We've moved to a farm in north Alabama, just beyond the Georgia border, and we finally have enough land to have peacocks! I'm in research mode these days, and today I've spent the last three hours combing threads on this site and searching on Google, but there are still a few details I haven't been able to nail down. And if these WERE answered in another thread, I'm very sorry! I promise I read through them, but that doesn't mean I didn't overlook something!
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED:
1.). Need at least 80-100sqft per peacock
2.). Flight pen should have at least 6' high sidewalls and, ideally, additional height added with an arched support for the netted cover
3.). Coop needs 4"-6" wide roosts set at different heights, starting at 4' and going up to at least 6'
4.) Peahens need straw nesting spots
5.) Each peacock needs at least 2-3 peahens; and if ample space is given this ratio should prevent fighting (but individual bird temperament is another big factor)
6.). Blue peacocks are the hardiest and most cold tolerant
WHAT I'M STILL NOT SURE ABOUT:
1.) Is that square footage per BIRD, or just per MALE? If I eventually hope to have 3 males and 9 females (and I may not be able to safely free range) do I need at least 1200sqft (around 35'x35'), or would closer to 600sqft (around 25'x25') be plenty?
2.). Does the length and width of the coop area count in the square footage determination? In other words, will the coop area only get used for nesting and roosting, or will they also hang out in it as much as in the flight pen portion?
3.). I've seen widely varied coop sizes (coop only, not including the flight pen), but none seem to be giving each bird 100sqft! So I'm assuming they tolerate being closer together at night. But is there a minimum of space each bird needs while roosting?
4.). Do they prefer to roost together like chickens do, or will each bird want its own roost? And, I know the height and width, but is there a preferred LENGTH for roosts?
5.). I also can't find a single reference to the required HEIGHT of the coop. Many people mention using prefab wood or metal sheds, etc, but I haven't been able to find any with ceilings higher than 7' (and then only at the peak). If a roost is set 6' high, how could the standard shed possibly provide enough height?! What am I missing?
7.). I also see three sided coops being the most common design, with the flight pen obviously attached to the open side. But is that suitable for Alabama's winters? They do go below freezing ever-so-often at night (usually barely below freezing, but sometimes mid to low twenties, and once in a blue moon it may drop below 20). Snow doesn't come every year, and when it does it's a few inches AT MOST and usually completely melted within 1-3 days.
8.). Blue peacocks are labeled as cold hardy, but will they still require heat in the coop? And if so, is there a certain temperature below which heat is recommended, or is it simply needed every night in Winter?
Thanks in advance to anyone who takes time out to help me with this! I'd like to make sure this stuff is done right the first time, and ready to go before we start buying birds!
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED:
1.). Need at least 80-100sqft per peacock
2.). Flight pen should have at least 6' high sidewalls and, ideally, additional height added with an arched support for the netted cover
3.). Coop needs 4"-6" wide roosts set at different heights, starting at 4' and going up to at least 6'
4.) Peahens need straw nesting spots
5.) Each peacock needs at least 2-3 peahens; and if ample space is given this ratio should prevent fighting (but individual bird temperament is another big factor)
6.). Blue peacocks are the hardiest and most cold tolerant
WHAT I'M STILL NOT SURE ABOUT:
1.) Is that square footage per BIRD, or just per MALE? If I eventually hope to have 3 males and 9 females (and I may not be able to safely free range) do I need at least 1200sqft (around 35'x35'), or would closer to 600sqft (around 25'x25') be plenty?
2.). Does the length and width of the coop area count in the square footage determination? In other words, will the coop area only get used for nesting and roosting, or will they also hang out in it as much as in the flight pen portion?
3.). I've seen widely varied coop sizes (coop only, not including the flight pen), but none seem to be giving each bird 100sqft! So I'm assuming they tolerate being closer together at night. But is there a minimum of space each bird needs while roosting?
4.). Do they prefer to roost together like chickens do, or will each bird want its own roost? And, I know the height and width, but is there a preferred LENGTH for roosts?
5.). I also can't find a single reference to the required HEIGHT of the coop. Many people mention using prefab wood or metal sheds, etc, but I haven't been able to find any with ceilings higher than 7' (and then only at the peak). If a roost is set 6' high, how could the standard shed possibly provide enough height?! What am I missing?
7.). I also see three sided coops being the most common design, with the flight pen obviously attached to the open side. But is that suitable for Alabama's winters? They do go below freezing ever-so-often at night (usually barely below freezing, but sometimes mid to low twenties, and once in a blue moon it may drop below 20). Snow doesn't come every year, and when it does it's a few inches AT MOST and usually completely melted within 1-3 days.
8.). Blue peacocks are labeled as cold hardy, but will they still require heat in the coop? And if so, is there a certain temperature below which heat is recommended, or is it simply needed every night in Winter?
Thanks in advance to anyone who takes time out to help me with this! I'd like to make sure this stuff is done right the first time, and ready to go before we start buying birds!
