My husband and I raise peacocks. Fell in love with them 25 years ago, after going to a bird show (yes, there are bird shows) and have not stopped buying and raising peacocks and peahens since. We have watched 100's of chicks being raised by the best moms in the world. The males are busy showing the world their beautiful tail feathers and the moms who have much more subdued plumage, are busy raising as many as 4 - 12 babies. They average 6. It takes 27 - 30 days to hatch and that mama will not leave that nest. Ours are free range (generally) and they nest under hosta plants and hide so well that we sometimes just come upon them by accident. Watching mom raise her chicks is so amazing. She will take them out for a walk and if she feels any danger, gathers them under her and sits until she feels it is safe. Everyday she has them roosting a bit higher. I've seen her teaching them to jump up on a large clay pot and roost for the night. The next time, it's up onto some saw horses, until she gets them to jump/fly to the lowest branch on a tree. The growing chicks get so excited at sunset...they are all running and hopping a few feet off the ground under the big walnut tree, trying to work up the nerve to fly up to the lowest branch. Many make it on their first try and others fall back down but they don't quit because mom is always calling from the lowest branch, until all of her babies are warm and safe under her for the night. We are currently raising them in a protected building/run. We just moved to the UP Michigan and it's winter and we wanted to have more control over our animals/birds for this winter season.
The males tail feathers are starting to grow in anticipation of spring showing off time and breeding. Spring is such an active time. The males come up to the females raise their tail feathers and then pull them forward (kind of around her) and then shake them...sounds like an old metal Christmas tree being shaken. She either decides this is the guy or walks away. Males will breed with any female...not true to any one female. So, we do keep same species together and separate to keep that species true (white, blue or Indian and green or Java). But, they do mix it up and we end up with some beautiful combinations. We've lost our share of older peacocks and many chicks. We've heard owls picking them off in the trees. It's so sad because the mom will call all of the rest of the night for her chick. I usually go out with a flashlight and look everywhere below the tree where they roost hoping that the chick just fell out and needs some help getting back up....but, have never found one....nature...love it...hate it....But, we really do love our peacocks. They can be so funny chasing each other and running behind us on the tractor when we're mowing....catching bugs. They do alright in the winter as long as they have somewhere to roost and keep their feet dry...and, their heavy feathers keep them warm.....but, I am sure they are anxious for spring....just like me.....
