Show off your Peas!

[DylansMom]

They don't pay for themselves most times. Make him develop a business plan and sell it to you. I remember those days of working for animals. Delivered lots of pizzas to pay for my reptile collection in college. Of course I did sell that for a bunch when I left college.

I know they usually don't, and I was just curious about these younger forum members who are complaining because their parents don't always allow them to get the birds they want.

My son will have to pay for what he wants, either by getting a job or working around here, because there are always plenty of pens that need cleaning, and fences that need fixing and water that needs changing, yada, yada, yada...........

 

[BYC-user-174785]

I will @AugeredIn. Just send me a PM of what got specifically want so that I can have you on my list.

Originally we never had ornamental birds and bit by bit more species were acquired that I liked (and that my dad did). Then he was covering the costs but now I am increasingly cover more costs. I do use my own money on birds and some feed. Some feed I am also fortunate enough to share with other birds we have (chickens).

@MinxFox I was showing him pictures of greens which he claimed was the peafowl he actually liked but now he says he like spaldings (which I sold the nice male I had). No one here enjoys their calling unfortunately...

 

[DylansMom]

I will @AugeredIn . Just send me a PM of what got specifically want so that I can have you on my list.

Originally we never had ornamental birds and bit by bit more species were acquired that I liked (and that my dad did). Then he was covering the costs but now I am increasingly cover more costs. I do use my own money on birds and some feed. Some feed I am also fortunate enough to share with other birds we have (chickens).

@MinxFox I was showing him pictures of greens which he claimed was the peafowl he actually liked but now he says he like spaldings (which I sold the nice male I had). No one here enjoys their calling unfortunately...

@Blue Creek Farm remember our commiseration regarding feather eating? Well now that Fred's daughter has moved to another pen, he actually has tips on his train feathers again! Guess it was all her....... not him.

 

[MinxFox]

Just curious who pays the bills for the birds you have and want to get? Speaking as a parent, who's son will soon be old enough to start asking for pets of his own, if we had the space and he could pay the bills and do the work, I would have no problems with it. However, if I was expected to pay for the animal as well as their feed and everything else it would be a different story. I grew up in a family with lots of animals, but until we could support them we were not allowed to bring new animals of our own home. I was working at 15, so I could feed my cat.

Ya caught me. Of the three people you are asking I am probably the least responsible.

I am pretty spoiled since I am an only child. To be honest though, when I was thinking about green peafowl I forgot that more birds means more costs probably since my parents pay for most of it. I have a problem where I get all these big ideas and forget that everything comes at a cost. I know building this new pen means more cost, but I forgot about feed cost. I buy the birds with my own money (which isn't saying much since that isn't really the big price), but the feed costs my mom gives me money on a debit card that I use for gas and buying bird feed. The pen materials my Dad usually buys for me. The new netting I bought using my card after talking to my Dad about it and if I should go with the cheaper of the two I was looking at. My parents have never told me I have to pay for my own pets, so I never really thought about it

. I do value all of my birds though and appreciate my parents for letting me keep them, and I know I like to complain on here about not getting green peafowl, and I shouldn't complain. My parents are very supportive of my art and everything.

My Dad was into coon dogs so he had a job or did farm work to get money to buy dogs, but also he would win the world hunts and get money doing that as well. He had very good dogs, so he didn't have trouble selling any he didn't particularly want or need anymore.

My son will have to pay for what he wants, either by getting a job or working around here, because there are always plenty of pens that need cleaning, and fences that need fixing and water that needs changing, yada, yada, yada...........

I would do that kind of work for animals for sure. I like yard work. Maybe I can do that for my parents. I like focusing on college so during the semester I wouldn't have a job, but I could definitely do yard work on weekends or even some weekdays. I reallllly want to get hired by a local plant nursery. Like, really, really, really, reaaaaalllly badly. I will try one of the other local nurseries and hopefully that will work out. I wish I didn't have to take summer classes, but I do, so hopefully I will be able to find some time to have a job.

Then he was covering the costs but now I am increasingly cover more costs. I do use my own money on birds and some feed. Some feed I am also fortunate enough to share with other birds we have (chickens).

@MinxFox I was showing him pictures of greens which he claimed was the peafowl he actually liked but now he says he like spaldings (which I sold the nice male I had). No one here enjoys their calling unfortunately...

You are so responsible for starting to pay more for the costs. I am such a bad, immature daughter.

