Just realized my peachicks are all brothers and sisters...

[Smittenroade]

I got all my peachicks from the same batch so they're all brother and sisters, what a conundrum.

Hmm...Well, we dont want any inbreeding...so what are the options with peabirds? Should I buy some later for mating? Would it be a problem to introduce new members to the flock later? Do peafowl breeders ever trade peafowl? Questions questions questions...

 

[MinxFox]

I was wondering what some members were going to do with all those related peachicks! If I were you I might wait a while until they are older especially so you know for certain what sex they are and then try to get mates for them. You could start now if you want by trying to find places that have the same variety your peachicks are and then see if they have the same age. It depends when you want to get more birds. Do you want more peachicks to take care of now or do you want to wait for your peachicks to be yearlings and then get yearlings?

 

[bandbaustin]

What I have done is find someone with same color and trade bird for bird. A hen for a hen or male for male to bring new blood in for both people.

 

[Smittenroade]

Thanks for the insiteful replies! I will meditate on this...and maybe check some breeders and local people with peafowl. Is there any certain amount of time that I have to introduce others into the flock? Or will they just accept others whenever?

 

[KWAK]

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mine always just accept others...

 

[Smittenroade]

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mine always just accept others...

Oh ok, cool! Thanks much!

 

[deerman]

Lot of breeders use more than one hen per peacock......so many maybe only half brothers and half sisters. Yes peafowl will accept others

 

[Smittenroade]

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Thanks my main man deerman! Another question...If I did end up breeding them, what would be the bad side effects I would look for? and what is the likelyhood there would be any bad effects at all?

On a side note...I actually think they might be half brothers and sisters because there were 2 peahens laying at one time and they use the same nests don't they?

 

[pbj0206]

I would just wait until you know their sex and then either buy some unrelated mates or trade with another breeder or friend. But, if you are anything like me, I would get mates...my flock keeps growing...they are an addiction...lol. You don't want to breed siblings. As far as how many, you can generally have up to 4 or 5 hens per peacock. If their is a fertility issue with 5 (if you even care about that) then just bump it down a hen.

There won't be any real side effects really, but if you continue to do that, generation after generation, it could start to be a problem. Like all animals inbreeding is not good. It really depends on what your plans are too. Are you keeping them free range to mate and let nature take it course, or breed to sell or? For reference, they say not siblings, but mother to son or father to daughter is okay. Half siblings they also say is okay. I personally don't breed any that are related.

Oh and hens don't necessarily share nests, sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.

 

[Smittenroade]

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I really appreciate the information! Inbreeding never really was an option, I'll probably raise them to yearlings and sell/trade the hens and use that money to buy a couple hens from a breeder down near me. Always did want a white spalding ^__^