Question about free ranging peafowl

[r4eboxer]

I have had my pair for almost four months now, I really want them to free range, should I clip wings? I believe they will stay close by the food but am still worried they will fly away. What do y'all think?

 

[sandspoultry]

The bad thing with clipping wings and turning them out to free range is they won't be able to get away from a predator.

 

[zazouse]

Don't clip them, it is the only escape they have if something gets after them, peas jump straight up in the air and take off.
There are many many things to take into consideration when having peas running around free.
1) how much land do you have?
2) is it secluded like surrounded by woods where they can't see much of the outside world?
3) And this is a biggy.. do you have neighbors you can see and hear, peas are very noise and will go look for any strange noise or something they see that may be different, hence they leave your property.
4) will you be able to be their 90 %of the time the first year they are loose to teach them where not to go? See ya can't teach a pea where not to go till it goes there , so ya gotta be there to catch them in the act, I have 19 free range peas and let me tell ya there were time I wanted to fence them all up, but I worked with them and they are wonderful about staying where they belong, plus I have no neighbors sept my daughter and she has helped me to keep them from going to her place even though she loves them, that is not their territory.
5) Do you have a dog or dogs to keep predators at bay at your place, cause they will get your birds

These are things I have learned over the last 3 years about free ranging my peas, I am sure there are others that will have different advice.
You will do good with young ones like you have starting out, I started all mine at 4 months the first batch took months to leave the barn area, the next batch took a week to leave the barn area and was ranging with the bigger peas in a month.

It took me 40 years to get my first peas and I never regretted it but it is a lot of work keeping up with a group, maybe 2 won't be so hard on ya..

Please post photos of your peas we love pictures

 

[msmolly]

I have had my pair for almost four months now, I really want them to free range, should I clip wings? I believe they will stay close by the food but am still worried they will fly away. What do y'all think?

Clipping doesn't stop them from leaving,(trust me) since they travel mostly by walking. It will prohibit them from roosting high at night which is what they WANT and NEED to do for protection-especially if they have"walked" away from home. Put ID bands on them- see thread called ID bands for your peafowl- you can get them same day from a saddlery store, put a mirror up in their pen- and train them to treats same time each day say 5 pm. They really want high ground or high perches with a view, so if their not seeking a mate or safe nesting area, they want to go where they can have a high vantage point and solid perching. If you can supply great treats (5pm), a nice mirror(don't point at sun), good perches with a view, then put ID bands on their legs and cross your fingers. There are some more threads here from others with lots of even better info on same topic. Just type "peafowl" in the navigation. Best of luck