From chicken, guinea fowl, ducks to peafowl, raising birds is a thrilling homesteading practice that comes with many benefits. If you are in love with peafowl, this review fromscatchmag.com is for you. It explores how to raise the birds on your farm.

We also walk through necessities that will make it a breeze. But before taking a look further, let’s begin by defining peafowl. It is because, while it is a term often used to describe a feathery, majestic and beautiful bird, there is more.

Table of Contents:

What Is Peafowl?

While you may have come across the word peafowl many times, it is often a generalization. Definitively, peacock or peafowl is a reference to male species of the bird. Peahens and peachicks refer to female and offspring respectively. It is would also interest you to note that as opposed to hens, peafowl is often temperamental.

Thus, it is advisable that you seek expert advice on how to raise them. Moreover, a peafowl exists in different colors namely; white, emerald, and blue. Indian Blue is the most common.

Interestingly, experts say these birds say that they have a lifespan of up to 40 years when living in farms, zoos or breeding facilities. However, while in the wild, peafowl hardly lives beyond 20 years. [1]

If you want to start raising peafowl, the following fun facts are also worth noting:

Many years ago, peacocks were a popular delicacy among royalties, essentially as a show of wealth and opulence.
The train is another name of a peacock’s tail.
Peacocks (males) have longer tails than females.
Pride is an ostentation name that denotes a group of peafowl.
There are three main species of these birds namely, Congo peafowl, Indian Peafowl, and green peafowl.
While peacocks have a large frame and colorful, peahens have few short feathers and are not very colorful.

Pros of Raising A Peafowl

Now that you know peafowl, arguably, one of the most detailed and decorated birds on earth, you would want to ask more questions such as: why should I keep them in my homestead?

Well, people who raise peafowl do it for reasons such as:

Keeping these birds rids your home of rodents, pets, and frogs.
They are thrilling entertainers, especially during breeding season when peacocks wag their trains to attract peahens. Their decorative appearance is worth noting in this case.
A peafowl is a decorative bird, thus some keep them because of their beauty.
Eggs of a peahen generate lots of revenue especially if you sell them to those who have an interest in raising peafowl.
You can raise peahens and peacocks as a pastime activity or as a hobby.
You can also sell peafowl feathers to craftsmen and women because they are exceptional decoration items.

On the contrary, these birds take time to mate and mature hence are not a common delicacy in restaurants and hotels around the worlds.

Also, they are pricey. You will spend a lot of money buying and raising these birds, which is why; they are not as popular birds in homesteads as ducks, chicken, and pigeons.

Raising Peafowl At Home: A Homesteader’s Products Starter Pack Recommendations

If it is your first time raising peacocks and peahens, you would agree that selecting the best products for the money can be a real tough challenge. However, we did the homework for you and put together the top best products in the market.

Take note that whether you can need a brooder, a coop, deworming medicine, feeder, the best peafowl feed or a peafowl egg Candler; you can purchase them online, from hatcheries, farms or at a local shop nearby.

Most importantly, you shouldn’t end up with substandard when right below, we present the best items, yet affordable. Take a look:

The Best Choice Products, 80-Inch Wooden Chicken Coop Nest Box, Hen House Poultry Cage Hutch with Locking Doors and Ramp

A coop is a basic yet very important necessity to every homesteader who wants to start raising birds. Thus, wooden structures have always been the best and most preferred by poultry farmers. Thus, we recommend the top-rated 80-inches Poultry cage/Hutch/House from the Best Choice Products.

If you ask us why it is a top recommendation, our advice would stretch beyond the fact that it is good for the money. It also packs amazing features that bring comfort to your peafowl such as:

It is long-lasting/durable, thanks to a strong and resistant wood (fir) construction. You must already know that hardwoods not only thrive against extreme weather conditions but do not catch fire easily.
It features wire mesh ventilation, which means your birds will always have access to fresh cool air every day of their lives.
There is a removal sliding tray at most of this birdhouse, making it easy to clean peafowl poop, every day.
It has a nesting box, accessible via two doors with metallic lock systems, hence the best choice if you want to secure your birds against predators.
Best Choice made sure to construct a spacious coop for your birds because with a spacing dimension of 79.5l x 26.5wx51.5 inches, what more do you need? Of course, you have the best product for the money.
It is a stable construction, weighing 50 pounds.
Apart from being one the best peafowl coops/pens, it is affordable yet provides great conform to nesting birds.

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Cozy Products CL Safe Chicken Coop Heater 200 Watts Safer Than Brooder Lamp- One Size

When it comes to buying heating bulbs for bird coop, you wouldn’t wish to waste money on something that would endanger the lives of peafowl. We made sure that doesn’t happen by comparing the best available coop heaters in the market. In the end, CL safe chicken coop heater from Cozy products caught our attention because of reasons such as:

It makes for safe installation in bird coops.
It is ideal for small coops.
At only 200 watts, there is no risk of overheating if you do install in at the right height.
It features plastic construction, hence lightweight at only 4.85 pounds.
Cozy brooder lamp is a one-size chicken heater.
It doesn’t raise ambient room temperature, rather, radiates enough heat to keep your birds warm during cold weather.

