Peafowl breeding questions

[peafowl_Lover]

Hi, I have 2 peacocks and 2 peahens 2 and 3 year olds, I'm thinking about breeding them. When should I separate them into pairs?
After breeding season will I be able to put them all back together without them fighting or should I just keep them separate? And I've noticed one of the peahens has white wing feathers, and has 1 or 2 small white feathers on her back, does this mean she has a higher chance of having white chicks?
Thanks

 

[Waterfaery]

I'm starting to separate mine around now. I let them back together for the winter and they are fine. They're a lot happier in a bigger group, especially the peahens. Even if the peacocks have trains, they don't seem to want to fight until the peahens are laying. Maybe others are different but that has been my experience.

Yours are very young. My original two peacocks didn't start fighting until they were about 5 years old. Unless you want to breed specific birds together, you might get away without separating them this year, depending on your peacocks' personalities and how much space they have. You just need to know your own birds well and keep a close eye on them. Either way, it's important to have areas ready where you can separate them at short notice.

If you do want to pair them up, I would do it sooner rather than later so they get used to the situation before the breeding season starts.

I am definitely not well up on genetics but I believe you would need white genes in both the peahen and the peacock to produce white chicks.

 

[peafowl_Lover]

Thank you for your reply, will they still breed if I don't separate them? I don't mind who pairs with who, maybe next year I'll separate them, will the peahens be able to care for their chicks even with the 2 peacocks in with them? Is it best to leave them how it is when they have their chicks or should take them away from the peacocks.
Thanks

 

[Waterfaery]

They will mate but the peahens may not sit as they're still a bit young. If they do, there shouldn't be any need to separate them from the peacocks.

I started with two of each as well and all of them were together for the first few years. The peacocks were 5 and the peahens were about 4 when they hatched the peachicks. The two peahens sat together and worked together to raise the chicks. The peacocks weren't a problem with the chicks but I did end up having to separate them from each other that year.

Again, you will have to just watch and know your own birds and definitely have areas ready to separate anyone if necessary.

 

[KsKingBee]

Follow Waterfaery's advice to the T as your situation matches her past experiences. Many people will run all their birds together through the winter but they run the risk of birds that you are not planning to mate developing bonds that counter your plans. If a hen develops a bond to a cock she is taken away from she may totally reject your choice and not mate at all, or worse, may fight the other birds in the pen. I run at least three hens in my breeding groups so for my best results I make my pairings in the fall and let them not only bond but acclimate to their environment over winter. When they feel safe and secure in their surroundings they are more productive. Also, do not fear the chicks being harmed by the father, that is a rare thing to happen.

 

[peafowl_Lover]

Thank you I will follow all your advice, I'll have to make the run a bit more secure so the chicks won't slip out. What age will a peahen go broody? When will I expect fertile eggs? I will divide their run just in case.
Thank you

 

[KsKingBee]

Two year hens do not lay a lot of eggs, usually less than ten her first season. She is also not likely to go broody but never say never. I have had yearlings lay four eggs, half of which developed, and some three year hens have been noted to not lay either. Pure Green hens usually wait until they are four years old. Just be patient and see what comes to you, surprises are nice when they happen.

 

[peafowl_Lover]

So will the 3 year old peahen sit would you think? It would be very exciting for them to hatch chicks. Would the 2 year old hens eggs be fertile? Maybe I could put then under the 3 year old with her own eggs. What time of year would they be sitting?
Thank you

 

[KsKingBee]

So will the 3 year old peahen sit would you think? It would be very exciting for them to hatch chicks. Would the 2 year old hens eggs be fertile? Maybe I could put then under the 3 year old with her own eggs. What time of year would they be sitting?
Thank you

The three year old is more likely than the two year old but quite possible that they both go broody but not guaranteed. Time will tell. When the eggs are laid mark the date on them, when they are ten days old either put them in an incubator or under a broody chicken. If you choose to leave the eggs you can remove any that are over ten days from the clutch once she goes broody.

 

[peafowl_Lover]

Would this wormer work for them?