AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

Okay ,so we have a few peafowl already and my husband says no more.... but the only peahen that roams on the outside with 4 males that are all escorting her through these hard times.. So I proceed to check on a nest that I had only just found... which I thought I could hide her eggs while she has relaxed off her nest to stretch her legs...I walked over and weaved my way through the bush to find minutes old chicks (2) they were still wet ...by this morning we had five fluffy chicks out of five eggs...which we covered her straight away so the males would not peck them too much!
After telling my husband that we have chicks and he took his camera and photographed them I utilized its new born awe to move mother hen and I moved the five hours old chicks to our enclosure so she could be safe and relaxed inside complete with grass and a roost for here new brood!

First time mother (born here) with five pea-chicks! Everyone has settled in and HAPPY!

on the chicks. Interesting you say "males would not peck them too much" I have never had peacocks peck at chicks even the group with several peacocks have never done that? have you seen them do it?

I have my ken and barbie with 4 chicks and they are both such good parents and dad is so tentative to the chicks and never pecks them

This was our only 1 peahen roaming free- she was being wooed by all five free roaming males with one main escorting her mainly and fending the others off...so it was really hard to lock her away from her from the daddy BUT when the others where born I did notice boys pecking out of curiosity so for peace of mind we locked the hen and her five newly hatched chicks up in a very large pen with a hut and her own space! The Dad I think sits very close to the pen all day and watches her! There was just too many outside predators about, such as a goanna, a hawk that s down low.....it was best for the first time Mother! We will let them all out about 3 months time again- but just to give the chicks the best chance... THEY ARE SO TINY!

I have never had any peacock that has killed chicks, the only pecking has been the normal pecking order behavior, but no blood ever!
I have had two females in together the aunty hen become jealous of the other hen once the chicks were born and was seriously pecking at them! Hence to say I had separated them!

Since this hen now I have is a first time mother it was best to separate her and chicks into their own pen!

Its based on individual cases to interfere or not..
All together now it makes a total of 19 peafowl ...9 boys 5 girls and now 5 unknown chicks! So hopefully mother nature balances us with some girls!

Locking the peahen and her five newly hatched chicks up is a very good idea and I think is a must every time.

on the peachicks I hope they all do well

Too right PSH

Lucky the peachicks hatched when they did or they would be dead now, it must have been a case of what meant to be!

Pea-Goddess you are destined to have more

I think a snake took my peas eggs they were all ok yesterday morning when she got off to eat but yesterday afternoon they were gone. I said a few choice words about it not letting her sit again as this is the second time that has happened

Im sorry the snake got your peahen's eggs...Is your peahen free roaming? Peahens while roosting will normally be on high alert if anything threatens them they give their loud and 1 syllable "WHARPP" call to warn anyone who will come frantically running! Then followed again and again if they have been disturb off the nest! (in our household its usually the husband with torch and snake catcher in tow followed by myself calling out "how big is it"? Can I help? blah blah
We have our snake drill..down pat

PEACHICK UPDATE: 1 out of the 5 chicks had died all of sudden it was always the weaker one( i have no medical reason) ,,,within days. so now I'm blessed with 4 chicks all healthy! ( I had to burry the little chick)

On the lighter side of life; In the heat of day new mother peahen showed me how much of good mother she is by distress calling out to me, and I went down there to find that there was NO chick movement whatsoever! Mother hen was jumping on her perch and calling out her distress signal, (even I started to pace a little bit with where are they? type action) but here the chicks were huddled into each one of the shaded corners of the hut in the cool of the their dust baths! I noticed mother hen was looking out into the bush,,, I think the hawk has been taking a closer look at the peachicks!
I couldn't help but to think it was some sort of fire drill that she was conducting (me included)-so funny! Or maybe it was hide and go seek with me!
They seem happy and healthy enough!

I think most of you are right -these are the chicks that were meant to be!..(minus that one that died)..

DatoH - good luck and many blessing for you white peachicks- wishing all the health and happiness they bring- I also wish for some whites one day!