Talking with several older peafowl breeders it seemed the fatalities happened when their greens were left outside, laying on the ground instead of being inside the barns. In Texas this behavior is normal during summer nights. We encourage our green peafowl to roost inside by installing 40 watt lights, turned on before dark. This would bring the peafowl into the shed, by sun down they would just stay there up on the roost. For those up north common practice is to install heat tape on the roost since the feet and toes need to be protected more than the body itself. We think that you should have straw on hand (dry) just before the winter weather starts. We noticed soon as a heavy bedding material was added the peafowl would go straight to the ground, this is very important for prolong cold spells. While we don’t selectively feed straight corn or cracked corn during summer months (other than what is added to processed feed), we do use corn during the winter months to add fat, and to increase body heat for several species of birds kept.
Green peafowl
If your interested in green peafowl you must do your homework... don't expect others to discredit their own stock. If your not sure what your looking at... just wait until you are.
I never really know how to discuss green peafowl. We don’t want to come across as arrogant nor portray or imply were the experts. I’ve never been to Java, Indonesia, Burma, or Malaysia as a few have. Never seen 100 year old skins from the museums. I have spent years traveling, searching for the best greens available in the states. Have had countless numbers of green peafowl from various respected breeders, most were not pure greens. There are some very nice pure green Muticus peafowl in the states but, the trend is for that breeder to sell or trade to another individual who might then lose one bird of the pair… replacing the loss bird with a bird of less quality. From that point on those greens will never produce pure greens or be pure greens, only adding to a diminishing future for that species. Remember this one point… it’s either a pure green, or hybrid… no combination of the two will ever produce a pure green species. For this reason alone we removed most all green peafowl … even if from a reputable breeder. Keeping a few hens that were from facilities that we were able to visit, seeing the actual breeders and comparing wing bands against breeding records.
So we did sell off all domestic green peafowl other than the Imported males and RM hens... it just made more since for us to stay with and breed the best birds available... unfortunately it has take a long time and many birds to realize this.
I don't see or hear this often... but Wolfgang Mening only raised Pavo Muticus muticus, not Java Muticus muticus...his birds were from captive bred peafowl originating in Southern Malaysia, which are no longer found, thought to be extinct in the wild. If you find out this is incorrect please email or call me."
Thanks to Sam, John Chupp importation of green peafowl from Wolfgang Mening in Germany (This is Wolfgang Mennig's website. Currently the source of most Imported Green peafowl into the United States.
We now have completed two breeding seasons using several breeding pairs of the imported males. Finally we have achieved our objective. The offspring are off the charts regarding size and showing color and phenotype one should expect. Do we produce the best in America… that can’t be said since there is no affordable DNA test at this time to compare these birds nor are there any control samples to compare to?
Java Peafowl (note: we had mentioned that all three Java sub-species imported were DNA as pure green, we have been corrected, "regards to the DNA work that was done, it was only done on the Java sub-species, not Imperator or Spicifer, DNA work was done by Ettore Randi at his lab in Italy") this was sent by someone who wanted to help correct a liberated statement I made earlier regarding DNA test. I appreciate all correspondence; it can only help each of us learn.
Give credit to the few breeders who took the chance and financial risk to have greens imported. Those would be the best. If considering our green peafowl. Consider the positive aspect of genetic drift from using RM hens and our imported males along with the fact were using birds that are unrelated which lessons the negative aspects of inbreeding --- perhaps then the second best in America.
We had great success breeding our Imported Pavo Muticus muticus males with RM hens in 2009 but, 2010 was not a good season for our greens. What was interesting is that these seem to have done quite well with the low teens and 72 hour freeze in 2009 with no damage. Not a big deal up north but close to being devastating for any warm temperature species, not being protected.
March 2009, Javanese peafowl being released in Malaysia to increase tourism
so, years ago anything that was written or published became fact... after all, our culture was based or held together with those historical publishings. Today with the interent there are many web sites that are built and updated with opinions that have not been checked out. The link below is one of those articles. My friend is etreamly academicly gifted, I'm sure from years of study as well as being gifted.
But, the article he has created has both facts, and his opinion... but then again if you look back at the writings of Beebe or Delacour they might have implied they went to the Island of Java but, there is thought that they never made it however still published descriptions.
The highlighted tags below (Imported Java Green Peafowl) (the birds pictured below were imported, held in quarantine for 30 days, then moved several times so they are a bit rough...still impressive birds for yearlings) We look forward for the chance to take a few better pictures of each subspecies as they grow out. The pictures are large; our dial up service took awhile and did not show the graphic data well. Any suggestions to down size pictures?
Vulturine Guinea fowl were productive in the last few years. 15 were surplus for a new pubic exhibit that are free ranging over 17 acres. I think this would be one of the largest flocks on exhibit in America. I’m starting to think that perhaps this species will range closer to where they were raised than once thought. We had 10 escape one windy day... they took flight over the barns, and road and even into the neighbor’s tree line. Within three days all returned to the pen they were liberated from. We do have Kenya Crested guinea fowl that were wild caught imported birds from Sam Chupp. We don't have offspring at this time. If you’re interested in the guinea fowl, keep in touch. For our part it takes us longer to raise the chicks to a sub adult stage then have them DNA... by this time they are ready to be shipped. There have been some rumors of a new importation of Vulturine Guinea fowl.
