Young Peahen was setting...

[cschoer]

My young peahen was setting for about 10 days and now she is off. There are 4 eggs there with another one that is broken. What caused her to quite setting? I am new to Peahens and Peacocks so not sure what to do. She was setting in tall grass by some lilac bushes.

 

[zazouse]

Young hens will do that , I have 7 under the age of 2 that are laying, 2 started setting and quit and are laying in a new nest, 3 are out sitting a nest and 1 is hatching some right now and 1 is laying where ever.

Also something may have disturbed her with an egg being broken and all, they are pretty careful, but once that egg breaks every critter around you will be looking for that smell, so unless she is in a secure area something may get the rest of her eggs and her too so she may have done you both a favor.

 

[cschoer]

Oh thanks, I suspect that we have a skunk; we will be setting out catch them alive traps. I have two young hens and a male. It appears that you have white ones. They are so beautiful.

 

[msmolly]

If you smell a "Skunk" smell, it may very well be fox. Fox mark there territory(usually around the edge of a field with a woodsedge) with urine that smells exactly like skunk. the Fox smell will fade by morning, where as the Skunk smell may not. Fox will steal the eggs and baby chicks, and can be very stealthy about it. I've never heard of Skunk bothering birds, but others hers may know better. I know skunks eat the yellow jacket nests out of the garden and grubs out of your lawn, and they really like cat food, oh yeah and they can smell kinda bad

....but other than that, its the fox and coons you have to worry about.
If you catch a fox or coon this time of year, remember, it may have babies somewhere and you'll be starving orphans! Just sayin.

 

[msmolly]

Maybe moving the hen is a better option, if you can. If you remove one predator, there will just be another to takes its place.

 

[cschoer]

She is off of the eggs, we trapped a skunk (relocated down the road a ways) but we do have raccoons and fox, coyote, mountain lions, etc. I was hoping for babies but it is nature's way. Thanks for all the input, I just think maybe that she is a young hen and got a little impatient. I sure didn't know that about foxes so appreciate the input. Will be on the watch and the peahens may give it another try.

 

[msmolly]

My hens sat on nests for 3 years, before they ever hatched any. I had to start keeping track of the days, because they would have sat on dud eggs till Christmas. I would have to steal an egg after 30 plus days, and break it open. Sure enough they would just be warm raw eggs- so then I would have to get rid of the rest, so predators wouldn't get any future ideas. Surprisingly the hen seemed unfazed (maybe relieved). Goodluck- its a journey!

 

[cschoer]

They are a funny breed of birds aren't they. My peacock is yelling as I am typing this. The hens are pretty docile and only the one has attempted to set. I hope it is early enough in the season for them to try again. It is a journey keeping track...

 

[msmolly]

Don't know what part of the country your in, but my Peahens had chicks last year in July. I'll cross my fingers for you.

 

[cschoer]

I'm in Montana. The lady that I got the Peafowl from said her's didn't start setting until June so I'm thinking that maybe they will try again. I have two hens so my chances are doubled, right?