Peahen left coop in 0 degree weather

[chicken jedi]

My family was blessed with an unexpected guest at our home starting last summer, her name is Clook and she is in the image below. Well she hung around, probably because of our chickens, who she was quite fond of. Come fall when the temps were changing we were able to coax her into the chicken coop for the winter. She has not tried to leave the coop until today when she walked out the door headed up in a tree and has not come back down. we are soooo scared she will not survive the below zero temps we are having this winter, especially since she has been use to the 40 degree coop temps. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how we could get her back into warmth of the coop, or do you think she will be ok in the terrible temps if she does not chose to come back in? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, we are very worried. Thank you.

 

[frenchblackcopper]

She looks like a nice Purple hen or Cameo? Perhaps she will come down when she gets hungry? It's impossible to use a net on a long pole to get her? She will come down when she's ready,thats for sure,Possibly throwing some feed on the ground making sure she is watching you as you do it?

 

[chicken jedi]

Boy I sure hope so. I did try enticing her in an hour after she headed outside, even with food, but to no avail. We did leave the outside door to the coop open with a light on inside, so hopefully she will see that from the tree and head in there. She has completely stolen my heart and I hope she will go back in by her buddies the chickens. Thank you so much for the ideas.

 

[Ralph Moyer]

I have raised Indian Blue Peafowl for several years here in Southeast Kansas and none are in enclosed buildings. The ones that free range will find shelter in extreme weather. If you have an open shed, carport or anything with a roof she could get under, she should be ok. She knows where she can get feed, so she will return there, when she gets hungry. Peafowl and turkeys prefer open air roosting. I only have one turkey hen that roosts with the chickens. the six other adult turkeys roost on the top rail of a 6 foot high chain link pen. They tuck their head under their wing during the worse of winter weather. I have empty open-front cattle sheds next to the pen. The only turkeys I have lost was when I tried to keep them in an enclosed building and they became ill.

 

[Ralph Moyer]

I forgot to mention that I started raising Peafowl about twenty years ago, when three Peahens came here on their own just like yours did. I bought a peacock and I just let them free-range for most of that time.

 

[zazouse]

Pretty cameo,
give her time she will come down on her own, if you try to catch her she may fly off and at the very least she may not come down when you are there for fear of being stalked, i have 40 plus free rangers all of them get spooked and fly up in the trees, never had one not fly back down in their own good time and never lost one either.

 

[zazouse]

I have raised Indian Blue Peafowl for several years here in Southeast Kansas and none are in enclosed buildings. The ones that free range will find shelter in extreme weather. If you have an open shed, carport or anything with a roof she could get under, she should be ok. She knows where she can get feed, so she will return there, when she gets hungry. Peafowl and turkeys prefer open air roosting. I only have one turkey hen that roosts with the chickens. the six other adult turkeys roost on the top rail of a 6 foot high chain link pen. They tuck their head under their wing during the worse of winter weather. I have empty open-front cattle sheds next to the pen. The only turkeys I have lost was when I tried to keep them in an enclosed building and they became ill.

Ever had any frost bit toes from them chain link pipes?

 

[Ralph Moyer]

Their feet are always covered by their body-feathers. No problem with frostbite except with roosters with large combs, that will not stay in their shelter even in freezing rain.

 

[chicken jedi]

great news!!! She came back in this morning, free will with outer coop door left open, and she is back in with our chickens where she chose to go. She has always followed the chickens around, even this past summer when she showed up at our little abode, she would call out when they got out of their fenced area or she felt they are in danger. She seems to put herself as their protector which is so cute and nice since our roo has had to be separated because he is a bit mean to us :-(
So thank you to all the suggestions and reassurances, they were such a ray of sunlight last night while I sat worried about her in the -2 degree night. What a great group this is!!

 

[frenchblackcopper]

It's a Wonder what an empty stomach does when they need food and water to drink. I figured she would come back soon but the cold is a concern for everyone this time of year,thus the word "peabrain" has evolved