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Grandpa’s Feeders Automatic Chicken Feeder-40 lbs. Feed capacity

Chicken feeders from Grandpa are top-selling products in the market because they present greater quality to buyers. Their demand is high and we found Automatic chicken feeder with a feed capacity of 40 pounds to be one of the best.

It packs amazing features such as:

It is an automatic feeder. It is all thanks to cantilever lid above the trough. When birds step on platform attachment, the lid opens and when they come off it, it closes.
It is foolproof against rats, wild birds, and mice that might want to steel peafowl feed.
Feeding capacity of 18 kilograms is ideal for 12 birds for up to 10 days.
It features a durable construction of galvanized aluminum and steel.
It is large-sized, measuring 16/5 x 21.5 x 16 inches.

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Two-Gallon Chicken Waterer-Horizontal Nipple Setup

A good waterer will keep your peafowl dehydrated all day. Thus, after checking out available options, 2-Gallon with horizontal nipple setup from RentACoop industries caught our attention. It is because of the following reasons:

Its lid has a removable cap hence easy to fill. Most importantly, it comes with easy-to-follow instructions.
It comes as a complete package, hence no need for assembling.
When you put money on this product, you are promoting sustainable environmental conservation, thanks to 100 percent plastic grade construction.
A 2-gallon capacity will last four chicks up five days.
Horizontal nipple setup keeps peafowl bedding from getting wet.
It features a no-roost cap hence peacocks and peahens won’t roost in the waterer.
At only 1.6 pounds, there is no doubt that 2-Gallon with horizontal nipple setup from RentACoop industries is one of the best products in the market today.
Its large size measuring 8.9 x 8.9 x 9 inches holds enough water for birds.

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Egg Incubator by Backyard farm, Hatchmate Egg Incubator Automatic turner, 9-12 eggs for chicken, quail, parakeet, turkey, and others

A homesteader needs the best egg incubator for raising healthy and strong peachicks. Now, with this in mind, we embarked on a journey that eventually leads us to one of the best from Backyard farm.

Hatchmate egg incubator with automatic turner brings ease into your candling every day in the farm.

Also, because it can hold up to 12 eggs, putting money on this product means you have the best tabletop incubator ever. If you need more reasons why we feel it is the best any day, take a look at the following:

It has a clear see-through coloration making candling easy on the go.
Its size, measuring 9 x 13 x 7 inches makes this incubator a perfect choice since it can hold up to 9 chicken eggs or 12 quail eggs.
In this product, you’ve found a minimalist design perfect for countertop use.
With a weight of 3.5 pounds, make a toss to a highly portable incubator ever.
It comes with an easy-to-follow user manual featuring troubleshooting notes, colored pictures, simple illustrations, and useful incubation tips. It means you will always be in-the-know.
It has a thermometer calibration making it possible to adjust candling heat from an LED lighting source, not to mention a fan that ensures even heat distribution inside the incubator.
Among other reasons for putting money on Hatchmate incubator, comes 12 months product warranty, money-back guarantee, and exceptional customer support.
Now, here comes the most incredible part. With all the above amazing features, you still pay less for an exceptional product that makes raising peafowl a thrill.

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PICKY NEB 100% Dried Meal Worms (non-GMO), High protein treats for birds, fish, turtles, hedgehogs, and hamsters

You would agree that the best mealworm feeds for birds are not always easy to come by. However, that wouldn’t be the case to peafowl farmer because we did the homework for you. Well, we settled for PICKY NEB dried mealworms not only because it is GMO-Free but also that it is a multipurpose feed for fish, hamsters, and hedgehogs.

We also found out that it helps boost immune systems of birds, especially during winter because it is highly rich in essential nutrients. There are more reasons why it is a perfect feed any day, and they include:

PICKY NEB Dried mealworm doesn’t pose health risks to birds. Apart from being GMO-free, it doesn’t have harmful additives or preservatives. It is also dust-free. Most importantly, the feed is a high-energy wholesome, all-natural meal for peahens and peacocks.
If you are looking for a feed for peahens that will boost their egg-laying capacity, then PICKY NEB mealworms is something we will recommend any day because it is rich in proteins.
It comes with easy-to-handle reusable bags and no need for refrigeration.
Customers who put their money on this product hardly ask for refunds. It is because, with a top-quality mealworm feed, they can only afford to be loyal while giving their birds top quality food.
Founded on the premise of love for birds and nature, PICKY NEB boasts of many years of customer loyalty and the best treats for bird treats in the market.

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When And How To Raise Peafowl?

The best time for starting raising peafowl is during winter or summer. It is advisable that you start with peachicks.

However, during winter, it is advisable to keep the birds warm in a brooder that is also free from draft and moisture.

