Java Peahen with White feathers?

[AquaEyes]

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If you're reluctant to using her for "pure Java" breeding, then use her for spalding breeding. I've seen birds on breeders' websites that were listed as pure Java but culled from that breeding group for various reasons, then being relegated to the spalding breeding group. In any case, she's a beauty, and if she offers you enjoyment in keeping her then that is already a bonus.

 

[bdfive]

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If you're reluctant to using her for "pure Java" breeding, then use her for spalding breeding. I've seen birds on breeders' websites that were listed as pure Java but culled from that breeding group for various reasons, then being relegated to the spalding breeding group. In any case, she's a beauty, and if she offers you enjoyment in keeping her then that is already a bonus.

Was in bed but use a baby monitor to hear what's going on outside. A darn owl started hooting and I have 4 peahens and a cock in the Live Oak trees. I may have had 2 birds killed earlier this year by Great Horned owls. Any way....was laying there thinking about breeding the Java hen speckled with white feathers on her neck and chest to a Spalding male I have with some white wing feathers. Only thing is he is only 4 months old right now, haha!!!

 

[Bigcreekpeafowl]

The person who I usually call when sound advice is needed is Doug McNutt from Texas, D & M Farms. He is listed under breeders directory on the UPA website. I contacted him in the beginning of this, and have sent him photos over the last 3 years. This hen is pure muticus.
Another knowledgeable person is Sid Drenth, another Texan. He has Texas Peafowl.

Checking back on records it started 3 years ago. I have taken photos each year. The photos show the progression of the white feathers. I need to get some this year taken outdoors. The last one from about 6 weeks ago was taken indoors.

And I am going to raise chicks from her. Up until this year did not have a male for her.

Pictures in order of progression.

 

[clinton9]

Hi Alea,
I think the green peahen is the Spalding peahen, bred back to green peafowls, etc say the pied Indian Blue peacock mated with green peahens and all peachicks are normal coloured Spalding, with hidden genes for pied. Then breeder bred the Spalding peafowls with green peafowls over 10 past years.
So one of great, great, great grand peachicks grow into a pied green peahen you see now.

No, I don't think a pure white green peafowl had existed yet.

Clinton.


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[AquaEyes]

The white-spotting genes in IB peafowl (White, Pied, White-Eyed) do not express themselves in the manner observed with this peahen. She started out fully-pigmented, but is getting an increase in the number of white feathers at each molt. It might not even be genetic. Don't use the trait as evidence of IB breeding because it's not the same as Pied, White or White-Eyed. If she looks to be a spalding because of other characteristics, please share your observations.

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[bdfive]

The pictures posted aren't of my peahen but mine does have the speckled effect of white feathers on the neck and chest. I'm assuming she may get more white in the future. I only have 4 pens, 5 acres, this is a hobby and don't really can't keep to many peafowl.....it could become a problem in our subdivision so I'm seriously thinking of trading her back to the breeder for another. I need to stick with one pair. I have 2 - 50% Green peahens I'm breeding with my Java male that are giving me gorgeous well behaved Spaldings. Have 2 male, 1 female from last years hatch that are growing out really nice looking. Have 7 from this years hatch. One of the 50% hens has a couple of white wing feathers which is carrying thru to her chicks. Other has none. I did manage to get one Java chick....a boy I'm sure that is a little devil. I see trouble in the future, LOL!!!

 

[bdfive]

Thank you so much for posting the pictures. I can sure see where each year more white has appeared. Mine has no white on the body except for around neck and on chest. Quite a few on the chest. If I had more room and pens and was not in a subdivision with a Home Owners Association I'd probably keep her and see what happens but can only keep on Java peahen and prefer I have one without the white so will be trading her back to the breeder if I can get a decent replacement. She gets fresh veggies and fruit and is spoiled rotten ..... I feel guilty not keeping her.



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[birdboy508]

that dosnt mean anything it is probably 100% java.

 

[clinton9]

Hi AqualEyes,
OK, Through the peahen had veggies & fruits to eat, I think peahen need insects as wrong diet are cause of birds with wrong colours on feathers. I cannot help as I do not know the causes of this peahen have white feathers which increase in numbers as bird ages, apart from diet.

Clinton.


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[AquaEyes]

If it was diet, then it would be likely that there would be other peafowl eating the same food that develop the same white feathers.

Additionally, there are no "hidden genes for pied" in peafowl. All three known white-spotting genes in peafowl (White, Pied and White-Eyed) are incomplete dominant -- thus if a bird has one copy of one of these genes, there will be white somewhere.

My point is that this "turning white" phenomena is not evidence of a hybrid ancestry. I don't know what's causing it, but it's not the same as what makes pied IB have their white feathers.

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