Peafowl for 2013

[casportpony]

Since I am so paranoid and sensitive, I've also started feeding them leafy greens in addition to their alfalfa.

 

[destinduck]

Thanks. Im pretty sure shes fine. Almost every bird got out of my big pen 4 days ago including her (goldilocks). Its a long story but I got everyone back (80 birds at least). except for about 2 dozen ducklings. Unbelieveable and a true miracle really. Turned out a dog was the culprit. My brother saw how he did it later one morning. The husky type dog stood up and pushed at the door before my brother ran him off. Never touched the hotwire neither the way he did it he said. Because no blood or dead birds in the pen when it happened I just assumed it was a person because the door was wide open and birds were everywhere.I happened to have the the hotwire off when he did it so some newly added ducklings wouldnt get popped. Goldilocks was 40 foot in a tree! The dog couldnt open the latch this last time because I added a lock. Goldilocks finally came down and walked in the last 5 adult ducks the next morning, I shut the hotwire off that night so they wouldnt get shocked if they showed up the next morning which they did. Glad that dog didnt try to get in that night with it off. Like I said the whole thing is a miracle and unbelieveable. Thank God for the happy ending!

 

[Momhunter]

I know a lot of references say peafowl eggs take 28 days to hatch. One guy tells me his hatch on day 25 and another on day 29! When do most people put them in lockdown and what is the average hatch day!!! My first eggs would be on day 28 next Wed, so I'm trying to figure out what to do for sure. Please give advise!!

 

[AugeredIn]

Assume they will hatch on day 27 and lock down early on day 25. Alternatively you can candle eggs looking for the first collapsed air space indicating beginning of yolk absorption and final positioning and lock down at that point.

 

[Momhunter]

Assume they will hatch on day 27 and lock down early on day 25. Alternatively you can candle eggs looking for the first collapsed air space indicating beginning of yolk absorption and final positioning and lock down at that point.

Thanks, locking down my first 4 peafowl eggs now. I have 30 more in my sportsman bator, placing them in weekly. Everything looks good so far. Crossing my fingers. Sure hope I can sell all these

 

[zazouse]

I will be locking down 4 with you if i find movement in the air cell.
Sending you good hatching vibs.. is this your first time tio hatch peas? it is for me.
Where in Texas are ya? i live in Mauriceville

 

[zazouse]

Assume they will hatch on day 27 and lock down early on day 25. Alternatively you can candle eggs looking for the first collapsed air space indicating beginning of yolk absorption and final positioning and lock down at that point.

I have a question, one of the first eggs i first collect had a hole in the shell about as big around as a pencil on the air cell end, i repaied it with wood glue and toilet paper and to my suprise it is one of the 16 that made it to hatch, i had to repair a few hair line crack also and i used a artest paint brush so it has a thin coat...
Now her is the problem, the glue is hard as a rock, it is not covering the entire air cell just the hole and the crack so will the chick be able to get threw this or should i try to remove the plug i made when it is hatch time ?

Thank you for all the great info you provide here

 

[AugeredIn]

If the plug is in the line where you would expect the zip, I would remove it otherwise I would leave it. Just kind of keep an eye on it. I would not hesitate to pick an air hole if piping seems delayed.

We used to be really afraid of helping but now that we are more aware of the sequence, we have really good luck. The key is allowing enough time between pip and opening to allow the blood and yolk to be drawn into the chick while not letting the exposed membrane dry.

 

[zazouse]

Thank you!

 

[Momhunter]

I will be locking down 4 with you if i find movement in the air cell.
Sending you good hatching vibs.. is this your first time tio hatch peas? it is for me.
Where in Texas are ya? i live in Mauriceville

Thanks, I think I need all the good vibes I can get. Yes it is my first time hatching peas and only my third time to hatch anything. I've hatched one batch of my own chickens eggs and 100 coturnix quail, did well with those.
BUT, I just finished candling my four eggs due to go in lock down and only 1 of the four looked like the chick was developed all the way. The other three had to much lighted area in the bottom of the egg and looked to liquidy. I'm really bummed, think I will only have one chick! They all looked about the same when I candled at 10 days and 17 days. Now I'm worried about all my other eggs. The sportsman incubator is so automatic I don't know what is wrong. Auto turn, temp stays at 100, humidity stays between 45-52 without the wicks then in lockdown with a wick in goes up to 65-70. I'm storing my eggs in small frig turned up where stays 56-60 degrees and I turn eggs daily and incubate before they are 7 days old, once weekly.
I live in Ponder, slightly northwest of Ft Worth.