Peacocks and Peahens in Summer
Summer weather here at my farm continues to be very hot and humid with temperatures in the high 80s. I've been watching all my animals very closely to make sure they're well-hydrated and comfortable.
My peacocks and peahens live in a large, fully-enclosed yard located just outside my stable and near my Linden Allée. I visit these beautiful birds every day. I love calling out to them and waiting for their energetic responses. During the day, many of them can be found perched in the shade watching all the activity around them.
Here are some of the latest photos, enjoy.
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- Peafowl love to perch. I provide access to perches made from old felled trees here at the farm. This perch is also covered to offer ample shade during the hottest part of the day.
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- This is the tail of a mature male. A mature peacock can have up to 200 feathers in his tail, which can weigh up to half a pound. The feathers grow to five feet long – that’s longer than the bird’s body.
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- Look at the top of his head. Both male and female peafowl have a fan-shaped crest on their heads called a corona.
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- For peafowl, it’s still breeding season until early August. During this time, the peacocks display their stunning and iridescent tail feathers, strut back and forth shaking their hindquarters to produce a rattling sound, and make loud calls to the females around them. Stiff rear feathers underlie the front feathers and provide support when the whole tail is raised.
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- This peacock is showing off his tail feathers from the front and the rear. After the season ends, the males lose their long tail feathers and then grow them back before the next breeding season begins. The train gets longer and more elaborate until five or six years old when it reaches maximum splendor.
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- Here is a white peacock doing the same. The peahens tend to choose males with the longest, most striking tails. It’s quite a “tail show.”
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- Some peafowl will be more tame and more friendly than others. Mine are very friendly and are eager to greet all those who enter the enclosure. Since most of them have grown up here at the farm, they aren’t shy at all. In fact, the peafowl are all very accustomed to all the visits.
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- Peafowl are members of the pheasant family. There are two Asiatic species – the blue or Indian peafowl native to India and Sri Lanka, and the green peafowl originally from Java and Burma, and one African species, the Congo peafowl from African rain forests.
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- I have a variety of all-white, as well as colorful, and interestingly marked birds.
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- The female is less iridescent with more muted colors and markings. Peacocks have large eyes on the sides of their heads providing wide views. They possess sharp visual acuity as well as color discrimination. Peafowl also have acute hearing, but can be poor at discerning from what direction certain sounds originate.
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- These birds 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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- Peafowl are happiest when living in small groups. I am pleased that all of mine get along very well.
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- My birds have perches in their coop also, made from large, natural branches.
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- Peacocks are stunning to look at, but do not underestimate their power. These birds are extremely strong with very sharp spurs – just look at the legs and feet of this fellow.
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- Here is another female. Remember, technically only the males are peacocks. The females are peahens, and both are peafowl. Babies are peachicks. And a family of peafowl is called a bevy.
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- Peafowl are pretty social and curious animals. Yearling peafowl act much like teenagers. Here is one youngster with my friend Ari Katz, who runs the @raisingtheperfectpet page on Instagram – be sure to follow.
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- And look at this foursome – peachicks Ari gifted me. These will have dark green markings when mature.
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- These four are in an adjacent pen until they are bigger. They share the space with my pheasants and younger chickens.
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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. Oftentimes, I can hear them all the way from my Winter House.
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- Peafowls are very hardy birds, and even though they are native to warm climates, they also do well when it’s cold. I am so pleased with my ostentation – friendly, observant, and great company here at Cantitoe Corners.
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