What's with my peafowl?

[homesteadingcowgirl]

Hello, I have had a pair of IB for almost a year and a half now. When I got them, the lady stated that 2010 would be the year that my male's train would begin growing, she would be laying, etc... ( she said they were 1 1/2 - 2) Given their size, judging feathers then and the fact that I have had them for 1 1/2 yrs. leads me to believe the age to be about right. However, he still does not have his train coming in and no eggs from her. She has been trying to run my broody turkey off of her nest for about a week now, which indicates to me atleast a desire to start. I have created her a place based upon readings here that she apparently doesn't like though I know one of them lays in it. I will make her another near the turkey's spot (since she seems to like that) as soon as the flood waters recede.

Health appears to be good, no "ucky" poop, etc... They free range (pretty sure she's not hiding eggs), they get leftover whey and milk from the milk cow, vinegar in the water occasionally, cat food for protein, table scraps, scratch mix, hard boiled eggs, sift through the alfalfa and grass hay, etc... so I don't think it's nutrition problem. Why won't his feathers come in?

 

[Brindlebtch]

you might try asking peachick. I know she has peafowl and could probably help you out.

 

[Choctaw Valley Farm]

Some 2yr olds will not have a good train at 2 and not all will breed at 2 ether they could have been a late hatch in the breeding season so they may not be two yet, it may be next year before they breed. Pictures would be great maybe we could tell you a little better if we could see them.

Steve

 

[homesteadingcowgirl]

I've had them for a year and a half and I know they were atleast a year old when I got them.
I am trying to figure out the picture thing!!!

 

[homesteadingcowgirl]

All of these pics are from last May, I don't have any current ones.

A little bit better look at his tail. The little door in the pic is about 20-24 in, wide to use for comparison

 

[Choctaw Valley Farm]

And this is what he looks like this year also???, And is this how they looked when you got them??? Also looks like he has green in his neck could he be Spalding???, If so Spaldings seem to take longer to mature because of the green blood in them. I know lots of questions but any thing could help. But looking at the pictures looks like he was a yearling when that photo was taken.

Also what state are you in ??

Steve

 

[homesteadingcowgirl]

Quote:

 

[Kev]

He looks the right age for a 1-1/2 or 2 year old in those pics.. because the patch below his neck is already solid colored.. this is either mostly white or white spotted with random dark feathers replacing the white by the time a male is one year old. Past one year this area becomes much darker, less white feathers left. It's already completely filled in, no white at all on him.

It's not so rare for a 2 year old to look like this. But is pretty odd for a three year old to look like this.. I'd suggest just waiting for the molt to start at end of summer/early fall and see if the colored feathers finally start to grow out of his back. The "tail feathers" are molted out only once every year.. so if he did not grow them out last fall, he will not show any more color until the next molt.. that's why I suggest waiting until end of summer/early fall to see how he molts out this year.

it is true that spalding blood can make a male slower to feather out but if he has spalding, it's extremely low.

 

[homesteadingcowgirl]

Quote:
So you would put them at 2 1/2 to 3 now? I will wait (not much else to do

) to see what happens this summer. He hasn't "gained" anything (feather wise) since last molt. I was just out with him now and he doesn't look any diff. now a year later than he did in those pictures.
What about her, she should be laying any time now correct? Even if she is as young as 2. I realize they most likely won't be fertile,

 

[Choctaw Valley Farm]

Quote:
All of my 2008 hatch peachicks looked like 2 year olds in 2009 I traded some to Sid at Texas Peafowl and he thought they were 2 yr olds, colored out with small trains, so I would not judge the age just by the neck feathering.