pea-newby

[Naughty]

I am posting from a phone so forgve typos plz....

I have kept chickens for about 2 years and love em!

My daughter is getting some pea-chicks and I need advice from experts.

Do they get along okay with chickens if they are raised with them? My chicks are all pets....all 18 of em.... my roo is named mama boy. So that's a clue. Lol

Can you eat the eggs? I'm not into breeding.... they are basically rescue chicks...

Can they be fed about the same diet as my oth er babies?

I'm sure I'll have more later. Lol

how young can you sex them?

 

[Kedreeva]

Hi there! They get along ok with chickens (mine are currently penned with 'naughty' roosters, and they don't bother one another), but there's always a chance that at a young age they'll "bully" the chicken chicks because they are going to be bigger. There are also diseases that chickens can carry (but show no symptoms of) that can kill peafowl, such as blackhead (worms). So, if you can keep them separate that is best.

You can eat the eggs and they are delicious.

They can be fed medicated chick starter diet, but you may want to add in something with more protein for them. Hard boiled egg yolks are a favorite, but I also gave mine kitten chow and crickets for treats. You can also try plain greek yogurt. If you are in an area where you can get it, medicated game bird starter chow is ideal for baby peafowl.

If you take clear pictures of them (specifically their wings/backs/shoulders) when they are around 2-3 months old, we will be able to tell you what genders they are.

If you want to read more about peafowl care in general, there is a sticky topics index at the top of the peafowl forum. Peafowl 101 is a good place to start learning the basics. Good luck and bring us pics when you get the babies! We love pictures!

 

[Naughty]

Will it hurt them if they get into chicken food - and vice versa? They will probably have to be in the same area - but the area is big - and I will segregate with a fence. My daughter works at the zoo - and these are chicks from those peafowl - the mommas and daddies pretty much free range the whole zoo - and are in with many different animals...the babies have been with them - and they are usually found in the chicken area - or near the penguins... lol

I live in the country - so here's hoping my neighbors are tolerant - so far they tolerate 3 roos that crow constantly - and I think someone in my area has guineas...

 

[Kedreeva]

No, it won't hurt them at all to get into one anothers' food. The peas just need access to higher protein for feather development, especially over winter when the males are growing in those long trains. When they free range, they are busy eating bugs and small animals they can catch, so they get a lot of protein from those.

 

[AmeraucanaGal]

Awesome. I am the daughter acquiring the chicks. Got four coming home Tuesday. The basic situation was the zoo has to control the numbers. So they are allowing employees to take em home or they will go to St peter's zoo sadly and I thought it was a waste of beauty. So I get them free.

I will take plenty of photos, cannot wait to show em off. Luckily with them coming from zoo they are healthy as can be. They may have to adjust to the fact of being spoiled rotten.