My new peahen got away....

[thndrdancr]

Went to our local exotic auction yesterday...I bought a black shoulder young pair, a 2 year old male, and a one year old female. All in different cages. I asked hubby to do some work on the pen before he put them in there, like putting up a high roost,moving some hale bales, etc..so he wouldnt make them nervous.

Well, I was in town, he was working and I call him. Turns out...he put the peas and and THEN went to do the work. He went to open the door to go in and the peahen flew right out, she must have been waiting.

Poor guy, he climbed a tree to try to get her before I talked to him, hurt his shoulder, and of course then she flew. IF he would have called me I would have told him not to even try.

Anyhow, poor hubby was upset that I would be so mad. I am not, just happy he is ok, but it would have been nice IF he would have listened...sigh...i mean I think he heard me, just didnt pay ATTENTION or dissed what I was saying.

Now all afternoon, she hung out with my two boys who are currently free range, but pretty tame. I have been trying to leave food and water out constantly, so she wont be too tempted to stray. Frankly I am surprised she hung out here from what I have heard of peas, poof they are gone if they dont know "home".

Now....I need current pea owners to give me the odds of her sticking around with strange pea boys, there are no other peas for 3 1/2 miles. She is older than them by about 6 months.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear about this. How disappointing.

I really hope she sticks around and you're able to catch her again. I'll be hoping the best for you.

 

[Kev]

Highly recommend not even trying to chase her at all. If you want her caught again, best to use passive methods such as waiting until she walks into a shed, barn or any pen you can leave the door open...

As long as the boys are not aggressive towards her, she will stay if she has the inclination to. But, if anything harasses her.. there is a chance she may be driven away.

It is true that it's best to confine new peafowl as long as possible.. this is more to their unpredictable nature.. some will stay around even if only there for a short time, some/many will not.. so why take the chance? I've heard of peafowl literally brought home in plastic bags(yes serious..) and practically tossed over the fence and they stayed.. and also of some that were kept confined for a year and they still disappeared as soon as the door was open.. those are extremes, most are around in between. Somewhere. Best to keep them inside as long as possible- to raise the chances of them staying around.

If she is around in the morning and nothing harasses her, odds are relatively high she will stay. Keep food and water "very available".. but you are doing that already.. It helps a lot she's young and a female.. birds a year and younger take to a new home the easiest.. you have males, and this is a female, which probably helps..

 

[thndrdancr]

Thanks Kev, appreciate the input.

Yea I know to keep them caged, ummm...she WAS caged..for a few minutes at least. I intended it to be more than a few minutes, but Murphy's law sometimes kicks in.

Especially when your husband doesnt listen. He always does things his way and doesnt always see the sense in MY way. Thus, free new peahen.

I do hope she sticks around, hubby told me when he left this afternoon she was on the deck with my boys, but when we got home, we had the pups and I never saw her, so I imagine the pups scared her.

I will try to keep the little bandits contained a bit tomorrow, and maybe she will stick around. I cant imagine two 12 week old enormous super exuberant puppies that just happen to like bird chasing will help her decide to stay. sigh....

 

[thndrdancr]

She is still here as of this afternoon.

I almost cant tell them apart, my boy I raised is out really trying to romance her...he is probably exhausted having that tail up that long!

 

[chickenzoo]

...........

hope she sticks around. It's been windy here and all the boys almost fall over trying to hold those tails up.....

 

[barryk]

If she is still hanging around and you know were she roosts at night you can go out with a bright flashlight shine it in her eyes this well kind of blind her and she wont know were to fly so and at this time put a net over her and hopefully you have caught her.

 

[Kev]

That is great news.

Yea I know all about Murphys law and family members or friends having zero bird sense! LOL Now if a pea escapes, I don't even worry about it.. always turns out it is back in the yard(if it flew out) trying its best to get back IN the pen.. Just go up there, open door and it walks in. Proceed to take care of rest of the birds...

 

[deerman]

For sure DONT go chasing her. feed her, if you want to catch her, try feeding her near her pen,then in the pen.

Try a few traps. like a large dog cage, place food in the cage, with a rope tied to the door, just pull the door shut when she goes in.

Now if you are free ranging your other peafowl, she should stick around to be with others.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

My wife brought home two male Peacocks. They are confined to the horse arena with the pregnant mini mares. They roost in the steel rafters and I throw poultry and game bird on the ground and have a 2 gallon waterer on the arena floor.
So far so good, but I sure do not relish the idea of letting them out soon. I have heard two weeks in confinement. Is this enough time for them. They seem very calm and friendly and they do have each other. I have a flock of Guineas and of course the chickens. I am hoping they will go back into the arean to roost.

Any suggestions is welcome. I hear these birds are pretty unpredictable. They are beautiful animals and they do alot of "honking". What else should I be feeding the dudes ?