where would a free range peahen lay?

[hunter1hall]

Do they usually hide their nest like a turkey? I have two hens both about 3 or 4 years old. Just was curious where to search for their eggs.

 

[Kev]

Oh yes they can hide their eggs extremely well. Either really secluded or almost in plain sight but you will never think to look there and never know about that nest until you see her going back/getting off it etc. I only found most nests by watching where a broody hen went back to after her break was over. You can do the same if you happen to catch a hen that is obviously in laying cycle and is ready to lay an egg that evening. Just wait very patiently and don't let her out of sight at all. They also will nest on ground, a little off ground or way high off ground(not so common but if high good nest sites are available some will use). Some of our free ranges laid nests on roof of the house..

I did notice one general thing in common, nest being next to something large/solid- can be a boulder, log or along a fence where weeds are left untrimmed etc. And usually well away from where they hang out during the day.

 

[evonne]

i had one set a nest while i was busy hunting....

she was in a ditch just the other side of a chain link fence.... the dried desert brush, and the little bit of green from the rain this jan were such an incredible camo for her.. i wouldn't have found her if i hadn't been there at just the right time to see her walking back into the whole...

her crazy sister on the other hand, laid one under a tree on the south side outside the fence, i found another one on top of hte neighbors shed, another right in front of the walk through gate on the north side of the house, and another in the ditch next to her sister....

unfortunatley i had to move... the 6 eggs i stole from under the setting mom 3 candled clear the other 3 are hopefully hatching in the next few days... the 4 i found from crazy sister all candled clear... but the neighbor said she never let the boys get near her so... lol...

peafowl are funny little things.... all sorts of entertainment... unwanted latenight wakeup alarms... egg hunts.... compost heap destroyers...