Peachicks fighting? Will they hurt ea other?

[MtnFamilyFarm]

Got our first peachicks last wk. 3 are white and one is silver pied.

They peck at ea others beaks sometimes - occasionally it looks kind of aggressive. Sometimes from the side if one goes to peck at the other they miss and I am worried they will (accidently?) hurt an eye. Other times they cuddle and go to sleep next to ea other. When I picked up one that was doing the questionable behavior (just to break it up and to maybe calm him down if he was upset or something) he whistled the whole time and the second I put him back the others ran to him and appeared to protectively surround him. Then they just went back to normal behavior of being curious and checking out the shavings and brooder bin.

They are in a large see-thru plastic bin that I have kept 20 baby hen chicks in so since there are only 4 they are not crowded. We have a heat lamp, plastic waterer and feeder from the feed store so those should not be issues.

Is this normal peachick behavior or do we need to change something or be concerned and monitor?

THANKS!

Amanda

 

[MinxFox]

Sometimes peachicks do peck at each other. Just make sure they do not cause one to have a beak deformity from others pecking at the beak too much. If they don't seem to have bruising on their beak like dark spots or something or swelling I think they are just being peachicks...Also I have had some of my peachicks peck at each others beaks for food. Like if one eats something they try and take the food from it probably because this is how they learn to eat from their mom. The peahen will hold food in her beak and the peachicks will take it from her. Keep an eye on it and I hope they are okay.

Oh almost forgot:

 

[MtnFamilyFarm]

Thank you! That is reassuring and I will keep a ck on their beaks.

BTW we put 7 black shoulder pied in the incubator last week. Hoping we will have our first hatched peachicks in a few weeks to sell or swap!

I LOVE the little peachick whistles!! OMG! Too sweet!! and I thought chickens were addicting ......

My dh jokingly told me that as soon as I hear an ADULT peacock yell I will be wanting to have a sale .... (Nope)

Amanda

 

[MinxFox]

Peafowl make a lot of cool noises. They even make a honking noise sometimes. I have three peacocks now that are old enough to call and my tame hand raised one calls less then the other two (I think he is more used to weird noises because they like to call when they hear something like a plane fly over). When you are out in the yard working and you hear the peacocks call it is sort of exotic and I am sure if you close your eyes you could imagine yourself in the jungle. I hope to someday have a big tropical garden so that it really will be like being in the jungle!

Pieds are fun. I have never hatched out any but next year I am going to put my pied peahen with a white peacock in hopes of getting some pieds. I haven't had chickens or any other bird but I am definitely addicted to peafowl, and with over 225 varieties there are a lot of options for you!

 

[MtnFamilyFarm]

MinxFox: I love the word pictures you paint! I can't wait to be working outside and hear them!!

You also blew my mind when you said there were over 225 varieties!! I had NO idea! WoW!

Amanda

 

[MinxFox]

Haha I always love new people about the 225 varieties...Most of them are big combinations like "Spalding Purple Silver Pied White Eye" or something like that! I don't think I want a peafowl like that because then I would always have to say: My Spalding Purple Silver Pied White Eye peacock....Haha it would be a big mouth full!

Here is the varieties list:
http://www.peafowl.org/varieties.htm

There are some very new varieties that are not on the list. I think because they are still being worked on.
Also here is a page that will show you photos of some of the different varieties...Not all of them but it gives a good overview of all the different colors like Bronze, Peach, Cameo, etc.
http://database.amyspeacockparadise.com/

 

[casportpony]

Thank you! That is reassuring and I will keep a ck on their beaks.

BTW we put 7 black shoulder pied in the incubator last week. Hoping we will have our first hatched peachicks in a few weeks to sell or swap!

I LOVE the little peachick whistles!! OMG! Too sweet!! and I thought chickens were addicting ......

My dh jokingly told me that as soon as I hear an ADULT peacock yell I will be wanting to have a sale .... (Nope)

Amanda

Welcome to pea ownership and congrats on your little ones.

-Kathy