my peachicks are about to hatch help!

[chickbythebay]

My peahen is sitting on a nest of five eggs that are scheduled to hatch in three days. I havent had the peafowl long and I have never had pea chicks. Is there anything I should know? Will the peahen raise them and do all the work like my chickens do when they hatch babies? Thanks for any replies!

 

[Yoda]

The peahen should raise them but the strongest will survive or you can just put them in a brooder box and grow them out yourself with medicated chick starter crumbles.

 

[chickbythebay]

So if I leave them with the hen, do I need to give them chick starter or is the wild game food ok to start them with?

 

[Yoda]

If you have them with a hen yes you can give the chick starter. At least it will help build immune to Cocci. I would not feed adult food to chicks it lacks the proper nutrients the chicks need. Remember they can catch Coccidia and blackhead being on the ground at such an early age and by the time you notice that something is wrong with the chicks it can be too late. Me I would put them in a brooder and raise them myself but they are yours and it is your call. If you want to take the chance with them, then leave them with the mother. Who are the housed with? If they are free ranging then watch for predators.

 

[chickbythebay]

The peafowl are housed by theirselves. They do not free range.i just think it would be cruel to take them from the mother after she has sat on that nest for a month. But I am wondering at what point I can take them without upsetting her, because I do not have the room for 5 more grown peafowl.