African birds:
We have a number of breeder groups of Vulturine Guinea fowl. The majority of our breeders were wild caught imported birds. When we mention wild caught or imported birds, birds were bought from Sam and John Chupp who did the importing.
I need to post more pictures of the Vulturine guinea fowl. We do very well with this species. Very easy to raise, requiring more room than what you would normally offer a pheasant. They do require some type of protection for temperatures 35 or below. Without some type of protection for the feet... first the toes drop off, and then the feet will actually fall off at the joint. If you’re lucky, walking around with just stumps.
Quite personable birds. While we have limited knowledge of water fowl and such, this is the only species that I have raised that will accept any of its kind, age or gender from a different flock with no hostility. Internet articles site the Vulturine Guinea fowl as aggressive towards its own. We find just the opposite.
Vulturine guinea fowl, Domestic guinea fowl, Kenya Crested, Mozambique guinea fowl have all done well group together.
We do have Kenya Crested guinea fowl but we no longer have the Mozambique Crested guinea fowl. Pictures below are great to help identify the difference. Kenya crested guinea G.p. pucherani Kenya # 1
We have permission to reprint Leland Hayes, PH.D. article about Vulturine Guinea Fowl. After looking at Mr. Hayes article and website we decided instead of re-writing his article we would just send you to his website. As well as being the author of several books relating to game birds, Mr. Hayes is the author of several digital web-books about Golden Pheasants, and Lady Amherst Pheasants, really a great idea. Go to http://www.lelandhayes.com for complete information. You might also wish to subscribe to Leland's news letter. mailto:Subscribe@lelandhayes.com?Subject=Subscribe. Vulturine information is in a special edition article, go to
http://www.lelandhayes.com/SpecialEzine/Special_eZine_1.pdf you should find the Vulturine Guinea fowl article on Gamebird eZine, Volume 1, August 1, 2006, Number 1. Should you have difficulties with the above information, email us? Texaspeafowl@aol.com For questions regarding the Vulturine guinea fowl... call me; I can talk faster than type. After dark is better.
Ocellated Turkey
During the fall and winter months of 2010 we tried a different feeding program on one breeding pair of the three we had. We included daily fruits, grains, seeds along with lamb and rice dog food with daily additions of spinach and other mix store bought greens. They did lay in February but no eggs were fertile. Lights being left on 24 hour straight might have influenced them to lay early. Two other pairs showed no interest in breeding. With that said there are only a handful of avian enthusiast who have acquired them recently in the past few years. One has produce a remarkable number of chicks in 2010. Hopefully with the combined efforts in the future this species will become more available to the private collector.
Cracids – Great Curassow
Once widely held in private collections this species seems to be on the decline… while still available with little effort the numbers being produce seem to be less than in the past. This is one of the most pleasant bird species we have. Great Curassow hens are as large as a peahen, with the males having the body mass of the male peacock. We enjoy feeding additional dry lamb and rice dog food as the male will actually pick up and offer the feed to the hen. Breeding is reliable with 2-4 eggs layed each season. Hatched chicks from the incubator have remarkable strength regarding their ability to perch and are immediately placed in a brooder with branches to help prevent any future leg problems. If you were only to have one penned species this would be a great choice. Pen space should be around 20ft x 20 ft or 12 x 30 partially shaded area with some protection from extreme heat or freezing temperatures.
Peafowl
2010 we hatch a number of peafowl but the most impressive patterns are the bronze pied, bronze silver pied. Finally after years of genetic work we produced a few phenotypes only imagined earlier. In the peafowl community there are many web sites that advertise bronze pied but most are splits or don’t exist. We have used the phrase “how hard could it be, really you just breed two birds together and the results are produced” Well, I can tell you if you start from the beginning, breed and produce a combined total of 2600 birds for 5-6 years you will produce 3 birds. Those offspring will show the color, wing pattern (phenotype) that was not there before. If done right using unrelated birds, crossing those birds to other unrelated birds, then crossing back they should be clean healthy large fertile birds.
With the decline in the economy and raising feed cost we have removed most colors and patterns of peafowl listed on the peacock page. Continue to email or call with request or questions we might have or certainly can help you locate peafowl your interested in. Later, the sales and info page will have pictures of peafowl being worked on for years.
Peafowl we will continue to concentrate on: Greens, Peach, Peach Silver Pied, Charcoal, Charcoal White Eye or silver pied, Charcoal Black shoulder and Charcoal black shoulder white eye, and silver pied. Spalding Charcoal Black shoulder, Bronze, Bronze Black shoulder peafowl and are within reach of producing, Bronze Black shoulder Pied, Bronze Black shoulder Silver Pied. Spending the last few years breeding unrelated birds and crossing their offspring to other unrelated birds help to produce some very nice Bronze pied, Bronze silver pied in 2010. White Spalding, Emerald Pied Spalding bred for quality in phenotype instead of % green.
pied or not a pied?
