Anyone free range spalding peafowl?

[nevsma]

I am curious if anyone has tried to free ranging spalding peafowl. I have a four year old male (who I raised since he was one) who I am tempted to let free range this summer. All my peahens would stay penned. Anyone had success, or warning about this? He is a moderate percentage green.

 

[MinxFox]

I haven't free-ranged Spaldings, but people do free-range them. As with any peafowl you have to keep an eye on them because they can get curious one day and want to wander off somewhere new.

The reasoning behind not free-ranging green peafowl is due to their flighty nature and they will wander further than an India Blue variety. There are people who have even free-ranged green peafowl before. It is more rare to hear about people who have done that, but it has happened.

Since you have had your male for such a long time he should be very used to you and your yard by now but I can't guarantee how he will do free-ranging. Here is a page from an older topic that should give you some insight. This person had a spalding peacock they were free-ranging and commented on how he wanders etc, : https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/402903/7-8-emerald-spaulding-pics/20

@zazouse - The above link might be interesting for you to read as well since you mentioned one day you might be inclined to free-range green peafowl.

 

[Dany12]

Here free-ranged spalding 50% ... no problem at all ... the same thing than with the blue peacocks!

 

[zazouse]

Here free-ranged spalding 50% ... no problem at all ... the same thing than with the blue peacocks!

Such beautiful birds, makes me want to breed High % spaldings.

I have been told by a top breeder of greens that they can be free ranged just like blues but that they will kill my blues, they also require more land about 60 acers is what they will roam on average where my blues will usually stay within 15 to 20 here but do go beond that is something catches their attention

When i first got onto peafowl i purchased a 3 year old hen and a 18 month old peacock, i kept them penned for 2 months, the young male was no problem but the hen wondered off my place more than once so i came to the conclusion after a few years of brining up my own here that the once that were real young or raised here stayed closer where the older one went farther than i wanted he to, she ended up passing away from internal laying and i lost the male to a heart defect 7 months later

when they are real young they stay close as it is in their genes to do so, once they gain confidence they wonder farther and farther and that is when i begin to teach them to stay within a certin area it takes about a year to get threw the young ones pea brain and i have no problem with them going where i do not want them to be BUT if they see something they are going to check it out no matter where it is, the good thing here is my dogs will come to their honks to see what is wrong and whatever critter is bothering them will get run off before the peas can get to far.

this was yesterday, 2 geese dropped in the duck pond but they did not get to stray but a minute before they were run off by the dogs all because the peas sounded the alarm.

 

[nevsma]

Thanks! It helps my decision, I think I will just stick to free ranging my India blue and white males. I am too worried my spalding would run off.