Our peacocks (we have 15 at this time) have been kept in a large machine shed since we moved up to this 40 acres in UP Michigan. Generally they will stay around wherever their food is located, but there are a lot of factors that could instantly change that. And, we don't want to lose any of these beautiful birds. They had lived on our hobby farm for approximately 12 years - so they were very used to the land and the barn. Now, we've moved them, after selling the hobby farm, and they have to get acclimated to a new place and barn. This 40 acres is in the middle of hundreds of acres of wetland/state land. So, there is a lot of wildlife closer to us here.
After we let them out today, we will hope that they will return towards evening to their roost in the machine shed. And, then we will close the big doors and keep them out of the wind, snow and hopefully predators. They are pretty tough birds though. I've seen them fight with each other - two males - and they can rip each other apart with their long toenails. We didn't let the fight continue - we broke it up - but it could happen when we are not nearby. Maybe they were just sparring or getting ready for a 'real fight'. But I'm just trying to say that they can defend themselves - they run pretty fast, can take off and fly and are extremely loud. Generally, what they would do especially at our last farm, and hopefully here, they will spend a lot of their time in the llama/sheep barn and in their fenced in area. That way, a large, looming llama - who could kick/kill a predator would also guard them.
So, here we go, doors open, lots of honking and calling going on. Some walked out, some flew from the rafters right out the double doors of the machine shed onto the ground or into the nearest tree. They were noisy for quite a while - probably claiming their new pecking order or choosing territories - or just being loud to be loud. I wonder what the wildlife that is peeking through the trees at this new noise, thought.
Some flew up on top of the fencing for the chicken coop/run, a few flew up onto the log cabin roof and also onto the deck railings. A few walked over to the llama/sheep pen and went right in - and started eating their food.
The females won't lay eggs until early spring. Some will lay in obvious places, but most will lay in hidden places. That is why, of course they are not the bright colored ones...usually drabber in color - camouflage. What usually happens is that in the spring, we will find that a female is missing from the nightly count. We assume, but we do go looking for her, that she is laying eggs and nesting somewhere. Hopefully we locate her and check on her each day. When you walk up on them nesting, she will duck down and lay perfectly still and really blend into wherever she has chosen to nest. She will show up once in a while for food, but then goes right back to her eggs. Then all of a sudden one day, there will be mom with her several chicks following her for all to see. At first, she will roost on something low - with her chicks under her spread out wings. Day by day, she will roost higher and higher with her chicks following her until they are old enough to fly up to the roost in the machine shed by themselves. No matter how old, they will still cuddle close to their mama...
We kept an eye on the peacocks all day and they really didn't stray very far away. We know that as they become more comfortable, they will venture out further and into the pines and brush just to mess around. As long as they were all accounted for in the evening as they make their way back to the machine shed, all was good.
We love our beautiful birds.... they are really quite entertaining...Especially when they chase each other round and round - like around a tree and also when they run behind the tractor/lawnmower when bugs are getting kicked up. And their beauty - just so amazing...