When my mom first mentioned that she likes spaldings more than greens, I was curious about what kind of Spalding she likes. I asked her if she likes the higher % ones or the lower % ones, and she said she didn't know what I was talking about. Then I asked her if she likes the ones that look more like a blue, more like a green, or in between. She said she guesses she likes the ones in between and then I showed her spalding photos and she wasn't sure what kind she likes more. I don't think my Mom really likes talking about peafowl with me though.

She does like to ask how Peep is doing. My Dad likes pieds the most because each bird has unique markings. That is why my Dad always liked treeing walker coon hounds.

 

[MinxFox]

@Blue Creek Farm remember our commiseration regarding feather eating? Well now that Fred's daughter has moved to another pen, he actually has tips on his train feathers again! Guess it was all her....... not him.

A peafowl breeder nearby had a green pair (the male died recently). The male's crest was always picked, so that probably means that the hen was the one picking on him. She herself had a full crest. Then I saw a pair of greens at Rocking BAB that were feather picked. I watched the male walking by the female, and the female pulled a feather off of the male, which obviously hurt because he clucked and jumped. Then she ATE it!! So I think that some green and spalding hens like to pull feathers off of the peacock that is in with them.

 

[BYC-user-174785]

He has a nice train DylansMom!

I fortunately did not have to pay for pen materials which is a major cost. But this year I will try keeping records of all costs to see how things end up financially. I am pretty fortunate too. Alea you really should hatch chicks and sell them. And like I said pheasants are nice, compatible birds so if you got some Goldens for example you could also sell those.

 

[MinxFox]

I am definitely going to be hatching peachicks this year.

Well, that is what I say at least. I think my parents will still allow it as long as I move the peachicks to the outside peachick pen ASAP. Hopefully my parents won't give any away for free. I was raising 2 peachicks that were young hens, and I went on a youth group trip and when I came home they were gone and my parents said they gave them away to a guy who has chickens. I was upset because I was going to sell them, but I guess since my parents pay for the costs, they have the right to give away the birds even though I found that weird. I think they just wanted them gone.

I was offered golden eggs for free from Birdman (local guy not a BYC member). I guess I might have to take him up on that. I have been told by many that they are easy to care for and they sell well. I just want peafowl, but if having goldens would help me out more than maybe I should go for it. I think I would need smaller fencing though. I think they would squeeze through the fence I have.

 

[DylansMom]

He has a nice train DylansMom!

I fortunately did not have to pay for pen materials which is a major cost. But this year I will try keeping records of all costs to see how things end up financially. I am pretty fortunate too. Alea you really should hatch chicks and sell them. And like I said pheasants are nice, compatible birds so if you got some Goldens for example you could also sell those.

I just did a prelim for my taxes and it looks like my Peacock expenses for 2014 are about $7000.00, that includes the new runs and the sportsman incubator as well as all feed, bedding meds..etc....

.

 

[MinxFox]

So were the new runs the most expensive part or did the feed costs add up to be the most expensive? Do you have 41 peafowl like what your signature says or do you have more?

My Mom might have some figures for 2014 regarding peafowl expense. I know she helps my Dad keep track of his expenses with land stuff and hunting.

 

[birdman55]

wow...what it would be like to have that kind of help ($)...its just me on my own...and when I need something I have to buy it...mom and dad wont...I would be a huge farm if that were the case...im only 31 and have three cars, two houses...two gardens, my own business and within six months acquired all the pheasants and peafowl...and built housing for all the birds all by myself....lol...some kids are just blessed with the ease factor...but at the end of the day I know what is standing in front of my face is all mine and I worked for every penny of it...the two houses are in two different states as well...and just in costs for the birds which is paid off 10k...house in Michigan is paid...three cars are paid...I work all day every day Monday thru sunday...more then 12 hours a day...I worked as a prison guard for two years...road crew demolition supervisor for five...traveled the entire u.s. and worked 12-16 hours a day 300-325 day a year...in college I was going full time for business and marketing....and had a full time supervisor job...talk about exhausting...naaaaa...you build a resistance...like yesterday I didn't sleep...just watching the birds hatch and getting work done around the house...man if I only had the leisure of mom and dad....I go thru 70 bucks in dog food and atleast 100 in bird feed....in a month...the leisure I have with mom and dad...is to give back to them the love and respect and beautiful birds that they can enjoy when they come visit....