Tried integrating the flock

[MinxFox]

Yesterday I opened the door to the pen with Peep and the white peachicks but instead of closing it behind me I left it open to let them enter the adult pen. Peep didn't hesitate to walk out mainly because I was in the adult pen and also he has been in there before. The whites all stepped out and cautiously looked around. Damsel walked up and all of them stretched out their necks and eyed each other. Alto walked up and looked at them too. I threw out some food to coax the white peachicks to walk around. Everything was going pretty well. Damsel pecked at the whites a little just to let them know she didn't want them getting too close to her and the food but she didn't jump on them. Ice jumped at Peep but he easily out maneuvered her and hid by my mom and me. Ice lost interest and noticed the white peachicks who were now in the center of the pen. Ice chased the whites around and unlike Peep the whites were not very good at getting out of the way and some got trampled by her. One got scared and flew up and bounced off of the netting and landed onto one of the bamboo canes and held on to it then got stuck in the branches so I had to grab it out. That peachick was in a bit of shock or a bit dazed so it just stood by a small tree. Alto walked up and protected the peachick by standing by it and making sure the peahens didn't jump on it. Damsel walked up to look at it but didn't hurt the chick. Alto then left to help the other two whites who where trapped in a corner by Ice and she kept lunging at them kicking. Alto walked up but wasn't sure if he should jump in and I helped the white peachicks get out of the corner. One flew up onto a perch and we noticed it had some blood on its wing. Damsel flew up onto the perch to look at the peachick but she didn't mess with it. The third bird was running away from Ice and joined up with the scared peachick. In total all of the whites bounced off of the netting at least once and we rounded them back into their pen. Peep followed me as I rounded up the whites and when I got the first one into the pen I didn't close the door so I could get the others into their pen easier. (I knew the ones already rounded up into their pen wouldn't leave after being attacked in the other pen) I tried to leave Peep in his pen with the lone white peachick but he walked out to follow me so I got the other peachick in the pen and we made the white bird on the perch fly down and got him into his pen. It wasn't the best introduction but I don't think it was really horrible. After all when Damsel was new Ice would jump on her and Damsel was always flying around bouncing off of the netting when she was new.

We were thinking about trying this again...What do you think? I don't really want to keep all my peafowl together but I want them to all get to hang out with each other until I get another large pen.

 

[AugeredIn]

Unfortunataley, given the weather this year, I think it will probably be bad to try anytime soon. I had to separate my breeding groups this weekend. The blackshoulder peacock was just kicking the other peacocks rear ends and so on down the line. I think hormones and breeding instincts are kicking in real early this year. I have never seen them this worked up this early. I stated getting some calling last week and I saw one pair mating this weekend. I think the length of the day is the only thing holding them back from going crazy.

 

[Frosty]

Do you think it would work better to separate Ice since she is the one picking on them? Maybe put her in the baby pen while the others get settled in, give them a week or so and try putting her back in? When I am introducing new chicks to the chicken flock, I put them in a different pen and add a few older birds with them. I gradually add more older birds until about half are there then combine the whole flock again. It shakes up the pecking order a bit and gives the new chicks a chance to find their place without everybody picking on them.

 

[MinxFox]

That is a pretty good idea Frosty...That would be a lot easier for everyone.

Alto has been displaying a little but he has been doing really short displays and I haven't seen him chasing the peahens yet. I can't wait for everything to green up. I get so tired of the pen being all dirt and leaves in the winter.