Peahen Care

[sparkymick]

a peahen has just moved in, of its own accord, and is wandering around with the chickens. anybody know what will it do in winter. it roosts in the trees at the moment. will it survive or move south perhaps.

thanks in advance

[shoota]

Peahens are just big pheasants - it should be OK overwinter.
It will eat grain and anything the chickens eat.

[shoota]

This may help:

http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/home-and-housing/pest-control/peacocks-pest-control.aspx

[boxtops]

It might make a hell of a racket (although not sure if that's only the pea-chaps)

[sparkymick]

thank you shoota - what do they taste like ?

[shoota]

Erm, not sure Sparky but I believe the old colonials out in India used to feast on them.
They are of the pheasant family so I would imagine similar to pheasant.
Got a gun?

[sparkymick]

could shut the door when it comes into the house perhaps

[woofgang]

dry gamey flesh, needs plenty of butter
http://www.gourmet.com/recipes/1950s/1951/12/peacock

[Positivethinker]

Poor peahen don't eat her! Probably very tough anyway. Ours are pets, she will be fine in winter but needs food - mixed grains, wheat and they like sunflower seeds for good plumage. They love grapes too. She won't make a noise unless she sits on eggs in spring then she will honk like a donkey as she flies off to feed to divert attention away from the eggs. It's best for her to have some company, a male would be best. He will call in the spring and make his peacock noises. If you don't like that get another female! They are vulnerable to foxes when sitting.