What do you wish you knew before getting peacocks?

[CooksCritters]

Hi Peafowl People!
Yesterday my hubbs and I, purchased four Indian Blue peachicks.
We are about as green as you can get as far as Peafowl go, although I've been doing my research. (I can't find a whole lot about them)
So my question is this: What do you wish you would have known before getting peafowl? I don't have my little ones yet they're staying with the breeder untill next Wednesday, so the more I can find out now the better.
Thank you !

 

[Robin37]

I had two peahens and one peacock years ago. I used chain-link fence and a metal roof for their pens. They were real easy to raise and my hens had a 100% hatch rate.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Build many pens as big as you can make them! I built my first 2 pens 10x30 and covered with wire with the west end covered not only in wire but 3 sides and top for their coop (if wood rots or blows off you have wire saving them still). I wish I could get more built and should have 5 years ago when I started them. Now several of mine live in 10x10 dog pens, which are neither sturdy (had one collapse on the peas during a snow storm but they were not harmed) nor safe nor big enough. Use good wooden posts, make 7 or 8 ft tall and know that you will always want more peafowl. You can never have too many pens or too large of a pen for them.

 

[CooksCritters]

I had two peahens and one peacock years ago. I used chain-link fence and a metal roof for their pens. They were real easy to raise and my hens had a 100% hatch rate.

Thank you Robin37. I hadn't thought about chain link! that's a great idea!

 

[CooksCritters]

Build many pens as big as you can make them! I built my first 2 pens 10x30 and covered with wire with the west end covered not only in wire but 3 sides and top for their coop (if wood rots or blows off you have wire saving them still). I wish I could get more built and should have 5 years ago when I started them. Now several of mine live in 10x10 dog pens, which are neither sturdy (had one collapse on the peas during a snow storm but they were not harmed) nor safe nor big enough. Use good wooden posts, make 7 or 8 ft tall and know that you will always want more peafowl. You can never have too many pens or too large of a pen for them.

Thank you so much! this is great advice. We live in Florida so the wire on the top is a great idea, since hurricanes are very possible. My husband and I are still making plans for their pen. They will be bunking in our bathroom in a tub with a heat lamp, for a while.
Thank you!

 

[Robin37]

You are welcome CooksCritters. I built my pens about 1/4 acre behind my house. I have heard people complain that peacocks are too loud but I never noticed it. Perhaps I simply found their beauty to supercede all things else. I also had a friend whose neighbors let their peafowl run free. They flew high in the trees. It was amazing. But my friend complained about them being in her yard doing their business. I kept mine penned up so that I could enjoy and protect them.WestKnollAmy is correct when she said build their pen big.

 

[CooksCritters]

Personally, I love the sound of peacocks, and pooping in the yard is good fertilizer.
We've been making preperations for a BIG pen. I want to keep mine penned up for protection, but I thought about making them a run to use during the day and rounding them back in their coop at night. We have foxes, dogs, and coyotes, that I need to keep them from.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I have them all around my home but I have 8 acres. One is penned practically in the front yard with many along my driveway and some down near my barn. I do not mind the noise either. I sleep right through it at night with the windows open. It does freak out some friends when they are here at night and hear them. They thought they went to sleep at dark. Ha! Not during breeding season!

 

[Frenchman Creek]

I raise South African Boers goats and India Blue peafowl. I wish that I had known that within a few years I would have to become a pharmacist and run a pharmacy from my home. Your biggest concern with your new peachicks is to be ready to save them from coccidiosis, worms and blackhead in that order and you should have the meds before the chicks. Wishing you well on your new endeavor. Peafowl are well worth the effort to keep them healthy.

 

[PhoredaBurds]

I wish I had known the peas would be so addictive. Wish I knew a quicker, less expensive way to build large secure pens. Wish I had stashed money away for big pens. Wish I had bought an RCom rather than a Brinsea. That said, I love my peas. They are my fantastic beasts. More time, money, and effort than chickens, but so worth it! I love their jungle sounds!