Peafowl picking each other’s crests..?

[blondie34]

Hi there! I’m new to peafowl – I got two pairs about a month and a half ago, one Black Shoulder pair and a Blue India pair. They seem to be adjusting well but about a week after they moved into their coop I noticed the boys were missing their crest/crown feathers!

They started growing them back in and then they got picked out AGAIN just this past week…

Has anyone ever had this happen to them? Could the girls be picking them out? Could they just be stressed from the transition?

Any help would be much appreciated!!!!

 

[zazouse]

Sounds like boredom hang a head of cabbage in the pen and that will keep them busy once they find out it taste good.

What do you feed them?

 

[MinxFox]

How big is their pen? Sometimes overcrowding leads to feather picking.

Boredom as Zaz mentioned can cause it too. I agree that cabbage is a good idea. cantelope cut in half or some type of melon cut in half placed on the pen floor can be used as well. Just something that will take a lot of pecking to eat and give them something to do.

It probably is the hens picking on the crests if you watch them for a bit you might see them pick.

 

[zazouse]

 

[blondie34]

great advice! I will try that ..

I am feeding them a grower/finisher mix and supplementing it with gamebird crumbles. They are about a year old..

Sounds like boredom hang a head of cabbage in the pen and that will keep them busy once they find out it taste good.

What do you feed them?

 

[blondie34]

How big is their pen? Sometimes overcrowding leads to feather picking.

Boredom as Zaz mentioned can cause it too. I agree that cabbage is a good idea. cantelope cut in half or some type of melon cut in half placed on the pen floor can be used as well. Just something that will take a lot of pecking to eat and give them something to do.

It probably is the hens picking on the crests if you watch them for a bit you might see them pick.

they have a 12x12 coop with a 20x12 run area .. we are going to be expanding the run in the spring as well and get some roosts outside - right now they tend to hang out in the rafters of the coop all day .. hopefully now that it's getting warmer they will be a little more active..

I'll have to try adding in some melons and lettuce like you mentioned