A Peachick at My Farm

April 3, 2019

It’s always such a joy to see my peafowl growing and thriving - they are all so curious and friendly.

I have 12 of these magnificent adult birds and a week-old peachick I just hatched in a specially made incubator. This baby now joins four goslings - all hatched within the last couple of weeks. They are housed together in my Winter House where they can be closely monitored until they are big enough to go down to the chicken coop "nursery" or brooder.

Here are some photos - enjoy.

: Here is the beautiful peachick in its safe enclosure down in my basement. It hatched just last week upstairs in my kitchen. These birds grow fast, so within a couple days after hatching, it is moved to larger quarters.

: The peachick is now with these four adorable goslings. These goslings are bigger than the peachick, but they all get along wonderfully.

: The peachick is also quite tough. It is already fluttering its wings and flying short distances around the crate. The reddish tint to the photo is from the heat lamp suspended above to keep them warm.

: Several times a day, we drop in some organically grown grass clippings – they need grass for grazing.

: As soon as any chick hatches, each baby is introduced to the waterer and feeder, so they know where to eat and drink, especially when they are moved to new surroundings.

: This peachick has a lot of energy – it loves exploring the crate and picking at grass along the way.

: It is also very friendly. Because it is kept near humans and human activity, this peachick and its gosling friends are very social and love when anyone stops to visit.

: My adult peafowl live in this coop not far from my stable. They all share a large yard that is enclosed to keep them safe. Look closely and you can see one peacock and one peahen in the doorway.

: Here are two of my peahens roosting in a tree “planted” inside the “palais de paon” or “palace of peafowl”. Both male and female peafowl have the fancy crest atop their heads – it’s called a corona.

: This coop, which I built a few years ago, has ample room for all of them to move about freely.

: Or perch high in one of the trees. Fortunately, all of these giant birds get along very well and don’t mind sharing their space.

: While peafowl are ground feeders and ground nesters, they still enjoy being up at higher levels. In the wild, this keeps them safe from predators at night.

: Most of my peafowl were hatched here at my farm. They are fed a healthy mix of cornmeal, soybean, and wheat. We purchase all our grains from Bennie’s Feed Barn in Bedford Hills. We also feed the birds spinach, cabbage, and squash from my garden. In the wild, peacocks are omnivores – they eat insects, plants, and small creatures. Their bright colors and alert and curious personalities are signs of good health and care.

: From this location, this handsome peacock can see all the activity inside and outside the coop. The peacock “tail”, known as a “train”, consists of tail quill feathers and elongated upper tail coverts. These feathers are marked with eyespots, best seen when a peacock raises and fans his tail. Peahens usually choose males that have bigger, healthier plumage with an abundance of eyespots. This day was a bit cloudy and chilly, so none of the males were “in the mood” to show their trains.

: Peafowl will look you in the eye, unlike many birds, but if you stare at them or seem aggressive in body movements, they will feel threatened. Peafowl will also puff up their neck feathers to look larger and more menacing.

: This peacock loves to go in and out of the coop. His iridescent blue coloring is so beautiful.

: These birds are also quite comical – this hen is giving me a head tilt. Young peacocks like to play, pester each other and explore if allowed. They are very smart, docile and loud. Oftentimes, I can hear them all the way from my Winter House.

: Peafowl have acute hearing, but can be poor at discerning from what direction certain sounds originate.

: This is a Bronze peacock on the right. Bronze peafowl are very rare – not all breeders will have them. This male has chocolate brown tail feathers and is still very iridescent with its dark feathering. He came from Pedda Reddy, a passionate peafowl breeder and raiser in Dutchess County, New York.

: Inside and out, all my birds have access to natural perches made from old felled trees here at the farm. It is important that they have a variety. At first, the peacocks and peahens weren’t sure about this tree – one of two “planted” outside the coop. Now, they love to perch on its branches. This male is one of our blue duo.

: And here is the other – always nearby. The two remain close buddies.

: These days, the males are spending a lot of time with the peahens – mating season has just begun and will last through spring.

: At the end of the day, all the coops are closed and locked at night to keep out any predators. See you soon my dear peafowl. What birds share your home? Let me know in the comments section below.