General Information about Peafowl
It does not matter if you want peafowl for their majestic colorful appearance, or to breed. Purchasing your birds from a reputable breeder can save you a lot of hardships later.
A healthy bird will have clear eyes, straight toes, good plumage, the breast of the bird will be thick. They will act alert, and curious Standing with there head and neck uplifted as though they are proud.
Peafowl are susceptible to avian diseases so care should be taken not to house them with any poultry, and to clean their living quarters regularly.
Get to know how your birds act, it makes it easier to tell if one is acting sick.
Always keep fresh water available for drinking. and try to use pans or buckets that are tall enough that the birds will not stand in them.
Peafowl should be wormed every few months. If you are breeding birds, do this a few weeks before the beginning of breeding season and after breeding season has ended. We prefer the type that is put in the drinking water, its easy and less labor intensive.
Adult peafowl require a high protein diet 20% and up. Chicks and juvenile birds should have about 30%. Your local feed store should be able to supply you with a good high protein food to fit your needs.
Peafowl love treats like dog food, grapes, bread, peanuts, and sweet corn
If you are going to let your birds free range put some type of food supplement out so they don't loose interest in where they are, and start wandering off to the neighbors homes.
It is also a good idea to have some type of temporary housing for your birds incase one does get sick, injured or you want a hen to set on a clutch of eggs. We get email all to often from people telling us their hen was killed setting on a nest of eggs out in their yard, or a varmint ate all the eggs.
Housing should be constructed large enough to accommodate the maximum amount of birds you are keep. We use 80 square ft. of floor space per bird or more if possible, and a roof about 7 ft. high. We cover half of the roof with tin. We also cover the north and west sides of our pens for protection from the cold and rain. Living in Texas we don't worry very much about the colder weather. If you live up north a completely closed shelter on the north end of your pens for protection from the cold would be a nice addition.
A perch for the birds to roost on can be constructed from a 2x4 piece of wood turned so that the 4 inch side is flat, or a piece of timber about 4 inches in diameter extended across the width of the pen about 3 1/2 to 4 feet off the ground.
The main thing to remember is enjoy there beauty and the sometimes comical way they act. Pay them some attention and they will give you something to smile about every day.
