Q&A for How to Care for Peacocks

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  • Question
    We have a lone male peacock. Would a peahen stop him from calling during the breeding season?
    Community Answer
    No. Peacocks will always call during the few months of the breeding season. Getting a female will give him company and give you the possibility of more peacocks.
  • Question
    What kind of grain should I feed peacocks?
    Community Answer
    Chicken pellets and mixed grains (barley, wheat, rice) are good. Corn feed is also acceptable. You might also want to add some dog food into the mix.
  • Question
    Will the peacock harm the chicks once they are hatched?
    Community Answer
    Yes, the males are known to be quite aggressive, oftentimes plucking the feathers since they deem the newcomer a threat. This is why it's always best to house males and females separately.
  • Question
    How long do the peahens nest?
    Community Answer
    Usually, they incubate for 28 days. They start their laying periods when they are about 3 years old and lay about 3 to 5 eggs per mating season.
  • Question
    How does one keep a male peacock in an urban area, where the peacock's loud calls will annoy most neighbors?
    Community Answer
    I was reading that they make the most noise in breeding season and at dusk. One option was to put the roosts high enough so they cannot stretch out their necks. If they can't extend it fully they cannot call as loudly.
  • Question
    Can a peahen chick fly?
    Community Answer
    Yes, they can fly right after hatching. They can't fly too far for about a week.
  • Question
    Are peacocks legal to have in Hawaii?
    Community Answer
    Yes, peacocks have have been on Hawaii for more than 150 years. Your peacock will probably like it there.
  • Question
    How do I give a peacock oral medication?
    Community Answer
    Usually the instructions for the medication are given in the label, but you can dilute it in their water or mix it with a treat to trick the bird into eating it.
  • Question
    How long do peacocks live?
    Community Answer
    Peacocks live for about twenty years in the wild.
  • Question
    How do I keep my peacocks from flying away?
    Community Answer
    You can pen them, which will be most effective. You can also clip their wings by trimming 1 to 2 inches off the tips of the flight feathers. Don't cut too much, as the stem of the feathers can bleed and cause pain to the bird; it may also lead to infections.
  • Question
    There is a peacock farm down the street from me, and a peahen make a nest in my front yard. Is it okay to feed her?
    Community Answer
    You might want to check with the peahen's owners so you don't get into legal issues. If the owners are okay with it, make sure you are feeding her with proper food so that you don't cause health issues.
  • Question
    How do I treat for lice and mites?
    Community Answer
    You need the Ivermectin 1% injection. Add 4 ml per gallon of water for 3 days (change water every day with new medicine). Repeat 10-13 days later. Do not use the "pour on" medicine in their water as it will not mix. Only use the injectable kind in their water. This will kill worms, lice, and mites.
  • Question
    How can I tell if my peacock is a male?
    Community Answer
    Males have extremely colorful plumage (back feathers). Females have darker brown, to camouflage and protect herself and the chicks.
  • Question
    Can I put sand or clay in the cage?
    Community Answer
    No, as any parasites in the sand can harm the peacock.
  • Question
    Can I stop my peacock from being aggressive?
    Community Answer
    No. All peafowl will compete for a high ranking in the group. To do this, they show aggression to lower ranked individuals.
  • Question
    Can a peacock eat an egg of another bird?
    Community Answer
    They love chicken eggs! I've never offered an uncooked one because some nutrients would be lost to the ground or straw.
  • Question
    Is diatomaceous earth a sufficient wormer for peacocks and chickens?
    Community Answer
    Apple cider vinegar is a good natural wormer. We use it all the time for our chickens and goats. Just add a few tablespoons per gallon of water.
  • Question
    What food shall I give my male peacock?
    Community Answer
    Peacocks are omnivores, which means their diet mainly consists of plants. The best food to give any peacock is seeds, berries, grain, wild figs, etc.
  • Question
    Do feathers continue to grow on a peacock once they have fallen off?
    Community Answer
    No. Once it is plucked off, the feather is "dead," and it will not grow back.
  • Question
    What do I do to keep my peacock safe from raccoons?
    Community Answer
    You can put them in a pen with a top and make sure there are no dig holes around the bottom. You can also use a live trap; you can bait it with eggs or cat or dog food.
  • Question
    Should I contact a zoo or a bird sanctuary to catch a loud peacock in my rural neighborhood?
    Amy Harrison
    Top Answerer
    Yes, or you can call the RSPCA if the peacock doesn't belong to anyone.
  • Question
    At what age can I put the male peacock with the chicks?
    Community Answer
    Our males stay in the same pen with the broody mothers and are always kept together with their chicks. They are not aggressive to their chicks in any dangerous way. They simply scare them away from food they want sometimes.
  • Question
    Does the peahen need to sit on the eggs for them to hatch?
    PavoKeeper18
    Community Answer
    You may hatch them under a broody chicken (i.e. silkie) or an incubator if you do not have any broody peahens on hand. If hatching under a broody chicken, ensure that other chickens and birds in the flock do not pick on the hatchling.
  • Question
    Can I legally keep peacocks in India?
    Community Answer
    This is illegal, as peacocks are a Schedule I species in India's Wildlife Act.
  • Question
    Do peacock enclosures need net roofs?
    Community Answer
    Yes, if you want to prevent them from flying away. Perhaps not if they have become tame over months/years, but they will still fly away if scared by pets or loud noises. They might come back to you if they can find your home; otherwise, they will just wander off and find new homes.
  • Question
    Do peacocks go into a pen at night?
    Community Answer
    They should, as they would have become used to the pen from a small age.
  • Question
    Is there a device that can be attached to a peacock's leg to prevent it from flying?
    Community Answer
    No, and I wouldn't recommend it. Instead, clip their flight wings an inch or two.
  • Question
    How would peacocks fair with ducks and geese? How many males to hens? Can they live in all 4 seasons? How high should I build a fence to keep them in?
    Community Answer
    Peafowls shall not be kept with waterfowls in the same pen, as waterfowls make mud, which can make peafowls sick. If free ranging, then they will be fine with geese and ducks. They can live in all 4 seasons, just provide them with shelter in winters and watch out for predators.
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