Does anybody raise peafowl? Could I keep them in with the chickens? Or would they fight, probably. Are peacocks tempermental? How many females must you have for each male? Hey if you have any time, I'd appreciate any suggestions. Tren

-- Anonymous, May 06, 2001

Answers

Hi Tren, My daughter has been raising black shoulder peafowl for several years. We've neve mixed them with chickens ourselves, although one of the cocks was out loose for a couple of weeks while some of our layers were roaming free in the yard. I've never seen the peafowl 'argue' like chickens do; they seem to be very peaceful, although the males at this time of year are very bossy and noisy so I dunno if they'd resent chickens in the way while they were doing their showin off or appreciate the additional audience!

I think three or four females is a good number per male, although more would probably be fine if he was at least 5 years old. They aren't much good for breeding at all til they're 3.

I love all the beautiful sounds they make; gonna miss em a lot....

-- Anonymous, May 06, 2001

One of the farms I go to when we're looking for new stock keeps their peafowl in with the chickens, pigeons, a couple ducks, and a goose. They all seem to get along very well.

A friend of mine has just gotten peafowl a couple years back, and I was telling her about an article I'd read in a British bird breeding magazine. It seems that if you want your peacock to stay home, put out an old mirror for him. They spend a lot of time keeping an eye on that other cock, who might be after their girlfriends, and keeps them from wandering. (might be handy, I hear they do like to go galivanting! I keep telling some neighbors that theirs are out in the road again, but they seem pretty unconcerned.)

-- Anonymous, May 06, 2001

Julie and Earth mama I'm finally getting back here to say thanks, I think peacocks are on my gotta get list now, Thanks for helping! Tren

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001