Peachick

[zazouse]

I have learned that peas don't eat like chicken,guinea,geese or ducks, the peck a little and then turn arond and gobble up their poo

If you are seeing it eating even just a bit he is proble doing it when you aint looking.
It does look small for 3 weeks featherwise and crest but it looks healthy in the photo so mabe it's just going to be a small pea, mine are different sizes, my cameo was way smaller than my other babies but she grew just as big as the rest of them in time.

Eggs are good for them, mine still get them a few times a week, sometimes they eat them up other times they pick at them and wonder off to find something else.

 

[mcwooten]

Well, that's reassuring. I'll keep the extra protein available for the little guy.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

I have learned that peas don't eat like chicken,guinea,geese or ducks, the peck a little and then turn arond and gobble up their poo

If you are seeing it eating even just a bit he is proble doing it when you aint looking.
It does look small for 3 weeks featherwise and crest but it looks healthy in the photo so mabe it's just going to be a small pea, mine are different sizes, my cameo was way smaller than my other babies but she grew just as big as the rest of them in time.

Eggs are good for them, mine still get them a few times a week, sometimes they eat them up other times they pick at them and wonder off to find something else.

I got 4 peachicks 2 days ago, they just had hatched--I'm not worried about the eating (or lack of it) so far but today is D-day, they've GOT to eat and drink more. They want to eat stuff off of my fingers they resent having their beaks dunked for water. Additionally, I am having to hold them A LOT. They cry wheee whee whee all the time. They already know my footsteps mean I'm coming--they love to snuggle on my shoulder in my longish thick hair. I'm thinking they really think I'm Mom. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! First time with peachicks and I do not want to lose these precious babies. Thanks all, Kathy

 

[NateinFL]

I got 4 peachicks 2 days ago, they just had hatched--I'm not worried about the eating (or lack of it) so far but today is D-day, they've GOT to eat and drink more. They want to eat stuff off of my fingers they resent having their beaks dunked for water. Additionally, I am having to hold them A LOT. They cry wheee whee whee all the time. They already know my footsteps mean I'm coming--they love to snuggle on my shoulder in my longish thick hair. I'm thinking they really think I'm Mom. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! First time with peachicks and I do not want to lose these precious babies. Thanks all, Kathy

Welcome to the world of peafowl! I suggest feeding them live foods of any kind you can get, small bugs especially. That will get them going. They have natural instinct to catch small bugs. And wet the starter crumbles, they don't like eating them dry. Let them eat the mash off your fingers. They should be okay. And put your finger in the water no bird likes having its beaked dunked. They should peck the droplets on your finger if they're thirsty. Mine like walking onto their mash so I provide it on a decent sized tray. Just replace it a few times a day to prevent any bacteria growth. I hate to hear them whee wheeing so whenever I'm home they are on my lap or on my shoulder or on the keyboard

. I'm such a pushover with these little guys.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Welcome to the world of peafowl! I suggest feeding them live foods of any kind you can get, small bugs especially. That will get them going. They have natural instinct to catch small bugs. And wet the starter crumbles, they don't like eating them dry. Let them eat the mash off your fingers. They should be okay. And put your finger in the water no bird likes having its beaked dunked. They should peck the droplets on your finger if they're thirsty. Mine like walking onto their mash so I provide it on a decent sized tray. Just replace it a few times a day to prevent any bacteria growth. I hate to hear them whee wheeing so whenever I'm home they are on my lap or on my shoulder or on the keyboard

. I'm such a pushover with these little guys.

Thanks for the tips Nath--good ideas, on a bug hunt! I Love them!

 

[Kedreeva]

While your pea does look less developed, bear in mind that they do have a 15-20 year lifespan where as chickens have half that if they're incredibly lucky. Where chickens are "mature" at 4 months, peas don't get to the same developmental stage until they are 2 years old (sometimes sooner, sometimes later). In warmer climates (like where Zaz lives), they may mature much quicker, whereas here in a colder climate I think my birds are taking it slow and lazy. My peachicks never "ate well" when they were young and still don't eat nearly as much as the chickens do. They ate mostly when I was around to poke at their food, or when I offered it from my fingers (yogurt and oatmeal and egg bits etc).

As long as your chick isn't lethargic or thin (and they're going to naturally be a little thinner in the breast area than your chickens, as they were never domesticated as meat birds), I wouldn't worry *too* much. Zaz and Nathowe are right about the protein and treats though, those are two things that should be done anyway, whether or not the chick is doing well. Keep us updated

 

[mcwooten]

Thanks Kedreeva, since I have added the supplemental kitten food (40% protein) the pea chick has seemed a whole lot more energetic. It is still smaller than most of the chicks and has not developed its crest yet, but I think it will be fine. It is just taking a little longer to mature.

 

[TerriLaChicks]

My peacocks do not eat nearly as much as my chickens. I just hatched out 2 peachicks along w/14 guineas, & at 2 weeks of age the guineas had grown much more rapidly than the peachicks-- which I thought would be right, since peacocks mature more slowly & live much more longer than guineas or chickens -- I separated them -- the guinea keets are now in a chicken tractor & the peachicks are in a separate outside brooder. All are doing well.

 

[zazouse]

Awesomness

 

[mcwooten]

Well, this is great news. I can't wait to for him/her to grow up and show his/her colors!