Pete the Peacock

[TaylorBrooke20]

This is my first peacock to own, and I'm a little concerned. I've researched, but can't find any answers as to why my male peacock won't grow his crown on top of his head??? Also, I know they lose their tail feathers, but my man hasn't grown any and I have had him for about 6-7 months now. I'm not sure how old he is, pretty young I'm guessing, but just about full grown. I picture is attached. Does anyone have any helpful advice ???

 

[mbbrinegar]

Do you own any other peafowl?

 

[new 2 pfowl]

Hello Taylor, and

, the Pea Department!

Your pretty boy isn't quite old enough to have a train - next year he will be beautiful!
As for the crown, he hasn't had one for 7 months? It's hard to say why...

Are you going to get him any friends?
Peas are very social, and he would be a lot happier with a pea buddy.

 

[TaylorBrooke20]

Right now I don't have any other peafowl, just 14 chickens. So far, Pete has done great with them. When they get the opportunity to free roam, they all do so together, including Pete. I am still fearful that as he ages, he will eventually leave looking for a mate. I want so badly to get him a white peahen, but that is taking some convincing with the husband. We don't have enough land for all the offspring. I've considered just getting him another male companion, but I don't want to risk loosing both of them. I'm not sure if I just keep them cooped during mating season, and free roam them when it's not, if they will still leave or not.
When I bought Pete, the previous owner claimed he was around a year old, but I don't think that was true. He was a breeder at local trades days, and was selling them for a friend. The peacock is also still somewhat small compared to other adult males I have seen. I don't believe there is any disease or infection that prevents their crowns from growing??? Thanks for responding !

 

[TaylorBrooke20]

Thank you for the welcome! So far, this is a great site.

 

[zazouse]

He is a young spalding meaning he has green blood in him, he may take longer to get his train, why he has no crest feathers I couldn't tell you.
Do you feed him anything besides scratch grains ?

 

[Pfauenfreund]

It is just one picture and it is not possible to see all needed details to be 100% sure:
- Based on the picture I assume it is a spalding with high % of green blood.
- Based on what I can see the peafowl is one year or older, because the lower part of the head/neck area has already colored and not white anymore.
- If I look on the picture my first impression is due to the back feathers, the leg length, it is no male, it is a female. The picture is not clear, but I expect I can see a spur and a two year old female has the same size. To be 100% sure about the sex it needs some more pictures
- It could happen that the crest will never grow again. Normally the crest starts growing already with two weeks. This is a typical example of feather picking.

 

[mbbrinegar]

Maybe the chickens are picking them off, but other than that I have no idea.

 

[TaylorBrooke20]

Do females show their feather like this ??? I was sure he was male because of the way he struts.

 

[TaylorBrooke20]

I tried taking close ups so maybe we could definitely determine his sex.