AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

Hi, I'm not actually "from" here but I found the ad for the peacocks on this site and contacted the nursing home.

We have caught some, not yet all of the peacocks, but we're getting there. Once one or two have been caught the rest disappear for the day... they are very intelligent birds.

They are being rehomed at a country horse property where they can free-range on 100+acres of bushland and forrestry which is already home to a couple on guinea fowl and chickens. The peacocks we have brought home already have been staying close to the guineas and have settled in well.

Hope that solves the mystery... great site by the way

are they penned up, peafowl have to be kept in an enclosure for 3-6 months so they don't go for a long walk and never come back

hi, they are being kept in a large aviary, about 20ft x 15ft. They are fed there and sleep there, with the guinea fowl, but we let them out in the afternoon for a walk, so far they keep coming back... we were hoping to be able to just let them roam. They sleep as high as they can get in the aviary and we have plenty of big trees around they can roost in. How long should it take before they can have the run of the place?

great to see them going to a great home

thank you choice_brandy

Hi Choice_brandy, WELCOME TO THE FORUM hope you find the Forum Informative & Helpful.

If you click this link:
http://www.getphpbb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... cksaustral

you should find this information helpful. If you need any more Information please just ask.

P.S Thankyou for letting us know you were the lucky one!

Thanks
Peacocks Australia

Mystery solved, well done Choice_brandy sounds like they have gone to a good home. did you get all of them?




Jeff

Welcome choice_brandy,
Congratulations on obtaining the birds, now at least we know their at a good home. . I would be careful about letting them out, even if it is only for a short while in the afternoon. They are not used to the outside surroundings yet, but as soon as they do they will not come back to the aviary one evening, keep them locked up for at least 2-3 months so that they truely accept that place. We could all tell you stories of birds that have taken off never to be seen again.Good luck,regards,
Snowball

Thanks for the advice, we still have a couple to catch, rain is slowing us up but not complaining.
We have changed tactics now and keeping them penned up, and are currently in the process of taming them, one hen will eat cat biscuits from your hand now so we'll get there.
Following the advice we received from here they will stay locked up for a few months so hopefully our efforts wont be wasted... lol.. I think I'd be devastated if we opened the cage and that was the last we saw of them.
Am I right in assuming that once they are used to us and know we supply the food etc, that they will be safe to release?
The ones who have been let out previously always followed the guinea fowl around, will they always do that once they've settled in?

Hi choice_brandy, Below is an Article on our Web Site that should help.

BRINGING HOME YOUR NEW PEAFOWL:

Before you go out and buy your Peafowl please make sure you have the RIGHT pen to house them. What is the right pen? We recommend a pen no smaller than 8 x 4 x 3 Meters but NO larger than 10 x 4 x3 Meters WHY? It is VERY important that your new Peacocks GET TO KNOW YOU and in smaller pens this will happen must faster. The pen MUST be roofed or your new birds will go on a ONE way holiday you also need to have High perches in the shelter area and low perches out of the shelter. You can temporarily house them with other birds, i.e.. Chooks, ECT.. BUT check with the person you have brought them off FIRST as some Peafowl can be VERY aggressive, WHAT NEXT? Your pen is ready? (With Roof) Food and Water bowls Ready?

Your in the car and on your way home with your new Peafowl, WHAT'S THE TIME? NEVER release ANY birds in the late afternoon you should release them at FIRST light WHY? This gives them the whole day to formularize themselves with the new pen and to find their roost and will help limit stress. WHAT IF GET HOME AT 3 or 4 PM Leave them in the box or cage overnight and release them at first light.

WHAT TO FEED THEM?

Peafowl should be fed a Gain mix, you can mix you own or buy a pre mix from Pet shops Or Produce Stores ( Course Grain Mix) this should be offered at ALL times in a large bowl. They will also need Greens i.e.. Lettuce, Silverbeet, Cabbage, ECT.. Also Shell Grit should be offered, Bread and Cat Biscuits.

WHEN DO I FEED THEM?

You should spend as much time as possible with them or around them and food is a good way of helping the bonding process, Greens, Bread & Cat Biscuits should be fed daily

DO I JUST THROW IT IN A LEAVE?

NO go in the pen and sit on something low then starting with Bread, brake of small pieces and throw it about 15 feet in front of you keep doing this until all the food is on the ground stay seated as long as possible, and when you do get up do this slowly and move away (opposite direction) from the birds and the food do this EVERY day.

HOW LONG DO THEY HAVE TO STAY “LOCKED UP”
This will depend on the AGE of the Peafowl, if they are under 12 Months then a MINIMUM of 3 MONTHS if they are over 12 Months then a MINIMUM of 6 MONTHS remember the longer you pen them the greater the odds for success.

PREPARATION FOR RELEASE:

3 WEEKS Prior the “BIG DAY” (the day of release) you will need the clip ONE wing of ALL the Peafowl you are going to release, clip only the Primary flight feathers and ONLY ONE WING. Also while you have each bird it is a good idea to ring them using Plastic Turkey leg rings make sure the ring is ABOVE the Spur? WHY CLIP THERE WING AND WHY 3 WEEKS BEFORE? Clipping there wing will stop them from flying but still allowing them some lift for roosting at night. Clipping there wing 3 weeks prior to release allows the birds to re settle and to forgive you for doing it.

TIME TO RELEASE THEM “THE BIG DAY”

We recommend a Saturday and a weekend were you plan to be there the whole time WHY? If you own other animals in particular a Dog you will need to keep a close eye on he or she even if they showed no interest when the Peafowl were penned, it’s a different story when their out walking around. Other birds can be a problem like Roosters, Turkey’s ECT.. So just watch from a distance.

HOW SHOULD I GET THEM OUT OF THE PEN

Simply open the pen door making sure it stays open and WALK OFF you should NOT under any circumstances chase the birds out of the pen, if they don’t want to come out that's ok. Once the Peafowl are out leave them alone give them plenty of breathing space, let them explore. You may find as they leave the pen for the first time they brake into a Sprint and run to trees or bush area this is quite normal just keep an eye on them from a distance. Leave the pen door open at all times and continue to feed them in the pen this is VERY IMPORTANT as this is what they are used to and rely on, keep doing this for as long as possible or until you are successfully feeding them else ware. Initially they may return to their pen at night to roost you can close the door if Predators are an Issue and reopen in the Morning, usually this only happens for the first night or two then they find that BIG tree to roost.

TIPS: FOR LONG TERM SUCCESS

Never chase the birds or allow Children or Dogs to

Go about your business as usual i.e.. Mow lawns ECT…

Never corner the birds

Keep the Food & Water up, you should feed them the same as when they were penned.

*************************************************************
It is likey they will follow the Guineas around initially but probably not long term. Peafowl & Guineas usually get on well although some Guineas can get into the habit of pulling on a Peacocks train.


Thanks
Peacocks Australia

Hello,
The site says that they all have new homes so that is good.
Cheers,
Peter