Sterile Peacock or...

[BirdsBeesTrees]

We just got a Spalding Peacock and a Peahen two months ago or so. We have had them in a 8x10 temporary coop for two reasons; we've wanted to keep them warm with a heat lamp (they loved it) and so we could predator proof the 100 foot fly pen they will be going to in a week. When we got our Peacock Jack home we noticed his toes were missing. My Peahen Jael starting laying the beginning of Feburary but every egg I incubated was infertile. Now Jael is sitting on a turkey egg I gave her and 3 of her own eggs. Do you think he is infertile, or that he didn't even breed her? (toes or space problem)

 

[KsKingBee]

If your hen was laying in Feb it is because of the artificial light wrecking her normal season cycle. Living in Ohio you shouldn't see eggs until this time of year. Your hen laying in the dead of winter is not going to be fertile because the cock wasn't in season until now. When he gets his bump and starts strutting and calling he is ready. If you are seeing him do that now he will breed but it may be a short season if the hen has run her course and laid all the eggs she is going to for her season.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

If your hen was laying in Feb it is because of the artificial light wrecking her normal season cycle. Living in Ohio you shouldn't see eggs until this time of year. Your hen laying in the dead of winter is not going to be fertile because the cock wasn't in season until now. When he gets his bump and starts strutting and calling he is ready. If you are seeing him do that now he will breed but it may be a short season if the hen has run her course and laid all the eggs she is going to for her season.

I live in Iowa but yeah I figured the light might throw them off but they were freezing. You don't think the toenails missing will make it so he can't breed?

 

[KsKingBee]

I live in Iowa but yeah I figured the light might throw them off but they were freezing. You don't think the toenails missing will make it so he can't breed?

I have read of cocks missing a foot that still get the job done. He might not be the best performer but if not pressed too hard by putting a bunch of hens under him he should be fine especially with just one or two hens.

India Blues do not need extra heat during the winter as long as they have a coop where they can get out of the weather. Many people north of you report their birds are fine in minus zero weather roosting up in trees. If you have to have a heat source next year consider getting a reptile heat bulb, it is a heating element without transmitting light.