Show off your Peas!

[nate1the1great1]

My peahens used to leave eggs laying randomly around the yard. They were young, and some one told me peahens were really stupid mothers and couldn't be trusted to raise their young.  Dopey me- I listened to them and would pick up the eggs. Well, years later, I was told by an old-timer that peahens are really smart- and those random eggs are decoys to see if the area is safe to nest- or if predators are waiting for the eggs....Now, I don't know if that"s a wives tale or not- after all, my hens were young, but i now try not to disturb those decoy eggs- unless they are actualy under foot, and my hens have since been successful nesters.  Again, they matured, but also the decoy eggs were never included in their nest.  So, my suggestion,( and I am not nearly as experienced as most on this site) is assume that egg is infertile, but leave it be if you can- and see if she's just testing the territory.

Well i already opened it and I think it was fertile but I think she will nest there if I find another one I'll leave it alone

 

[MinxFox]

If you take the decoy eggs the peahen will still lay a real nest somewhere so be aware that this time of year a lot of people lose peahens because they go off to nest and get eaten.

Peahens do lay decoy eggs that is true. The first clutch they will lay each egg randomly around the pen and these first eggs could be fertile (and usually are) but they won't sit on them because they are using them as decoys. Usually after the first clutch they will then make a serious nesting spot and lay all eggs there if allowed. Usually my peahens don't make their real nest where they put decoy eggs. They put almost no thought into where they lay their first eggs.

Edit: That is okay that you cracked it to check fertility. She will lay more eggs so one egg isn't a big loss. The next egg she lays you can leave it alone but if the egg after that is not laid with that egg, I would take the older egg away because it is probably a decoy. I don't leave decoy eggs out because I don't want to attract predators. In the wild decoy eggs might work great because the peahen probably lays them far away from her real nest, but when you have them in close proximity to where she is nesting or in close proximity to where your other birds are, it is probably best to take it just to be safe.

 

[nate1the1great1]

If you take the decoy eggs the peahen will still lay a real nest somewhere so be aware that this time of year a lot of people lose peahens because they go off to nest and get eaten.

Peahens do lay decoy eggs that is true. The first clutch they will lay each egg randomly around the pen and these first eggs could be fertile (and usually are) but they won't sit on them because they are using them as decoys. Usually after the first clutch they will then make a serious nesting spot and lay all eggs there if allowed. Usually my peahens don't make their real nest where they put decoy eggs. They put almost no thought into where they lay their first eggs.

Edit: That is okay that you cracked it to check fertility. She will lay more eggs so one egg isn't a big loss. The next egg she lays you can leave it alone but if the egg after that is not laid with that egg, I would take the older egg away because it is probably a decoy. I don't leave decoy eggs out because I don't want to attract predators. In the wild decoy eggs might work great because the peahen probably lays them far away from her real nest, but when you have them in close proximity to where she is nesting or in close proximity to where your other birds are, it is probably best to take it just to be safe.

Ya I was worried she would lay them at the neighbors house but every morning she is not with the male so maybe she does have a nest at the neighbors and just laid this one here or she is just testing it becuase she was scratching and laying on top of my hay bales that have some metal roof on them so they don't get pooped on but I threw some hay up there and she was playing with it before bed so maybe she will lay up there

 

[nate1the1great1]

I found another one this morning but it was up next to the hay I was talking about that I put on top of the metal roofing that was on the hay bales here's a pic

And there are some pics of my peas

 

[DylansMom]

I found another one this morning but it was up next to the hay I was talking about that I put on top of the metal roofing that was on the hay bales here's a pic



And there are some pics of my peas

Looks like she likes that spot, are you able to let that hay remain undisturbed for the next 4-6 weeks? If so and you'd like babies, let her go and see if she continues to lay up there If she does and she sits them you could end up with babies if the male is an early bloomer.

 

[margaret8]

I know that this is for peas but last year I struggled to hatch guineas. This year I got a Sportsman Cabinet. I went from less than10% to 80% . It is phenomenal. I order a special tray just for pea eggs. You lay them on their side. It holds 24 eggs. I hope I have as much luck with the peas as I did with the guineas! I going to hatch some peas for a friend so we will see! By the way anyone want to but guineas? I have them running out my ears!

 

[nate1the1great1]

Looks like she likes that spot, are you able to let that hay remain undisturbed for the next 4-6 weeks? If so and you'd like babies, let her go and see if she continues to lay up there If she does and she sits them you could end up with babies if the male is an early bloomer.

Ya we don't have anything to do with the hay but my neighbor mows his hard with that be too noisy?? But I won't go near it becuase I want her to hatch some babies

 

[DylansMom]

Ya we don't have anything to do with the hay but my neighbor mows his hard with that be too noisy?? But I won't go near it becuase I want her to hatch some babies

Has she heard the mower before? We mow around our pens all the time and because the birds are used to it, a sitting hen will just lower her head and flatten herself out like she's trying not to be seen. I've never had it cause them to get up. Now if they are not sitting on eggs they will immediately go inside the buildings to get away from the noise.

 

[nate1the1great1]

Has she heard the mower before? We mow around our pens all the time and because the birds are used to it, a sitting hen will just lower her head and flatten herself out like she's trying not to be seen. I've never had it cause them to get up. Now if they are not sitting on eggs they will immediately go inside the buildings to get away from the noise.

She should be becuase she is over there sometimes with there chickens and they mow everyday

 

[Birdrain92]

I felt like sharing with you all. I just got 25 Black Australorp Pullets! THEY'RE SO FLUFFY!!!! And cute!