Peahen vs peacock as friend for existing peacock

[jsdger]

Hello
I have a free ranging peacock who recently lost his peahen mate. He is completely free range, he lived on the property before me. I feed him a bit but mostly he forages himself and then roosts in the trees at night.
I’m trying to decide whether to get him another peahen or a few peacocks as friends. My problem with getting a peahen is most of the ones I’ve found are still of laying age. I’m worried with a free range peahen that she won’t go to the trees with him at night if she has eggs to sit on and so am worried about predators. I am not in a position to maintain a pen and lock them up daily.

So my questions are
- what kind of nesting behaviour do peahens have? Woukd she leave eggs at night? If she has babies I’m guessing she will stay on the ground with them?
- can peacocks live happily together without peahens?

 

[sourland]

I have minimal experience with peafowl, but I think he would fight another male introduced to his territory. @casportpony what are your thoughts?

 

[jsdger]

Thank you! I wondered about that too although it is 17 hectares. There used to be another male but we believe he flew away

 

[KsKingBee]

Two or more cocks will live in harmony, it is when females are involved that there would be fighting. Girls are trouble. If you want to get a hen, look for a Charcoal hen as they do not lay eggs and will not have a nest to set. They also tend to be inexpensive as they do not reproduce.

 

[jsdger]

Oh wow thank you I’ll have a look. Are girls trouble because of the egg laying and associated health risks?

 

[KsKingBee]

Oh wow thank you I’ll have a look. Are girls trouble because of the egg laying and associated health risks?

Well, it is kind of a general rule in life, BUT, as far as peas go, cocks do not spar or fight when there are no hens present. Hens do tend to lay their eggs in poorly thought out places and will cause you worry for about six weeks until the chicks can fly up to roost with mom and siblings if she doesn't get killed by a predator first. We free range about a dozen peas and they are such a joy to see living as nature intended for them to live. However, we will run most of the hens into a pen for the breeding season and the few we let free range we watch carefully where she sets her nest and take the eggs once she begins to go broody. Sometimes we will pull a lot of dog hair and make a circle around her to help hide her scent, but it is still risky.

 

[jsdger]

Well, it is kind of a general rule in life, BUT, as far as peas go, cocks do not spar or fight when there are no hens present. Hens do tend to lay their eggs in poorly thought out places and will cause you worry for about six weeks until the chicks can fly up to roost with mom and siblings if she doesn't get killed by a predator first. We free range about a dozen peas and they are such a joy to see living as nature intended for them to live. However, we will run most of the hens into a pen for the breeding season and the few we let free range we watch carefully where she sets her nest and take the eggs once she begins to go broody. Sometimes we will pull a lot of dog hair and make a circle around her to help hide her scent, but it is still risky.

Makes a lot of sense. Thank you!

 

[jsdger]

Sorry I have a follow up question! Does the age of the boys matter in terms of them getting along? My current boy is completely free range, forages for himself and roosts in the trees at night. If I get new boys around the 4yo mark is there a risk they move him out of his territory? Another person close by is selling younger boys.

 

[KsKingBee]

An interesting fact about peas is that they tend to have individual personalities. Just like your kids are different so are peas. There are generalities to guidelines but many times they will show you that they don't read what you have read. The safest time to bring in another cock into the fold is during the off season when they tend to all get along. Since you have no hens it may not matter at all and it would be perfectly safe and they all get along. I have a high percentage Hybrid that was in the heated barn for the winter, I let him out to freerange as is our habit but another Hybrid that had been out all winter chased him off within two days. You can never be certain the outcome, you have to watch the behavior and act when needed. The golden rule of freeranging peas is to never freerange a bird you are not willing to lose.

 

[jsdger]

An interesting fact about peas is that they tend to have individual personalities. Just like your kids are different so are peas. There are generalities to guidelines but many times they will show you that they don't read what you have read. The safest time to bring in another cock into the fold is during the off season when they tend to all get along. Since you have no hens it may not matter at all and it would be perfectly safe and they all get along. I have a high percentage Hybrid that was in the heated barn for the winter, I let him out to freerange as is our habit but another Hybrid that had been out all winter chased him off within two days. You can never be certain the outcome, you have to watch the behavior and act when needed. The golden rule of freeranging peas is to never freerange a bird you are not willing to lose.

Makes a lot of sense! When I moved on to my property, this peacock and his mate were already there. There was also a younger male who eventually flew away when he got his feathers. The hen was aged and recently passed so I’m trying to figure out the best replacement but I feel like since he’s been free range for so many years I need to get a companion that can do the same. Sounds like a boy is the easiest!