peapeople who have Green experience will have more to work with in answering your question.
In the meantime...

 

[DylansMom]

Hello
I am new to peafowl. Just received my first juvenile pair of java greens from a well known breeder. The birds are beautiful, however their faces are very pale yellow versus the bright yellow I would expect from this breed. I asked the breeder about this and he claimed the yellow would become substantionally more pronounced as the birds mature or their diet is adjusted. These fowl are about 12 months old and were sold to me as pure java greens, muticus muticus. Your opinions based on experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Where were they housed over the winter? I have heard that the more sun they get the brighter yellow the loral patch will become. I do think it is paler on juveniles as well, but not 100% sure there.

 

[MinxFox]

I agree I would love to see photos please! Who did you get them from? I don't have green peafowl but I like learning about them since someday when I have more pens and can get more birds I would like to get a pair of greens.

What they told you sounds right as far as the faces. Young greens will have pale faces and as they age their face will get more color. Evidently food that contains Keratin will help to bring out the bright yellow and light blue in green peafowl and spalding peafowl's faces. Some green peafowl breeders feed their birds kelp meal to help bring out the face color. Also all natural grains and seeds contribute to their face coloring. Sweet potatoes and carrots also contain keratin. I sometimes feed my birds carrots. I give it to them in little bite size pieces or shred the carrots and feed it to them. You can also search the internet for other keratin containing foods.

Also several people say that sunlight can make their faces brighter. Evidently the more sunlight the birds get the brighter their faces will get. So if the birds you got were kept inside a chick barn or in a shaded area that could be another reason why their faces are not so bright.

When they are young their faces are definitely not as bright though so with age and a good diet you should see the color that you are looking for.

 

[escondido]

Thanks so much for all the insight and time taken to explain. I will post some pics as soon as possible.

 

[escondido]

The pair of Javas came from Brad Legg of Missouri .

 

[MinxFox]

Okay I can't wait to see the photos!

 

[margaret8]

Where were they housed over the winter? I have heard that the more sun they get the brighter yellow the loral patch will become. I do think it is paler on juveniles as well, but not 100% sure there.

How warm do you have to keep them in the winter?

 

[DylansMom]

How warm do you have to keep them in the winter?

We were told mid-forties was good. We have a quartz heater mounted on the ceiling and pointed down at the roost. It is plugged into a therm. that kicks it on if the room drops below 45 and turns it off if it gets above 50. Works great until we have a power outage, then I guess old Fred will be sleeping in the bed w/ DH and I.

 

[margaret8]

I

We were told mid-forties was good. We have a quartz heater mounted on the ceiling and pointed down at the roost. It is plugged into a therm. that kicks it on if the room drops below 45 and turns it off if it gets above 50. Works great until we have a power outage, then I guess old Fred will be sleeping in the bed w/ DH and I.

want some of the green ones, but I don't want to go through hassle!