Chickens, Peacocks, Ostriches...

[skycladfaerielady]

I am focussing on my chickens thei year, but plan to add a few other birds to my "zoo" next year. Does anybody know how chickens get along with other types of birds, like peacocks, ostriches or emu? I plan on adding 1 type of bird per year. Next year it will either be peacocks or ostriches. I have not yet decided. I have plenty of property, so space is not an issue. I will be getting either eggs, or day old chicks, so the birds I add will not have bad habbits that I have to try to break. Any info is welcome!

[genuck]

I would do a lot of research on ostriches before you try and breed them. They can get quite nasty after reaching sexual maturity and in defending thier eggs/nest. if you think a rooster is bad watch out for big bird! Seriously, I used to work for a couple that had an ostrich farm, thier main handler got kicked once by a male and it almost disemboweled him. This was a man who had been handling these birds almost all his life. Even with knowledge and safe handling he had that horrible accident. Emus on the other hand i've heard are quite a bit more docile ( and cuter imo), and i would love to have peacocks.

[skycladfaerielady]

I have been doing some research & am currently waiting for information I have requested from 4 different breeders. From what I have found out emus seem to be the better of the two. Thanks. All info is greatly appreciated!

[rockadear]

Hi
we keep peacocks they are beautiful but they can't be keep in the same pen as the chickens they need their own pen. I do think you can free range them together but peacocks go wild fast. they can get on your cars and they are a big bird when grown. they also tend to be a little high strung. We raised them from chicks, They can be vary expensive here I have seen a pair go for over $200.00 . Thay dont lay untill they are 2 years old. They are not to hard to keep they eat the same as chickens.and they are beautful. I highly recommend them. Good Luck Dawn

[Huntsman]

While you say you have lots of space, neighbours will not be a problem but peacocks are much louder than roosters. Make sure the rest of your family will be happy with this.

They love height so expect them to spend time on the roof of your home. Wing-clipping will prevent this but why do that to such a beautiful show-off bird?

Be careful with ostriches, they are not suitable pets and can be downright dangerous. Make sure you carry third party insurance in case they hurt anyone.

Good luck with your choices.

[astevens4]

I agree - Ostritches can be downright aggressive - there are 2 ostrich farms near us, and the meat is delicious!

Be warned though it takes something crazy like 12 hours to hard boil an ostrich egg!!
(although its strong enough for a grown man to stand on it).

Just a point on danger - these animals in Africa can disembowel a lion with a single kick - theyre considered so dangerous that to have them in the UK you need a Wild Animal License - the same as if you keep lions or tigers!

Tony

[skycladfaerielady]

I have received a lot of info on ostriches from breeders & have decided to pass on them! I am still considering the emu, & deffinatly am going with peacocks next year. I have 6 grandchildren (so far) & the ostrich just seem too risky! I appreciate all the info & warnings. Thanks! any more info still more than welcome!:thumbup:

[Welsh_Dragonfly]

Given the two of them, I would leans toward the emus. I lived "next" to someone who had 3 peacocks. They were loud from a mile away. They scream - don't know any other word for it. I know that after a few months, my love affair with their beauty wore thin.
Welsh

[BarbL]

When I was a girl we moved in next to a cemetary. My brother and I were terrorized by "ghosts of women" screaming! Turned out it was a farm below the hill that had a bunch of peacocks!LOL Once we knew what it was it wasn't scarry anymore, and after awhile we hardly noticed the sound kinda like a rooster now just don't hear it when it's a normal part of your world. Question though: I thought emu's also had the large claws? Aren't they as dangerous as ostrich?? Don't know much about either so am curious.

[sweetsue72]

Our neighbor has two pea-cocks and about 6 guinnies. They are the cutest things out in the yard. The guinnies always seem to be in a hurry up--stop mode and the peacocks bounce as they walk. But they are LOUD!! Between the peacocks getting on their barn and yelling HEEELLLLPPPP...thats what it sounds like they are saying and the guinnies talking about "chalk" they do get annoying when you are trying to nap. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that they breed for mules too, so their donkey is constantly kicking the stall and braying all night long. But its the country, so I just added to it with my own chorus of chickens and a rooster and a few ducks!!

