Would my Peafowl wander?

[Luke Phillips]

I am thinking about getting some peafowl next year, and I was wondering if they would stay on our forty acres, or if I would have to keep them in a inclosed area? I am going to be getting them as chicks and keeping them in a pen for a while so they won't get eaten, but once they were big I wasn't sure if I could let them roam. I would be putting them in a pen every night and feeding them in there. Any thoughts?

 

[AudieWarren]

I would assume that you have to keep them in a pen for a little while so they know where home is, but peafowl like to roost high. Had a random peahen find my home. We have 54 acres. She stayed for about 2 month before she made her way to the next place. While she was here, she'd roost on top of the barn or in the top of the trees.

 

[Luke Phillips]

I would assume that you have to keep them in a pen for a little while so they know where home is, but peafowl like to roost high. Had a random peahen find my home. We have 54 acres. She stayed for about 2 month before she made her way to the next place. While she was here, she'd roost on top of the barn or in the top of the trees.

Thank you so much! The little building that I would put them in at night would have roosts about six feet off the ground.

 

[Luke Phillips]

Does anybody else have any thoughts?

 

[new 2 pfowl]

If you are thinking about free ranging peacocks, there are a lot of things to consider, for example:
-Are you near any busy roads? Peas can and will wander into the road.
-How close are your neighbors? And are they friendly? Because the peas will go to their house, poop on their porch, and scratch their cars.
-What is your predator situation? This is especially of concern during breeding season, because peahens nest on the ground and are at risk.
-Although your plan to pen at night sounds good, they will likely not go along with it, and will roost wherever they would like. So do you have any large trees for them to roost in?

Hope this helps in your considerations! Others here have much more experience than I and will hopefully offer you sage advice!

 

[Luke Phillips]

If you are thinking about free ranging peacocks, there are a lot of things to consider, for example:
-Are you near any busy roads? Peas can and will wander into the road.
-How close are your neighbors? And are they friendly? Because the peas will go to their house, poop on their porch, and scratch their cars.
-What is your predator situation? This is especially of concern during breeding season, because peahens nest on the ground and are at risk.
-Although your plan to pen at night sounds good, they will likely not go along with it, and will roost wherever they would like. So do you have any large trees for them to roost in?

Hope this helps in your considerations! Others here have much more experience than I and will hopefully offer you sage advice!

Thank you so much for your thoughts! How far are peafowl's range of travel? We are about 3/10 to 1/2 mile from a country highway and our nearest neighbors (maybe a little more from our neighbors).

 

[sourland]

Sometimes they wander, and sometimes they stay home. If there are wild turkey flocks in the area, they may very well join them.