They are not hardy; hence you should take care when raising them during cold seasons.

Now, with the above at the back of your mind, let’s explore bit by bit the basics. For starters, you will need to understand aspects such as incubation, brooding, breeding, feed, housing, worming, bedding, and other vital necessities you need to get started. [2]

Breeding

Breeding in peafowl often begins in March and end in August, which is not the case with hens that can lay eggs without necessary going through a breeding period. Thus, it is advisable that you have breeding pens where you can pair the birds.

During this time, you will also notice that peafowl are noisy and you can hear their honking and shrill sounds from as far as 5 miles. A peahen once bred, will not lay eggs in the first year, but once they start doing so, it is one egg every two to three days.

Incubation

Eggs of peahens take up to 27 days or at most 30 days to hatch. It is, however, imperative you start candling them after 10 days.

Moreover, during this time, you should maintain a temperature of between 95 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Another option, especially if you have peahens, is to let them sit on their eggs as soon as they lay them. Sometimes, you can use hens or ducks to hatch the eggs.

A clutch of eggs of a peahen often ranges from 4-12 but 6 is the average. It would also interest you note that peachicks hatch fully feathered and can begin flying within a week. Moreover, peahens brood up to twice a year, which explains their limited supply as a meal in eateries.

Brooding

During brooding, it is important that you reduce the temperature by 5 degrees F every week from 95 degrees F. It means, by the end of two months, and provided you have the best peafowl incubator, you can remove a heating source. If you cannot afford commercially available brooders, you can always go for a DYI option.

However, given than peacocks and peahens poop often, you need to fix a wire mesh beneath the floor of their brooder through which their droppings fall. It is also advisable to make sure the gaps in the mesh are not too big to hurt your birds.

And because peafowl grows first, you will need to transfer them to larger brooders sooner than you expect or into the coop.

Feeding Peafowl

Interestingly, peacocks are very picky when it comes to eating. They are omnivores, hence eat everything and anything such a grass, rat, corn, oats, pasta, dog food, meat, mealworms, rabbit feed, insects, fruits and more. You shouldn’t, however, give them table scraps or leftovers.

Like any other animal we keep at home, farmers who raise these birds need to have a proper feeding plan before, during and after breeding.

Most importantly, make sure their feeds have sufficient amounts of protein, usually in the range of 20 to 24 percent.

For peachicks, go for mix game-bird meals with medicated feeds for the first 6 months. A starter feed should also contain amprolium which helps prevent Coccidiosis. You shouldn’t forget that peafowl needs clean water, which they should have access to, at all times.

Peafowl Housing Needs

Housing requirements for peafowl varies depending on factors such as:

You will need a pen that will help cut down noise these birds produce at least 3 to 4 months every year. A peafowl’s noise, some say, is like a crying baby or that of a woman calling for help. Thus, before you venture into raising these birds, find out with neighbors if they are okay with it.
Construct a pen that is easy to clean often because they poop a lot, not to mention the smell of their droppings which can be irritating to your nostrils.
These birds need a lot of space. It is especially necessary for male species which has long trains. Also, the more space they have, the less flight risk they pose. You don’t want to start raising peafowl only for them to fly out into the wild never to return.
Age is another factor that influences that size of a pen you should construct. Because of a peafowl’s long tail, and also that they need to fan it and exercise, the best size for a start is 7 feet by 10 feet. However, the length of the house often depends on the number of birds. Adult males will fight if in a squeezed space, thus, each should have a free-range room of about 100 square feet.

Bedding For Peafowl

While peahens and peacocks do not need a fancy sleeping platform, it is important that you keep them safe from frostbite during winters. Thus, pine shavings and straw makes for perfect bedding materials, providing for much-needed insulation against cold weather. They are also good absorbent materials, comfortable and remain dry throughout.

Worming

A peafowl is a free-range bird hence worming every 3 to 5 months is necessary. Piperazine is the best choice dewormer, at least for most peacocks and peahen farmers around the world. You can buy it in pill or liquid form, albeit the latter is the most effective because it dissolves in water faster than the former.

If you go for a pill wormer, you will have to insert it into a peafowl’s throat. Other dewormers you can use are:

Panacure (Fenbendazole), which is effective on worms in the capillary.
Ivermectin dewormer for cattle, which is effective when laced with bread.

Conclusion

Without adequate knowledge on how to raise peafowl, you will struggle through it, especially if you are a new homesteader. However, having read this review fromscatchmag.com, it is in our interest that you get started as a pro and make it a success.

With the tips and practices in this review, we also trust that your experience with one of the most decorated birds will be impeccable. That is not to mention that if you need to know more about raising peafowl, please post your questions, suggestions, and views in the comment section below.

We always love hearing from you, particularly regarding our reviews, and how far you’ve progressed in putting everything into practice.

Please remember to share this post on social media so that your friends too can learn the basics of raising peachicks into peahens and peacocks. It would come as a breather to someone who has been looking for the best wormer for peafowl.

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