Super new to Peafowl and have lots of questions

[anackerman]

Hey there! I'm a newbie to peafowl and I just got an adult pair of India Blues this past week. I have some questions...hopefully someone can help me out!

1) I've been making a mixture of wild bird seed, crumble, chopped lettuce, cracked corn and black seed oil sunflower seeds and feeding that to them. For treats they have been getting black berries and blue berries which grows wild here. Is this a suitable diet? Is there anything I'm should be feeding them that I'm not or anything that I shouldn't be feeding them that I am?

2) I have not feeding them at scheduled times, I just have a hanging food dispenser that I keep filled. Will they overeat if I do it this way? I also have a pan of grit available for them at all times. Should I offer it to them 24/7 or put them on a schedule? I haven't noticed them eating too much, but I don't know what is considered normal.

3) Our peacock hasn't made a single call in the week we've had him. It's still breeding season, right? He has his full train still and hasn't started to shed any of his feathers...is this OK? Not that I'm complaining because of his silence! I will gladly take it!

4) Now I know this is a stupid question...but I honestly have no idea. Do hens lay eggs all year or just during the breeding season?

5) I've seen a few different kinds of poop from them and I don't know if any of it should worry me or not. What should normal, healthy poo look like?

6) I have crushed oyster shells for our hen, but how do I give it to her? Am I supposed to put it in a separate pan or mix it in her food? Also, how do I make sure she is getting enough and the peacock isn't eating all of it.

Thanks in advance!

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC!

I started a thread on peafowl poop:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/719075/not-family-friendly-peafowl-poop-pictures-work-in-progress

It's missing some normal poops, cecal, I think, but it might help you. I still need to get a picture of the larger, darker, really smelly one, lol. Poop should never have any shade of yellow or blood in it and heat and/or stress can make it loose, but the majority should be well formed.

-Kathy

 

[ssmith1]

I am also new to the peafowl world! I have 2 peahens that just 'showed up' in our backyard and have been here over a month now! I am waiting anxiously to read the replies to your questions.....

Ssmith
Melissa, Tx

 

[casportpony]

6) I have crushed oyster shells for our hen, but how do I give it to her? Am I supposed to put it in a separate pan or mix it in her food? Also, how do I make sure she is getting enough and the peacock isn't eating all of it.

Thanks in advance!

I have it in a separate bowl for mine, but sometimes I mix it in their food if I notice any thin shells or hens having problems laying, but this is only my second year with peafowl of breeding age, so I don't know if it's the right thing to do or not.

-Kathy