yeye5
Songster
I've been researching and taking my time with this decision. I have a small flock of chickens and many years ago I tried keeping 2 white peafowl who met a quick demise as there are many predators where I live.
This time, I'm doing almost everything differently.
The situation:
A friend (who tends to get bored easily) impulsively bought/traded for 5 peafowl, genders unknown, that appeared to be from 3 different hatch dates, maybe 3-5 weeks apart.
I guesstimate them at 2+ months, 3+ months and 4+ months but I'm pretty clueless.
When he tired of the project I offered to buy them, paid for 2 and wanted a 3rd, have been here researching sexing so I don't unintentionally create a conflicting or stressful environment if I end up with 2 males.
I have friends and supplies coming this Saturday (in 5 more days) to build the initial "juvie enclosure", then I was going to pick them up the following week.
My friend called saying he "failed peafowl 101", which meant he found one already dead that morning and another acting sickly/weak with the same presentation as the one that had then died. (I knew nothing of this until the call).
He brought the weak one into his house and asked me to take the other 3 right then, as in 15 minutes he'd be at my house with a box of random peafowl.
Despite the non-ideal situation, I decided from the not so great options to agree.
I sterilized a very large dog carrier (the biggest enclosed safe containment I could come up with on short notice), layered the bottom with clean white pillow cases.
For food I offered medicated chicken chick starter-grower (18% protein, which I know is too low but it's what I had that minute). I mixed in dried mealworms. Fresh water comes from my own well. Dishes are stable, pillow cases offer soft bedding as there are about 20 in there!
I see no overt signs of distress, no snotty nose nor wheezing, no cuts, no abrasions, feather quality looks good.
They each seem to be eating with moderate interest, drank a nice amount of water, which I am removing every couple of hours to dump, re-sterilize the bowl, refill.
I hope and pray that my feed store is open today (they're closed weekends but today is a holiday...I will call shortly).
Supplies I have here now:
*Tiny amount remaining of the med chick starter (plan to get a new bag today/tomorrow as I have chicken chicks hopefully hatching this week).
*Dried mealworms.
*Granite based grit And oyster shell supplement.
*Purina "Layena" laying feed (18%) fortified with calcium.(I'm concerned about too much calcium which is why the got the starter chick feed).
*Cracked Corn.
*Dry cat food.
I apologize for the too-long post. I feel that details may help me get advice quickest.
I will take and post pics shortly.
What is on my shopping list at the feed store? Can I supplement their protein with cooked chicken eggs? Are there any household food items that are good? Any that are bad to be avoided?
Thank you in advance for helping me and the surprise pea-peeps!
This time, I'm doing almost everything differently.
The situation:
A friend (who tends to get bored easily) impulsively bought/traded for 5 peafowl, genders unknown, that appeared to be from 3 different hatch dates, maybe 3-5 weeks apart.
I guesstimate them at 2+ months, 3+ months and 4+ months but I'm pretty clueless.
When he tired of the project I offered to buy them, paid for 2 and wanted a 3rd, have been here researching sexing so I don't unintentionally create a conflicting or stressful environment if I end up with 2 males.
I have friends and supplies coming this Saturday (in 5 more days) to build the initial "juvie enclosure", then I was going to pick them up the following week.
My friend called saying he "failed peafowl 101", which meant he found one already dead that morning and another acting sickly/weak with the same presentation as the one that had then died. (I knew nothing of this until the call).
He brought the weak one into his house and asked me to take the other 3 right then, as in 15 minutes he'd be at my house with a box of random peafowl.
Despite the non-ideal situation, I decided from the not so great options to agree.
I sterilized a very large dog carrier (the biggest enclosed safe containment I could come up with on short notice), layered the bottom with clean white pillow cases.
For food I offered medicated chicken chick starter-grower (18% protein, which I know is too low but it's what I had that minute). I mixed in dried mealworms. Fresh water comes from my own well. Dishes are stable, pillow cases offer soft bedding as there are about 20 in there!
I see no overt signs of distress, no snotty nose nor wheezing, no cuts, no abrasions, feather quality looks good.
They each seem to be eating with moderate interest, drank a nice amount of water, which I am removing every couple of hours to dump, re-sterilize the bowl, refill.
I hope and pray that my feed store is open today (they're closed weekends but today is a holiday...I will call shortly).
Supplies I have here now:
*Tiny amount remaining of the med chick starter (plan to get a new bag today/tomorrow as I have chicken chicks hopefully hatching this week).
*Dried mealworms.
*Granite based grit And oyster shell supplement.
*Purina "Layena" laying feed (18%) fortified with calcium.(I'm concerned about too much calcium which is why the got the starter chick feed).
*Cracked Corn.
*Dry cat food.
I apologize for the too-long post. I feel that details may help me get advice quickest.
I will take and post pics shortly.
What is on my shopping list at the feed store? Can I supplement their protein with cooked chicken eggs? Are there any household food items that are good? Any that are bad to be avoided?
Thank you in advance for helping me and the surprise pea-peeps!
