My Ostentation of Peafowl, Safe and Sound

September 1, 2022

My Ostentation of Peafowl, Safe and Sound

My peacocks and peahens are now back in their enclosure, safe from any wild predators.

Over the last few weeks, we've been working hard to improve the security surrounding the peafowl pen. We moved the coop 25-feet toward the center, installed steel posts around the perimeter, and then unrolled and fastened durable fencing fabric across the entire top of the yard. In the wild, all birds also need a safe place to roost - they like to be up high to see what is around them and to escape from predators if needed. Yesterday, we added two new perches inside their coop, where they could roost up high at night. These add to the various perches provided outside - all made from felled or damaged trees here at the farm.

Enjoy these photos and the short video of the peafowl - back home.

: If you follow this blog regularly, you may have seen the post showing the installation of this new fencing fabric over the peafowl coop and the yard. It will now prevent dangerous predators from entering the enclosure.

: Once the peacocks and peahens were back in their pen, they were eager to walk around and explore. They are very curious animals – and what’s old is new again.

: They all walked as a group, or an ostentation, to see what had changed.

: I think they all approve. My peafowl are all very healthy. Full grown, peafowl can weigh up to 13-pounds. All the peacocks and peahens get lots of fresh, organic treats from my gardens.

: Inside their coop, we also made a couple of changes.

: We already secured two trees inside, where they could roost, but we also added perches up above.

: Here’s Fernando securing a new perch beam that runs from the front to the back of the house. We had two extra cedar posts from another fencing project with smaller diameters that were perfect for the peafowl.

: The two were secured with simple wooden brackets made in our shop right here at the farm.

: These two found the perches pretty quickly – I think they like them.

: Peacocks and peahens love to roost up high, where they can view all the goings-on from above.

: Back outside, this peahen perches on one of the steps of a handmade ladder, secured to the side of the coop. It’s also in the shade – perfect for warm, summer afternoons.

: This peahen is looking for a spot on the same ladder. On its head, both male and female peafowl have the fancy crest called a corona.

: We also have trees “planted” in this yard, so the peafowl can roost on the branches.

: And on both sides of the coop, we have horizontal perches – also built from felled trees here on the farm.

: This one appears to be a popular resting place. And do you know… the term “peacock” is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes. However, technically only males are peacocks. Females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl.

: Peafowl are beautiful birds, but do not underestimate their power – they are extremely strong with very sharp spurs. And they will perch on anything above ground to get a better view.

: Peafowl are happiest when living in small groups. They often walk around following each other and then stop to forage together. They are ground feeders. They do most of their foraging in the early morning and evening. As omnivores, they eat insects, plants, grains and sometimes small creatures. This peafowl pen is adjacent to the goose enclosure – they all like being near each other.

: Peacocks are so photogenic with their iridescent blue necks. The males have already dropped their long tail feathers, but they will start to regrow again in the fall in preparation for mating season, which starts up again in February.

: Peafowl are very smart, docile and adaptable birds. They are quite clever and will come close to all who visit. And peafowl have acute hearing, but can be poor at discerning from what direction certain sounds originate.