[skycladfaerielady]

Granny had a pair of peacocks, so I know how loud they are! I loved to lay in bed ona hot summernight & listen to then "answer" the freight train whistle! It is one of my fondest memories! Call me crazy, my hubby does!

From what I have read, & the info I have got, emus are a wholt lot more docile than the ostriches. They still have the claws, but are a lot less likely to use them than an ostrich. It takes a lot more to upset them, & they do not get as aggressive during breeding as the ostrich.

I am still researching. I do not want to make a mistake that I cannot live with.

I have looked at guinees, too. All sorts of quail & pheasant... any more suggestions would be worth a look-see too!

[preston]

my grandfather had guinees that had attacked him while trying to round them up and put them back in the pen and he had hatched them
Now on free range they are wonderful kinda loud but they make good guard dogs and let you know if ANYTHING is in/ or near the yard
now quail are quiet messy and can keep you busy, they lay alot of eggs but at the same time if you have time on your hands they can make you money if you have anyone around that likes pickled eggs
My grandfather makes the best ones :thumbup:

[skycladfaerielady]

My husband will be glad to hear that. He loves pickled eggs! That is the only reason I grow beets...for the juice to pickle eggs in!

[Cheeze]

I have never even thought of an ostrich , wonder how my neighbors would like that thing free ranging their yards.:scared: lol .They would enjoy watchin me wrestle down an ostrich so they may not mind too bad.

I have messed with a few emu and I never saw one even try to kick, once you control the head you control the bird pretty much,I would be more worried about getting pecked in the face .

The ppl who had the emu I messed with just kept them in a 4' high horse type fence wire run and the emu all lived in a storage barn at night.

They must be hardy birds cuz the ppl never took very good care of them and they still thrived .

[skycladfaerielady]

I have done some research on the Ostrich & decided, next spring I am going with the Emu instead. They do not get quite as mean, & will still keep the coyotes at bay!

[BarbL]

He he he, hey Sky when they start laying let me know emu eggs are so beautiful, and the rule around here is if I can put it in an incy then it doesn't upset hubby as much as bringing home a full grown one....

[skycladfaerielady]

He he he, hey Sky when they start laying let me know emu eggs are so beautiful, and the rule around here is if I can put it in an incy then it doesn't upset hubby as much as bringing home a full grown one....

After 2 years, when they start laying fertile eggs, you will get the first pair I send off! Hubby will be thrilled!:lol:

[BarbL]

Just told hubby he said "Oh my God what the he** are we gonna do with a 300lb. chicken??" "You'll name them, so we can't eat them" I think the poor man may be pushed to the breaking point! LOL He just found out a few days ago that because my goats are pygmy and nigerian that they can have up to 3 sets of kids a year and the does momma threw twins and our buck has thrown triplets and was one of triplets. Hes been walking around going 2 x3 is 6 and then 6x3 is 18 that's 18 goats a year plus their babies have babies and .....yep think he may snap!!

[skycladfaerielady]

Just told hubby he said "Oh my God what the he** are we gonna do with a 300lb. chicken??" .....yep think he may snap!!

Too funny! :lol: Wish I was closer, I would take a pair of goats off of your hands!

[BarbL]

LOL Right now I just have the 2 does, 1 new baby, and the buck. But when I told him that I was rebreeding the doe who lost hers he was like wait how many...and off we go!

[skycladfaerielady]

Goats are so much fun! I miss mine.

[Cheeze]

I have decided on white pea fowl as my next animal other than a chicken, I had a reply off craigslist from someone who has 2 eggs due to hatch middle of next month and he said he would take $20 each the day they hatch.

I have never bought pea fowl so how does $20 each sound to you?:confused1: sounds high to me but its the only person I have found with white ones so I have nothing to compare to locally.

