Peacock as predator

[kimbobim]

Peacocks are hard to catch! Our neighbor's 5-year old peacock escapes his (enormous) run every Spring and wanders the neighborhood for a few weeks. He got loose a couple of weeks ago and all the folks in the neighborhood has been trying to get him home ever since - the kids all love following him through each other's yards (we make sure they keep a safe distance - I don't want a child getting hurt!). When he got out last year, my neighbor tried to grab him off the top rail of the fence - the bird took off flying and he ended up holding all of its tail feathers (must have felt much lighter without all that extra weight dragging him down). He is pretty tame and so far he's been non-agressive, but they can be mean if they feel threatened. It's kind of strange to come out and see a peacock sitting on the hood of your car.

Good luck catching the one visiting your yard. Our neighbor put out grain in their yard and we've all put our pet foods inside, it's too early for vegetable gardens to have much up/edible here yet, so he'll go home eventually. I'm not sure why he does this every Spring - his mate is back home. Maybe it's just Spring Fever peacock-style. I don't know how territorial they are, but this one doesn't wander much more than a block or two in any direction from his home.

I actually wouldn't mind having a peacock - they do make great guards for your yard/flock, but since we have young kids, I'd only be comfortable having one if I'd raised it from a young age so it knew us and our chickens.

An interesting dilemma - do let us know how you resolve this, please!

 

[tn_artist]

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Great list! Only one rescue in our county (others not willing to infiltrate) The Newport Animal Shelter is over run with dogs and cats. They take a van load to NY a couple times a month because they have a better chance of finding a home there. They will let you use a live trap, but catching the neighbors cat, dog, chicken or wild fox, coyote, bobcat, possum, racoon, skunk or worse isn't worth it to me.
I really do understand your thoughts on not wanting an animal harmed that you think should be left to it's own and I would not normally do it. I even have a difficult time with natural death, but I am at my wits end. I didn't buy expensive blueberry bushes and strawberry plants to nurture and care for them just so the peacocks can reap the rewards.
I have personally seen one of them chase my bantam hen away from her babies, pick up one of the babies and toss it around. It made me sick and I should have shot it then.

I feel that there are enough plants and animals in our nation that were introduced for 'good' reasons or due to lazyness (not taking care of them). These plants and animals are taking over niches that indigenous animals and plants need to survive. Yes, I know it's only a couple of birds in one area, but isn't that how it usually starts? We don't need a breeding flock of wild, non-indigenous peafowl taking over the scant feed that goes to wild turkeys, not to mention if the large bird numbers increase, history has shown that the predators that feed on those birds (turkey and peafowl) will increase. Once the turkey and, hopefully, the peafowl were eradicated then we would have to start the wild turkey reintroduction of the 80's all over again!

-Lots of government spending, lots of opportunities gone for children to see native wildlife in it's natural habitat, etc. All for a couple of peafowl were let loose. Not in my neck of the woods! Better to shot and eat than let the turkeys get pushed out. (They are not near as agressive and have a much less nerve jangling call)

 

[tn_artist]

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I feel the same way. He hasn't been around in a few days, but the blueberries aren't quite ripe and he probably doesn't know one of my yard hens hatched 14 fuzzy butts yesterday.

Keeping a watch and loading the gun. Dad always said they ate peacock when they were in Vietnam, guess I'll have to try it soon. I'm not one to shot and not use unless it is a predator that can't be eaten (or I am unwilling to try--skunk, possum, bobcat.

)

 

[tn_artist]

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I wish you were too. Where's Monroe? I grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta (Chamblee)! You wouldn't catch me back in the city for love or money- lovin' the country!

 

[kimbobim]

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14 fuzzy butts?! Congratulations! how are they doing? I haven't gotten brave enough to try hatching anything - maybe in the future. For now, I've got to get my coop built!

 

[SarahFair]

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I wish you were too. Where's Monroe? I grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta (Chamblee)! You wouldn't catch me back in the city for love or money- lovin' the country!

Monroe is right outside of athens. towards the atlanta side.
My step sister grew up in chamblee so I frequented it often.

I drove down the the varsity the other day...AH! The traffic and the bums on the side of the road..
I hate it. Nerve racking!

 

[tn_artist]

I graduated ole Cham. High in '87. Would your s. sis have been around then or am I an old fart?
The only good thing about growing up in Ratlanta is that you can go any where and drive in any kind of traffic at 80mph and not wreck! JK! I loved it then, but of course knew nothing else. Mom is in Cumming, sis in Sugar Hill, BFF in Henry Co. and everyone else I grew up with -fam. or friend has scattered all over the country!

Ga is way too hot for me anyway, TN is getting that way. Last two days nice though.

Mr. Peacock showed himself yesterday but stuck to the property line as we were out with the twins roaming the yard in the jogging stroller. We were afraid the gun would scare the girls, and I don't think my husband really cares to kill it. Of course, they aren't his chicks, berries, etc. getting eaten!

 

[tn_artist]

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14 fuzzy butts?! Congratulations! how are they doing? I haven't gotten brave enough to try hatching anything - maybe in the future. For now, I've got to get my coop built!

I did it the easy way! I let the hen do it. The yard chickens are mixed bantams and I just let them do their thing. When I got home yesterday the last two eggs had hatched ...sort of.
One of the chicks was halfway out but died. He was still damp and his bottom half was still in the shell. It looked like another chicks shell had covered his remaining shell, sidways. I wonder if that is why he didn't finish hatching. Anyway, 15 beautiful fuzz butts. Some are all buff colored. ??? The hen is black with gold on her neck like some kind of birchen with gold instead of silver and the roo is black with silver/blond hackles and shoulders. I don't know where the buff comes in, must be some relative in the past. The only other hen in the yard is white with a few black pencil marks on her neck and tail. Can't wait to see how they turn out! They are only 2 inches tall! Too Cute!!!

 

[SarahFair]

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She actually was class of 07' lol

I myself want to move to the Tn mountains. I LOVE it up there