Need advice on taming Peafowl

[RedhedINgrl]

For our anniversary my Husband brought home a pair of yearling peafowl. Ive always wanted some so it was a very touching gift. However...the place he bought them from never handles their birds. In fact when the gentleman caught them, the cock sustained a broken leg. It was too high for me to splint but he is healing well. They are so wild!! They have a large building and large outdoor run but spend most of their time in a corner inside. They are ok when I give them food/water but If Im in the building longer than that they start flying into the ceiling and its obviously fear. Ive tried sitting in there with treats but they wont calm down long enough to even notice the treat. Is there anything I can do? I dont expect to cuddle them
But it would be nice to sit an enjoy them without injury to themselves or me!

 

[lightchick]

Well I'd start with just sitting in their coop with them and once the relax more with that then try putting treats near you. And then after that hold treats in your hand and then try petting them ext.
Just go slowly and don't rush it. Good luck!

 

[RedhedINgrl]

Ok I will give that another shot. I tried tonight and suddenly had a peahen on my head! Im not worried about petting, while that would be nice. I just want them calm around people.

 

[lightchick]

She jumped on your head!? That's a good sign.

 

[RedhedINgrl]

Well she was on her roost flapping around and popping. Then flew off and landed on my head

 

[lightchick]

Wow. That's kinda a big bird to be landing on your head.
Was she very heavy?

 

[RedhedINgrl]

She's good sized. Almost full grown. I cant say it was pleasant. She sat there for a few seconds an flew off.

 

[lightchick]

Cool.

 

[autumnmfisher]

we hand raised three of ours, they've always been very people friendly and eat out of your hand. then got a 6month old pair. had the same problem with them. it took a long time and patience. light chick is right (in my opinion) keep doing what you are doing. I'd just stay in there till they calm down, don't leave while they're flipping out, then they'll expect that every time. stay till they're calm. her landing on your head was probably the best accident ever. she touched you, and she's still fine. she knows that. so that's a good thing. our pair we got at 6 months is 2 years now, neither will eat out of my hand (and I haven't spent as much time as I'd like with them as we've had two more children and I've been very bz) but they are fine with anyone walking in now. come very close when we're giving treats and I've touched the boys train while he roosted, the first few times he'd jump up. now he just looks at me like really? ugh. I know he still doesn't like it, but he doesn't freak out anymore. I've had more time for them this spring and we're making headway. a good time to go in is after dark. they're roosted, and you can reach up and touch them. don't push it, but this shows them you're not trying to hurt them. it worked for me. I'd just touch their tales or legs. put treats up on the roost for them. good luck

 

[MinxFox]

Well I'd start with just sitting in their coop with them and once the relax more with that then try putting treats near you. And then after that hold treats in your hand and then try petting them ext.
Just go slowly and don't rush it. Good luck!

This is good advise, but I wouldn't try petting for a while. That could scare them a little and you really need their trust so I wouldn't try petting. Peafowl are not as tame as say chickens they are more like wild birds, but they can be tamed down for sure. The only peafowl I can pet is one that I hand raised and is imprinted to me. The others I cannot pet, but they do get very close to me and will even lie down and fall asleep in front of me.

Don't give up I know they seem very very wild right now, but just keep sitting in there with them. You could even bring a book out there and read out loud to get them used to your voice. My first peafowl were afraid of me, and what made it worse is they were in such a small pen that they were forced to walk close to me if they had to get by. I got them tamed down. Now I don't have a small pen which is nice. They sometimes feel more afraid if they feel forced to be close to you if they are in a small space. Holding out a head of lettuce can be helpful because they won't feel like they have to take food straight from your hand because the lettuce distances them more from you and can make them feel more comfortable eating. Also, sometimes looking away from them makes them feel more comfortable to take treats from your hand. These days my birds are so tame sometimes I have to step over one to go fill a food dish because they won't move!

I bought a yearling pied peahen that was so easily spooked. I would get within 10 ft. of her maybe and she would take off flying and bounce off of the netting. Now she is tame.

With my first peafowl pair I used unsalted, unshelled peanuts to tame them. Find a treat that your peafowl love, and then once they get comfortable eating it near you, then ONLY give it to them from your hand. At first, they will stare at it in your hand and they may even cluck out of nervousness trying to decide if they want to take the treat from your hand or not. This is when you look away to make them feel more comfortable. Finally one day they will decide they HAVE to have that treat even if it means taking it from your hand. Once they get used to eating out of your hand you don't have to worry about looking away. I can't remember if the males do this, but I know that if the peahens are feeling uncertain if they want food from your hand they will go, "Cluck...cluck cluck...CLUCK".

It just takes some patience but it is worth it.

Here is a list of treats that my peafowl love for an idea of what yours might like: http://www.bamboopeacock.com/Treats_for_Peafowl.html

I would say that peanuts, bread, and lettuce are great taming foods though. Good luck I hope that they tame down!