live long and lay eggs

[cray4en]

I have read in several blogs/posts that peafowl will like around 25 to 35 years in captivity.

1. How long do pea hens lay eggs (till they pass away) or at what age do they stop?

2. Do you purchase grown peahens because if they do stop laying how do you know whom to by and not to purchase?

 

[DylansMom]

I have read in several blogs/posts that peafowl will like around 25 to 35 years in captivity.

1. How long do pea hens lay eggs (till they pass away) or at what age do they stop?

2. Do you purchase grown peahens because if they do stop laying how do you know whom to by and not to purchase?

I have 2 hens that are older, one I know for a fact will be 20 this spring/summer( not sure exactly when she hatched, but I've had her since she was 3 months old). The other I am guessing is just as old and maybe a little older, both laid eggs last year the one I know the age of, laid clears(she may have just not liked the male she was penned with), the other laid fertile eggs that had a hatch rate of about 50%(a lot of late quitters). I will post results of this years laying by them.

Hard to tell the age, I look at the feet, my old girls have really gnarley feet, big knuckles a couple toe nails growing up not down, just look like old feet!

 

[cray4en]

That's awesome. I haven't got an egg yet and this will be my 1st time when they do. I got all 3years+ execpt a year old purple pair. I don't think they are very old but the nails one two of the hens are curling. I don't believe it is so much to do with age but how they were kept before I got them. I was thinking I might try to trim their nails but will wait a bit to see if they will wear down on their own. I don't know guess I should google that next?

 

[DylansMom]

That's awesome. I haven't got an egg yet and this will be my 1st time when they do. I got all 3years+ execpt a year old purple pair. I don't think they are very old but the nails one two of the hens are curling. I don't believe it is so much to do with age but how they were kept before I got them. I was thinking I might try to trim their nails but will wait a bit to see if they will wear down on their own. I don't know guess I should google that next?

Some of mine seem to wear down their nails on their own, others I do trim once a year, using a regular dog toenail clipper. I trim some beaks down occasionally as well, usually older birds.

 

[DylansMom]

I have 2 hens that are older, one I know for a fact will be 20 this spring/summer( not sure exactly when she hatched, but I've had her since she was 3 months old). The other I am guessing is just as old and maybe a little older, both laid eggs last year the one I know the age of, laid clears(she may have just not liked the male she was penned with), the other laid fertile eggs that had a hatch rate of about 50%(a lot of late quitters). I will post results of this years laying by them.

Hard to tell the age, I look at the feet, my old girls have really gnarley feet, big knuckles a couple toe nails growing up not down, just look like old feet!

Last night my 20 year old Cameo BS laid her first egg, it is a respectable 91g, she has never laid very big ones. I have seen her mated by the male 3X in the past 2 weeks, so there should be no problems there. Anybody wanna place wagers on whether it is fertile?

Last year she laid all clears, but I never saw that young inexperienced male mate with her, he was happy with the other hen in that pen. If she lays clears again, I will give her some from the younger hens, she is a dedicated brooder and hatched 6 "gift" eggs last summer.

 

[Peafowlssssssss]

Last night my 20 year old Cameo BS laid her first egg, it is a respectable 91g, she has never laid very big ones. I have seen her mated by the male 3X in the past 2 weeks, so there should be no problems there. Anybody wanna place wagers on whether it is fertile?

Last year she laid all clears, but I never saw that young inexperienced male mate with her, he was happy with the other hen in that pen. If she lays clears again, I will give her some from the younger hens, she is a dedicated brooder and hatched 6 "gift" eggs last summer.

I would say fertile, age is just a number LOL.

 

[DylansMom]

I would say fertile, age is just a number LOL.

I hope so!