Peahen returns

[ILuvsChicks]

I've got two Peacocks and two Peahens.
Peacocks had just got the 'Eyes' in there tail feather this year.
Had them about a year.
Got the Peahens early last Fall. I was told they were about two at the time.
They've all been confined up till about three weeks ago.
I had been waiting to get eggs from the Peahens.
So far there hasn't been any.
I planned to be home for a while so I decided to let them out and see how they did.
The Peahens hung around the first couple of days then disappeared for a couple. Then came back. Then I might see one one day. then the next day maybe the other. But started seeing them less and less.
Now it's been ten days with out seeing them. I was about to give up. Then one appeared this morning.
Right now she is back in the pen. I'm wondering if maybe they started laying and have been setting on eggs somewhere?
I don't know if I should let her back out or not. My plan was for them to nest in the pen and get to the point were we have so many birds the loss of one or two wouldn't be such a big deal.
The Peacocks haven't been any problem. Other than one getting sweet with one of the local turkeys, they are staying around good.
Did see a big albino turkey hen hanging around too. First time I saw her I thought it was the ghost of one of my Peahens.

 

[sourland]

Peafowl will join and travel with turkey flocks. Wild turkeys have a large range, and your peafowl may just be traveling with the turkeys.

 

[Garden Peas]

I've got two Peacocks and two Peahens.
Peacocks had just got the 'Eyes' in there tail feather this year.
Had them about a year.
Got the Peahens early last Fall. I was told they were about two at the time.
They've all been confined up till about three weeks ago.
I had been waiting to get eggs from the Peahens.
So far there hasn't been any.
I planned to be home for a while so I decided to let them out and see how they did.
The Peahens hung around the first couple of days then disappeared for a couple. Then came back. Then I might see one one day. then the next day maybe the other. But started seeing them less and less.
Now it's been ten days with out seeing them. I was about to give up. Then one appeared this morning.
Right now she is back in the pen. I'm wondering if maybe they started laying and have been setting on eggs somewhere?
I don't know if I should let her back out or not. My plan was for them to nest in the pen and get to the point were we have so many birds the loss of one or two wouldn't be such a big deal.
The Peacocks haven't been any problem. Other than one getting sweet with one of the local turkeys, they are staying around good.
Did see a big albino turkey hen hanging around too. First time I saw her I thought it was the ghost of one of my Peahens.

Ok, you made me laugh with the ghost line, though I'm sure that was fairly weird and eerie feeling. Glad you have one safely in the pen.

Your original plan was good -- though one of the boys will have to join her, lol. The girls will be much safer in the pen.

Peahens are (forgive me) sitting ducks when they are nesting. The first predator that happens along (Mr. Fox, Wile E. Coyote, Stray Dog, Hungry Raccoon) will happily eat your hens and the eggs.too. It's entirely possible that the hens are to the point of laying, and perhaps deciding whether they have enough eggs to start sitting. Or they could be with the turkeys partying it up, who knows?

The deal is that these two hens are old enough to lay, and it's the right time of year to lay. So even if they aren't laying now, they probably will be soon. Once that happens, they become extremely vulnerable, and you will likely lose one or both of them to hungry wildlife. So sticking with your first plan -- having them nest in the pens -- is more likely to give you chicks to build the flock.

Also, be aware that peachicks can squirt through chicken wire for the first couple of weeks, so if the hens hatch chicks in your pen, the pen itself will need to have small enough mesh to contain them. The chicks can also fly within days of hatching. It can be kinda hard to keep the little guys safe. I'm mentioning it now so that you can figure out if your pen needs baby-proofing before the big day

Good luck!

 

[ILuvsChicks]

Also, be aware that peachicks can squirt through chicken wire for the first couple of weeks, so if the hens hatch chicks in your pen, the pen itself will need to have small enough mesh to contain them. The chicks can also fly within days of hatching. It can be kinda hard to keep the little guys safe. I'm mentioning it now so that you can figure out if your pen needs baby-proofing before the big day

Good luck!

I've got 1/2 inch cloth mesh for the first two feet up. Then 1 inch chicken wire the rest of the way up. Two inch chicken wire for the roof. I could turn a quail lose in there and it wouldn't be able to get out unless I left the door open. Spent some money to build it right when I made it. Hurt then, but thankful now.
I know I'm not suppose to believe it Ghost, But that was truly my first thought when I saw that albino turkey. I had walked all around looking for them nesting or feathers for where they might had been killed. And had giving up. Then out steps this solid white turkey. She's about the same size as the peahens. That was my thoughts, but only for a moment.
Have also seen an albino skunk in the area before. Good thing I wasn't missing any small dog at the time

 

[Garden Peas]

I've got 1/2 inch cloth mesh for the first two feet up. Then 1 inch chicken wire the rest of the way up. Two inch chicken wire for the roof. I could turn a quail lose in there and it wouldn't be able to get out unless I left the door open. Spent some money to build it right when I made it. Hurt then, but thankful now.
I know I'm not suppose to believe it Ghost, But that was truly my first thought when I saw that albino turkey. I had walked all around looking for them nesting or feathers for where they might had been killed. And had giving up. Then out steps this solid white turkey. She's about the same size as the peahens. That was my thoughts, but only for a moment.
Have also seen an albino skunk in the area before. Good thing I wasn't missing any small dog at the time

Bravo on the pen building

Sounds like you were really thinking ahead! I'd love to see photos -- always interesting to see how folks put together a good peapen.

I hope your other peahen shows back up soon.