Visiting My Ostentation of Peafowl
It is a cold and snowy week here in Bedford, New York - we're expecting several inches of snow today, but my peafowl are out and having lots of fun.
So many of you comment about how much you enjoy seeing the animals at my farm, so I thought it was a good time to share this update on my stunning peacocks and peahens. Currently, I have eight peafowl - three of them live in an enclosed pen near the stable, while the other five live in a larger peafowl coop next door. They’re all doing exceptionally well and remain active, curious, and very, very vocal.
Here are some photos - enjoy.
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- All my peafowl live in a very safe and comfortable area adjacent to my Linden tree allee. This young peacock is one of two males that are nearly two years of age – incubated and hatched right here at the farm.
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- It’s been very cold here in the Northeast, but here is the other male and a peahen venturing out of their coop. This entire space is enclosed to keep them safe. The netting is made of nylon and is strong enough to weather the elements and to keep the peafowl protected.
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- These birds are so photogenic with their iridescent blue necks – so handsome.
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- Full grown, peafowl can weigh up to 13-pounds. This one still has some growing to do, but he is in excellent health and eats very well. All the peacocks and peahens get lots of fresh, organic treats from my gardens.
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- Peafowl are very smart, docile and adaptable birds. They are also quite clever and very curious. The outdoor grounds crew is completing a project right outside the enclosure, and these birds are watching every step.
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- Here is one of the males perched on a raised log we built inside the enclosure. Look closely – a peafowl’s legs are very strong. They have three toes on each foot facing forward, and one facing backwards. They also have sharp, powerful metatarsal spurs that are used for defense. Also, as they develop, males will tend to have longer legs than females.
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- As beautiful as peafowl are, they don’t make very melodious sounds. Peafowl have 11 different calls, with most of the vocalizing made by the peacocks. And, with their sharp eyesight, peafowl are quick to see predators and call out alarms. Oftentimes, I can hear them all the way from my Winter House.
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- Peafowl are ground feeders. They do most of their foraging in the early morning and evening. As omnivores, they eat insects, plants, grains and small creatures.
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- This male is fanning his tail feathers for the peahen. Right now, these feathers are very short. He won’t have his full tail until at least three years of age. Peahens usually choose males that have bigger, healthier plumage with an abundance of eyespots.
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- Here are both males showing off their short tales. Peacocks shed their feathers once a year after breeding season and then grow them back – each time looking more showy and beautiful. The train gets longer and more elaborate until five or six years old when it reaches maximum splendor.
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- While peafowl are ground feeders and ground nesters, they still enjoy roosting at higher levels. In the wild, this keeps them safe from predators at night. My outdoor birds all have access to natural perches made from old felled trees here at the farm. It is important that they have a variety of perches upon which to roost.
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- Meanwhile, next door in front of the larger peafowl coop, Pete and Phurba make new nesting boxes for the peahens.
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- These boxes are simple plywood structures that can easily be moved in and out of the coop for cleaning.
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- Pete and Phurba move one nesting box into the coop – it fits perfectly in this corner.
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- All the peafowl look on with curiosity. My newest Bronze peacock is the second from the top left in this photo.
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- With a good amount of bedding, the nesting box is now ready.
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- Peafowl are happiest when living in small groups. In this photo are my Bronze peacock, my India Blue peahen and my Black Shoulder Silver Pied peacock. They all get along very well.
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- The Silver Pied peacock is a white bird with about 10 to 20-percent color on it, including the bright iridescent blue. He also has white-eyed feathers in his train. He is so stunning when he displays his tail feathers.
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- The birds get a healthy mix of cornmeal, soybean, and wheat. I also feed the birds spinach, cabbage, and squash. In the wild, peacocks are omnivores – they eat insects, plants, and small creatures.
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- Peafowl are very hardy birds, and even though they are native to warm climates, they do very well in cold weather as long as they have access to dry areas away from strong winds. These birds will spend most of their days outdoors, and nights in their coop where it is warm and cozy.
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