[BarbL]

Cheez, sounds about right for around here I had a woman in Nashville who was gonna trade me some peachicks and they were mixed blue, white etc. all running together and she gets $15 for hers just hatched. Unfortunately she had a bad hatch so I still only have chickens. And white ones are usually the big bucks. I don't think you're getting ripped off, not for around here.

[Srlendon]

HOLY CRAP YOU GUYS! I'M GOING TO STICK WITH THE SMALL BIRDS! :scared:

I would like to get a few guineas though--will they stick around if you just free range them? I don't have enough room in the coop.......

[Cheeze]

HOLY CRAP YOU GUYS! I'M GOING TO STICK WITH THE SMALL BIRDS! :scared:

I would like to get a few guineas though--will they stick around if you just free range them? I don't have enough room in the coop.......

My neighbor bought 15 guineas and I suppose since he doesn't feed them they basically live in my yard lol .

I wake up every morning and look out my back door to see 3 roosters, 15 guineas, an 3 wild turkey all layin on their sides sun bathing in a big circle lol

Guineas also have a large range compared to chickens , I have seen them 1/4 mile away in the neighbors yards.

[skycladfaerielady]

I have decided on white pea fowl as my next animal other than a chicken, I had a reply off craigslist from someone who has 2 eggs due to hatch middle of next month and he said he would take $20 each the day they hatch.

I have never bought pea fowl so how does $20 each sound to you?:confused1: sounds high to me but its the only person I have found with white ones so I have nothing to compare to locally.

They are going for $250.00 a pair at 1 year old around here! Do not know about "peeps"

[skycladfaerielady]

HOLY CRAP YOU GUYS! I'M GOING TO STICK WITH THE SMALL BIRDS! :scared:

I would like to get a few guineas though--will they stick around if you just free range them? I don't have enough room in the coop.......

Come on! You know you want an emu or an ostrich!:lol::lol:

Am getting 6 Pearl Guinea eggs this week!

[BarbL]

Paris,
You're that kid that the anti-drug commercials talk about, except with birds, come on try one, you'll like it. Just take a chick no one has to know. ROFLMAO!!

[BigByrd24]

I have never bought pea fowl so how does $20 each sound to you?

Cheeze,
$20. for day old whites is a good price. That is what I sell my India Blue(Wild type) for. You will need to teach them to eat and drink. Which take a couple of days. It is a lot ez if you have like Guinea keets to Brooder them together so they will do the teaching. The reason I said Keets is the Peafowl need higher Protein then Chickens like the Keets do too. And doing this will give you a better chance of the Pea chick living.... Peafowl can be hard to raise at first. Good luck and enjoy their are fun and Beautiful birds.

Here's a few pic for you guys. Hope you like them...
3 year old white Cock.

http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq120/BigByrd24/Peafowl/11111.jpg

One of my Favs. A 2 1/2 year old Purple Blackshoulder.

http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq120/BigByrd24/Peafowl/007.jpg

Here is a Day old India Blue Chick Sleeping

http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq120/BigByrd24/Peafowl/0243.jpg

[skycladfaerielady]

I have 2 Blue Peafowl eggs in the incubator & 1 white & 2 unkmown on the way!

[BigByrd24]

I have 2 Blue Peafowl eggs in the incubator & 1 white & 2 unkmown on the way!

Good luck and Fingers crossed. Their are neat to watch hatch. Their don't zip like chickens. They make a crack about 1in long and then pop, out it comes.
They hatch with feather alright on the wingtips and in about a week can Jump/fly out of the brooder if there is no top on it.

[skycladfaerielady]

Good luck and Fingers crossed. Their are neat to watch hatch. Their don't zip like chickens. They make a crack about 1in long and then pop, out it comes.
They hatch with feather alright on the wingtips and in about a week can Jump/fly out of the brooder if there is no top on it.

Sounds like fun! I put screens on my brooder boxes with my last chicks. Kept finding them all over the front porch!:lol::scared::lol:

[kyfarm]

hello we breed india blue peacocks so have a run and coop situation, but together in an enclosure would not work. free ranging each would find own area but feeding time could be interesting i would think that rooster or cock could try to be dominate thanks kyfarm