Yep there is a big difference for sure. Peep doesn't like to be handled though. He doesn't like getting onto my arm and would probably kick a bit if I picked him up, but he certainly would not run from me and flap and fly around like crazy. I get worried that they will get hurt when I am trying to catch them. I was worried that Peep would become aggressive, but I think he is doing well. I would be willing to chance having more imprinted peafowl someday, but at the same time I believe in the good benefits they get from being raised by a peahen and learning how to be a peafowl. It was sad seeing Peep struggle to learn about all the rules of being a peafowl when he first joined the adult pen.
I once read someone's comment about hen raised peafowl looking prettier because they learned how to preen themselves properly. I have found that even though Peep was raised by me, his feathers are nicely in place and he looks just as beautiful as Alto, my peacock that was probably hen raised. But, Frosty, who I got as a young peachick, was always wild acting as a peachick so I didn't get to really do much with him. Looking at him, his neck feathers look a little out of place and not as sleek looking as the other males.
