My very first Peafowl.

[neffchick]

Hello everyone. I just got a Indian blue Peacock, peahen and chick. I have raised exotic parrots and starting this spring I have been raising chickens. So I am not totally clueless about birds, but I can say I do not know much about these guys other then what I have been reading on the internet and on all of your post.
I had a friend who's grandma had an overwhelming amount of peafowl and told me I could have a pair for free.

I jumped all over that of course. Well they use to be free range but now they are in an enclosure my husband made that is 8' high 15' long and 10' wide. I was told by the grandma to keep them in there for a month before free ranging them, but the grandpa said for three to five months. What do you guys say to this?
Also they said it was to early to sex the baby but after looking at some posts, I think it is a peacock. He is getting blue on his neck and he always struts around like a turkey. I think it is practice for when his train comes in in two years. Not sure though if all babies do this. Well any advice would be great. I want them to be healthy and happy just like all my other animals.
Thank you-in advance
neffchick

 

[deerman]

Grandpa is right , also let one out first. HOPE THE ONES IN THE PEN WILL KEEP HIM AROUND. Older peafowl are alot harder to break to free range.

 

[neffchick]

Ya, the peachick got out but went back in with in minutes and has not left again.
I was thinking about waiting to let them out after the peahen lays her eggs in the spring of 2012. Should I let the peacock out first? I am thinking he will want to hang around if the hen is still here. We did not make the cage 10' high so I do not know how well he will fit in there once he grows his train back.

 

[MinxFox]

Don't worry your pen is defiantly high enough for the peacock's train. The lowest it can be for their train is like 6ft. I got adult free-range birds and kept them in for a month and a half. All was good for a month then they ran away so the longer you keep them in the better. I got the peahen back, but the peacock was long gone off in the woods. We still hear him sometimes somewhere out there. I think waiting until 2012 summer is a great idea. That will give them plenty of time to get used to the area and more importantly to get used to you and you can get them to eat out of your hand that way when they free-range you can hand feed them. I loved doing that with my first pair before they ran away.