peacock noises!

[DylansMom]

And we only have 3 of them! how can you tell if they are boys?

They are definitely boys, the striped feathers on the backs and wings give it away. The feathers on the necks are too blue for girls, girls stay a deep green color, and the feathers on the breast would have a wider uniform white edge on every one. Some of our members have really good comparison photos showing the differences in the feathers of juvenile males and females, hopefully they will post some of them. They look great by the way.

 

[margaret8]

They are definitely boys, the striped feathers on the backs and wings give it away. The feathers on the necks are too blue for girls, girls stay a deep green color, and the feathers on the breast would have a wider uniform white edge on every one. Some of our members have really good comparison photos showing the differences in the feathers of juvenile males and females, hopefully they will post some of them. They look great by the way.

Like this

 

[birdnerd99]

the right one is a male ??? if im correct?

 

[zazouse]

There is an example of a 4 month old pair

As male India blues get older they retain their barred pattern and the females become more solid colored

This male is 17 months old


This is a pied hen at 6 months of age but you can see how her feathers are solid not barred.

 

[DylansMom]

Quote:
Yes, see how he is blue-er!

 

[birdnerd99]

Oh my gosh thank you for info! I deff have all boys! does anyone know where I could get India blue peahens that are about the same age as these? I live in croswell MI, I have tryed looking for them but am not as trained u could say at finding good true breed india blue peacocks?

 

[birdnerd99]

And how long do I need to keep them locked up before I let them out?

 

[DylansMom]

Oh my gosh thank you for info! I deff have all boys! does anyone know where I could get India blue peahens that are about the same age as these? I live in croswell MI, I have tryed looking for them but am not as trained u could say at finding good true breed india blue peacocks?

And how long do I need to keep them locked up before I let them out?

looking at the pics again, I can see that at least 1 of your boys has a couple white feathers on his wing, this indicates that he is carrying some white or maybe pied genes. Many people will tell you that it is almost impossible to find truly pure india blues, as most have some green blood in them from the past breedings. Are all 3 boys from the same parents? If so the others could also be carrying the same genes and just not showing them. This is not a bad thing, try not to think of them as "mutts" which is what a lot of people do. These extra genes are more like opportunities, with the right hen you could produce India blues, perhaps whites or perhaps pieds, depending on just what he is carrying. My pieds are a lot more popular than my plain India Blues are.


As far as how long to pen them, if your neighbor is close enough to hear them, then your Peas will go to their house/property eventually. It is pretty much a sure thing that if left to free range they will go there and if they are an annoyance to the neighbor and they go on their property, you may never see them again. Peas are very curious and if they see or hear something they will go a good distance to check it out. I used to free range, but I do not anymore. I have too many neighbors now and I had to retrieve a hen from one neighbors enclosed porch twice.

 

[zazouse]

And how long do I need to keep them locked up before I let them out?

If you got a neighbor with dogs that are so close their barking bothers you they might get eaten by them dogs when they go to visit your neighbor just sayen

If the dogs won't hurt them then turn them in few months, be aware that they can and will fly off if something gets after them and if they see or hear anything out of the ordinary they will go check it out ,if they ain't scared of it they can and will follow it if you are not there to stop them.
I been free ranging peas sense 2010 they have taught me many, many lessons

 

[Garden Peas]

Oh my gosh thank you for info! I deff have all boys! does anyone know where I could get India blue peahens that are about the same age as these? I live in croswell MI, I have tryed looking for them but am not as trained u could say at finding good true breed india blue peacocks?:/

you can probably get hens the same age if you want, but since males mature for breeding at three and hens can sort of start laying at 2, not the end of the world if you wait for this year's chicks