Unusual Pets: Peafowl

Peafowl belong to the Phasianidae (Pheasant) family. There are two species of Peafowl, the Green Peafowl and The Indian Peafowl. The Green Peafowl is native to Myanmar, Thailand and China and the Indian Peafowl or Blue Peafowl is native to India. The males, called Peacocks, are famous for their glamorous tail and the crown on their head. The females are known as Peahens and are brown or grey and brown in color.

Green Peafowl are on the verge of extinction because of massive hunting and depletion of their natural habitat. Green Peafowl have three subspecies called P. M. muticus, P. M. imperator and P. muticus, however, some breeders claim that there are actually more subspecies. Green Peafowl are more expensive to buy as they are not available on a large scale and they are very temperature sensitive. The Indian Peafowl are hardy and are less expensive to purchase. They are quite popular with breeders and can be found in most places in the world, including North America.

When in full plumage, the tail of the Peacock is a beautiful sight. It fans its tail to attract females. The male will also call out to the female with a unique vocal sound, which is quite loud and difficult to describe. The first time mom and dad heard a Peacock they were startled by the sound.

The feathers of the Peacock are sold all over the world. At one time, Peafowl were fancied for their meat. However, when turkeys were domesticated for meat, Peacocks were only kept as pets. They were first kept as exotic pets in China and later in Europe. Peacocks have been a symbol of pride and good luck for many.

Pet owners who have bought a Peacock because of their beautiful tail, should pair it with a Peahen. Without a Peahen around to impress, the male will not spread its tail. Most Peacocks have plumage which is green, or blue green in colour. The upper feathers are very elongated and there are a series of eyes, which look very beautiful when the tail is fanned. The more rare Green Peafowl have plumage that is brilliant green and a golden colour, but the upper feathers are shorter in length.

Peafowl are very easily to maintain. They do not develop illnesses easily because they have natural resistance to many diseases. Peafowl, which are kept in areas that have very cold climates have to be housed in heated buildings when the temperature goes below zero degrees Centigrade. Friends of mom and dad have a family of Peafowl at their petting zoo adjacent to their Bed and Breakfast north of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, which certainly has extremes in temperature. Wind chill temperatures here can drop as low as minus sixty to minus seventy degrees in the winter and temperatures as high as ninety-five to one hundred and five degrees Fahrenheit in the summer are quite common. Because their Peafowl are housed in the barn in the winter and kept in the shade in the summer, they have no problems at all, although they do have to keep an eye out for packs of coyotes looking for a tasty meal. However, Peafowl do best in temperate climates. They must be protected from temperature extremes or they could either freeze to death or die from heat exhaustion.

Peafowl are omnivorous and feed on mixed grains, flowers, green leafy vegetables and game bird crumbles. In the wild, Peafowl are known to hunt and eat insects, amphibians, reptiles and arthropods. When on a healthy diet they can live for many years. They are usually allowed to roam in an open garden. For healthier breeding, they should be given freedom of movement. They can be kept in pens with closed tops, but if penned, they should be let out daily for exercise. If this is not possible, then the pen they are kept in should be extremely large. In captivity, they need lots of room to roam about, because they enjoy this kind of exercise. Another reason is that they are inquisitive pets, so they need lots of space to satisfy their curiosity. They should have a house or barn that has facilities for warming and it should be insulated, in case of a temperature drop. Peafowl should be left on their own with minimum human interference. They can be mixed with other poultry, as they are very safe pets. They do not attack any bird, animal or human. However, cats and dogs can attack the Peafowl. As mentioned above, coyotes enjoy Peafowl meals, so if you live in an area that has coyotes, you will have to be especially careful.

Peahens nest on the ground, although they stay on low raised branches most of their lives. Peahens take care of the Peachicks for only a short time after which they drive them away. The Peachicks can then be brought up in an electric brooder like any other poultry. Because of their hardiness and intelligence, when compared to other pet birds, they are very easy to breed and raise. Peafowl are also known as urban guard dogs because they make warning cries when they see strangers approaching the premises. Their high-pitched vocals can be disturbing in a densely inhabited area.

Until next time,

Teia