Very Aggresive Peacock

[Rahan Ranch]

We have a Ranch in East Texas. We were talking about getting peafowl and before we had any time to do any research a peacock showed up. Yep, just showed up and started hanging around eating the corn from the deer feeders. We wanted him to stay around so we went and purchased 2 peahen. The people who sold us the peahen also had a peacock for sale, with a bad leg. We thought maybe having hens and more than one cock would make them competitive and therefore we would get to see more tail displays.

When we brought the new peafowl to the ranch within a day the original peacock attacked the new peacock and nearly killed him. We put him in the chicken coupe and he recovered. When he got better and we let him out the original peacock attacked him again. So we gave the second one away to some neighbors.

Is this normal for peacocks? I would really like to know how we can go about having more than one peacock. He has lived at our place for about 9 months now.

 

[QuailKeeper]

more pea hens. im not sure and if i am wrong someone correct me but im thinkin 5-6 peahens per peacock

 

[chickenzoo]

More peahens and perhaps keeping the two males penned in side by side pens for awhile. Most of mine do fine together with only the occasional squabble during breeding season.

 

[Kev]

Yes, kind of typical. I assume this is for a free range setup? Peafowl kind of "react" to new birds, wanting to get in their faces to check them over(it's their curious personality) but if they think the new thing does not show sufficient respect they will give it a "whup" and give a chase to remind it who's the boss. Same thing as chickens except it much more obvious with peafowl. So do not be surprised if established peahens get sassy with new peahens.. they will eventually settle down.

As for peacocks.. during the breeding season, a peacock will not easily accept another male. He will really want to fight and drive him away so he will have all of the girls for himself. Don't matter how many peahens there are either. Just *seeing* another male will offend him quite much.

When introducing adult male when there is already another adult male, have them be able to see each other and only let them together after all males have molted their tails and not so frisky, loud or excitable anymore for the year. That's their hormones winding down for the winter. This is a good time to introduce the males, however they will still want to establish a pecking order. So let him get in the other's face.. if they fight a little but stop, that will be good. Or do something like let the new male out with the other male penned up so the new male will have a chance to learn his new home before having to deal with the other male.

If you want more males, it is much easier to get young males up to a year in age.. the old male will be more or less tolerant of these and as long as they never challenge him the flock will be fine. Some folks swear by a trick of keeping odd numbers of males, such as 3 or 5 to avoid the problem of two males spending so much time being hostile to each other.. with 3 or more they can't concentrate all their hostile energy against one male all the time.. kind of keeping the balance.

Last thing.. a lot of big breeders put all males in one large pen after breeding season, they say they get along but there probably are a few scuffles here n there however they settle it quick and the loser cannot be driven away as they are confined anyways.

 

[deerman]

Yes I winter all my breeding age peafowl in one large flight pen peacocks and peahens. They set pecking order. Less fighting after breeding season. I even keep extra breeding age peacocks together during the breeding season. They will fight like rooster when setting the pecking order.

 

[Rahan Ranch]

Thanks for all the great information. This all happened in the last 3 months so I think my timing was all wrong. The peacock is now molting so I guess this would be the time to introduce other peafowl.

Also, I forgot to mention we have (daytime) free roaming chickens. About a month ago he killed our rooster. I am not sure if this is unusual or would show that he is more aggressive than normal.

 

[spectrumranch]

Quote:
Excellent post- exactly what I would advise.

We never try to introduce new breeding males during breeding season.

We have several customers with more peacocks than peahens, and they do not have a problem.