need help with peacock showing aggression to humans

[JohnInNC]

Hello friends-of-birds!

First, let me apologize if this is too far off topic for this community. However, we're at the end of our rope and cannot find solutions or suggestions anywhere else.

I need bird psychology advice for a peacock that is pecking people and drawing blood. I'm just hoping someone might offer some insights before we must get rid of this bird.

At my family farm we have lots of visitors. We open for tourists several weekends every year, and we also have a Bed & Breakfast. We have enjoyed having peafowl and guineafowl ranging free on the farm. The Peacocks and peahens provide security (nice intruder alarms) and add to the scenery. The guineas eat ticks and other nuisance insects, as well as reinforcing the peafowl in their security duties.

Over more than two decades we've really enjoyed having several peacocks. But the most recent peacock we've gotten was raised to eat from human hands. We fear this im-printation has caused the peacock to have an unhealthy fixation on humans. He follows us around incessantly. And several times in just a few weeks he has pecked people's legs, once drawing blood from my septuagenarian mother's leg. I contacted the original owner and she somehow seemed to have neglected to tell me about this dangerous behavior. She said that Raja (the peacock) had taken to following her small daughter around all the time, and had tried to climb on top of her. In fact, the prior owner had started arming herself with a stick every time she went outside. Obviously a problem bird. (Caveat emptor, buyer beware. Wish I'd known this beforehand.)

He does have a "harem." His two peahens, however, have chosen to spend their days and nights inside a pasture patrolled by llamas, rather than wandering the whole farm with Raja. Probably a good idea since we do have the occasional visit from fox and coyotes.

Raja is a beautiful bird. And I do not want to conclude that this is violent behavior. I'd prefer to think it is simply inappropriate food-seeking behavior.

But how do we help Raja change the behavior?

thanks in advance,

John

 

[Rosa moschata]

Try by carrying water guns with you when you're walking about the farm. Whenever Raja approaches you within shooting range, give a squirt of water. Have everyone repeat.

You could also try "charging" back at him whenever he gets close. Think like a peacock -- he thinks he's one of the people because of his imprinting, and he's treating people the way he would treat other peacocks, and everyone seems to be losing in his challenges. It's time to fight back. The water gun is one way, but you could also try chasing him away with arms outstretched and waving until he backs off. Show him you're bigger and more aggressive. Good luck.

 

[zazouse]

I would sell him to someone that knows peafowl and purchase another bird. He is what he is and nothing will change that. i have many imprinted wee peas and they can be a pest they see legs and they think you are their leader, follow them leggs any where. LOL

What happen to your other peas they live past 20 years in most cases.

 

[zazouse]

Try by carrying water guns with you when you're walking about the farm. Whenever Raja approaches you within shooting range, give a squirt of water. Have everyone repeat.

You could also try "charging" back at him whenever he gets close. Think like a peacock -- he thinks he's one of the people because of his imprinting, and he's treating people the way he would treat other peacocks, and everyone seems to be losing in his challenges. It's time to fight back. The water gun is one way, but you could also try chasing him away with arms outstretched and waving until he backs off. Show him you're bigger and more aggressive. Good luck.

There is a liability issue here he house guest there, If Raja attacks one and puts their eye out it is not gonna be good for the farm, what guest is gonna carry around a water gun?