martin   Laying Habit of Peafowl
Registered Member
Posts:
Joined: 03-05-12 06:53 AM
 
First Post Posted on: 07-16-12 08:14 AM

I have a 6 year old mated pair and two younger pairs. No eggs yet from the older pair.I'm worried.Does the hen only lay one clutch a year? How long is the incubation period?

Anyone please help me I can't wait to have peachicks.

birdseller   Laying Habit of Peafowl
Registered Member
Posts:
Joined: 04-05-12 02:44 AM
 
Reply #: 1 Posted on: 07-17-12 06:20 AM

Sometimes they will lay two clutches.Incubation period is 28 to 30 days.I tried incubating mine but something went wrong. Nothing hatched.

Good luck to you and let other experienced hands help you.

bluecreek-farm   Laying Habit of Peafowl
Registered Member
Posts:
Joined: 04-05-12 07:20 PM
Visit member's website Blue Creek Farm
 
Reply #: 2 Posted on: 07-18-12 05:49 PM

I do not consider myself an expert on the topic, but I will tell you as much as I know!

 

Peafowl are considered to be sexaully mature when they are three years old since that is when the peacock will have his full first train.  Actaully, most peafowl will breed in their second year.  I had a breeding pen of peafowl that were all two years old and they succesfully produced peachicks, even before I purchased a three year old peacock to have higher fertility.  When peacocks are two years old they will have a train that can be anywhere from just a foot long to around three feet in length.  In order for a yearling peahen to lay fertile eggs, she must be in the same pen as a mature peacock with a train. 

 

Just like birdseller said, the incubation period for peafowl eggs is 27-30 days depending on the peafowl.  My two year old peahens laid two clutches of eggs this year because I collected the eggs every day and let broody chickens hatch the eggs.  If the peahen naturally incubates her first clutch, then the peahen will not lay any more clutches for that season.  If you collect the eggs and don't allow the peahen to sit, them you will get maximum egg production for the season; this is what most peafowl breeders do.  Your six year old pair of peafowl should definetly have laid eggs this year...

 

As for the peachicks, you could always buy peafowl hatching eggs from a breeder or from eBay and hatch them.  Incubating peafowl eggs in an incubator is quite challenging unless you have a top of the line incubator like the GQF incubators, so you should hatch the eggs under a broody hen.  The other option is buying peachicks; I will be posting more peachicks for sale, and trust me, my peachicks are so friendly and pretty! 

 

Now I must ask some questions:

  • Did you recently buy your peafowl?
  • What kind/color are they?
  • How old are the younger pairs?
  • Does the peacock still have his train?
  • Are your peafowl free-range?
  • Do you have any more questions for me?

 

Now I will post some pictures!

     

This is how some two year old peacocks' trains will look like. That is the same length train as my two year peacocks had.

Some two year peacock could get a train of this length.

A great way to hatch peafowl eggs!  This is what I do.

A size comparison of eggs.  Be on the lookout for the last egg!

 

I really hope this helps!

bluecreek-farm

martin   Laying Habit of Peafowl
Registered Member
Posts:
Joined: 03-05-12 06:53 AM
 
Reply #: 3 Posted on: 07-21-12 06:55 AM

Thank you very much Birdseller.

martin   Laying Habit of Peafowl
Registered Member
Posts:
Joined: 03-05-12 06:53 AM
 
Reply #: 4 Posted on: 07-21-12 06:57 AM

Bluecreek-farm,

Really appreciating you for the valuable and detailed information.

Thank You very much.