new to raising peafowl

[carin goldsberr]

Hi everyone I am new to raising peas and I must say that I love love love them.I have 5 dave and the beatles, but I have sadly lost 2 to illness.
I live in Nova Scotia, We get very cold here in the winter, My boys live in our barn it's unheated. They are 4 months old and are sucessfully freeranging. We have lots of chickens ducks and bantums that seem to winter very well but I am concerned about the peas. Anywords of wisdom? Should they have a heat source or are they winter hardy?

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I have read they need a heat source but I am new to peas, as well. I can't help you since I live way down the coast from you and we have mild winters compared to yours.

 

[Frosty]

If they are high percentage green, they'll need heat. India Blues and all of the color sports developed from there will need protection from the elements. It helps them to have a wider roost so they cover their toes with their feathers and body while roosting (to help prevent frozen toes).

When I got mine they were about the size of a leghorn chicken, and within a month they went through temps around -38F (at those temps F and C are pretty close). My male does have some freeze damage on his toes because the roost wasn't wide enough, buy they did fine otherwise.

I try to avoid heat sources whenever possible, mostly because they can be a fire hazard and partly because in the event of a power outage it's harder on them when they are used to the heat.

 

[carin goldsberr]

thankyou for your replies.
My youngest is Dave we hatched him in the incubator, he has imprinted on me and will come when I call especially with the promise of sunflower seeds. The other 2 will follow. He hatched on july 22 this year. He has been putting up his tail and shaking it at me somtimes but I am not sure this makes him male.
his coloring is green on the neck but not fully and I think he looks like most of the other hens I have been looking at online.

 

[zazouse]

Can you post a photo of Dave? we should be able to tell by now if it is a male or female.

 

[carin goldsberr]

I can't seem to attach a picture so I changed my avatar picture.
I liked your quote oh and your picture of your peas is so beautiful.
I hang out with my babies for hours. I love them they eat from my hand and fly to me when I call them.

 

[new 2 pfowl]

Dave is quite lovely, but he's a she!
It is wonderful that she is so comfortable with you.
Most of our gang will eat out of my hand but they don't really want to get too close.