Lone peahen wandering about: is there anything we can do for her?

[Kipster]

We live in a mountain town with lots of wildlife including deer, flocks of wild turkeys, bobcats and the occasional bear. For some years there has been a lone peahen wandering about. She seems lonely, and I wonder if there is anything we can do to cheer her up. I wish we could find her a companion. Is there any food I could put out for her when she passes by, or is it best to just let her be?

I often hear her call out in the morning, especially when wild turkeys are in the area. They let her hang with them and she follows them for a while but is always on her own in the morning and when the turkeys go elsewhere.

She's beautiful and looks quite healthy.

 

[AltonaAcres]

I would catch her and get her a buddy, but that's just me

 

[KsKingBee]

I would put out some scratch grains, if she does not eat it then the wild birds will clean it up and the cost is minimal. I would be tempted to set a cock free to keep her company.

 

[Kipster]

Do peacocks have a pecking order similar to chickens, making it a little rough at first for a newcomer?

I'm asking because I just found out that someone about 20 miles from here has a lot of peacocks. I might contact him and see if he wants to try to catch her and add her to his flock. But if it would be traumatic and stressful for her, maybe it's best to just let her remain on her own?

 

[KsKingBee]

It would be a shame for a free-range bird to be caught and contained in a pen. It would be better to do nothing than subject her to living like that. I have hundreds of birds in large spacious pens but they have always been in captivity. I do contain a few of the free-rangers for the breeding season then they are released until the next season.

 

[Kipster]

Agree. I don't yet know if the person lets his free range or if they are enclosed. Will find out.

Nice photos!

 

[Entreparadis]

Agree. I don't yet know if the person lets his free range or if they are enclosed. Will find out.

Nice photos!

It would be best for you to contact your local pea-person and see if they would want to capture her. Peafowl are social animals, especially peahens, so she is likely lonely, but the biggest issue is predators. Peahens do not have large spurs like peacocks do and cannot defend themselves from other animals like dogs, coyotes, racoons, and foxes. It is very impressive that she has survived for years on her own but it is likely that she has health problems that can't be seen from a distance. She may have malnutrition because of a lack of protein and nutritious foods or lice and other pests from the turkeys also could be a problem if you decide to take care of her. It would be great if someone near you with a flock would be willing to re-home her with their peas and keep her safe. She should get on with them fine as an adult and shouldn't be picked on too badly. If she's not too old, she may even have her own chicks next year.

 

[ackie]

I want her D: I'm low on hens