When you have a chance, look at our web page for Peacocks, and then go to Bronze Spaulding Pied White Eye peacock... Email your thoughts texaspeafowl@aol.com
Genetic Problems Facing Peafowl
For those not involved with peafowl... Cameo, Purple, Bronze, Peach, Charcoal, Jade are all natural color mutations, not hybrids. Blackshoulder, pied, white eye, silver pied are natural patterns, and mutations not hybrids.
India Blue peafowl. We are trying to post pictures of wild India Blue peafowl to show the size difference compared to the India Blue peafowl being raised by U.S. breeders. The most remarkable difference is the leg length of both males, hens. Both are much larger, taller birds, with males carrying tales higher than the domestic birds. Is this due to the amount of inbreeding? Your comments are welcomed.
Charcoal Color: As of 2007 --- (now 2011 is approaching) Charcoal, Charcoal blackshoulder hens are still believed to be sterile. Spalding Charcoal hens have layed eggs that hatched; this is thought to be the result of a hybrid cross to strengthen a deficient genetic trait.
Several things have changed for the Charcoal color, patterns. First the birds used to sell for 1000 each, now they can be found for as little as 100 – 200… but still only acquire the males if breeding. We give the colored hens away to ranches or people who are not interested in breeding… there is a value to the hens but the value is they will never have eggs to set… which means that the free range life expectancy has just been greatly improved with the benefit of helping to keep the males around during breeding season. Another genetic characteristic is the first generations had sad looking eyes, silky feathering on the necks and had the tendency for being short. Generations being produce today are much healthier looking taller birds. Seeing blackshoulder charcoals as year and two year olds leaves much to be desired but, as they continue to mature the wing pattern starts to fill in with the same color of neck and tail…. What a nice looking bird, really much different than the bar wing pattern. Today Blackshoulder Charcoal White Eye or Blackshoulder Charcoal Silver Pied’s are highly sought birds, with very few being produced anywhere in the world… much the same as the bronze blackshoulder compared to the bronze. We usually describe the difference as the bronze blackshoulder have the look of oil poured over walnut… a very rich Dutch chocolate color with no disruption in the wing as the bar wing pattern has. Besides starting with any blackshoulder pattern makes more since when breeding to hens. You can always breed any blackshoulder bird to 2 bar wing and 2 blackshoulder or solid wing bird to get both wing patterns in the offspring…saving real-estate or pen space.
I enjoy the landscaping the aviaries; in the future we will begin dismantling a few of the existing breeding sheds to build more natural flight pens. The majority of our birds are not active breeders so the work load and feed cost have declined. Now young birds are raised in 25 x 75 foot flight pens.
Ocellated Turkeys... we should have several pairs breeding this season in 2010... as well as a pair of European imports on breeder loan. I'm trying a new diet combination on one breeding pair... as well a new setting. Email should you have any questions.
Worming your breeders once then follow up 10 days later will insure the birds are healthy and fit for the breeding season. Sand will give your birds a place to dust. We burn the shed floor, removing litter before adding new sand. We also use this time to check netting, and fence…adding or removing sight barriers. With the spring rains, you might also consider planting rye grass.
Order wing bands…there are a number of options for you to consider. There are color bands, brass bands; you could even have your name or special information printed on them. We would suggest double bands…and to check the bands to make sure there are no duplications and the information is correct.
If you use incubators, brooders you might want to have them cleaned, testing to make sure they are running correctly before hatch season begins.
There is a new link to the Discovery Channel down the page... some new thoughts
about the plumage of the peacock. Below that is a link to a San Diego Zoo article on peafowl.
We don't give advice or suggestions about the veterinarian care of peafowl or avian medical problems. While always trying to learn, we know little of medical problems, less than most. Educate yourself; as well seek the advice of a veterinarian professional.
We found the article below copied from Avian biotech's web site interesting. The medical condition known as Perosis is often described to peafowl breeders.http://avianbiotech.com/Diseases/aviandis.txt
OCCURRENCE: Young birds. Correlates with crowded confinement, using slat or wire floors, feeding rations with high mineral content or unsupplemented.
PEROSIS
ETIOLOGY: Mainly due to deficiency of manganese or choline.
CLINICAL SIGNS: Malposition of one or both legs from the hock distally. The hock is swollen and the obvious site of malposition.
LESIONS: Initially: Hock is flattened, widened, and enlarged. Later: Leg from hock distally deviates laterally. Gastrocnemius tendon at the hock has slipped from its trochlea. The tibia andmetatarsus may be bowed and twisted. Shortening and thickening of the long bones of the legs and wings or displacement of the articular cartilage of the distal end of the tibia may be apparent.
TREATMENT: None for the bird affected. Prompt supplementation of the feed with manganese, choline, and B vitamins may minimize the problem.
New study: Article on the breeding value of peacock tail feathers vs. voice communication... The below link to the Discovery Channel should be the article.
Tail feathers, plumage: India Blue Peafowl, the Centre of Wildlife & Ornithology, Aligarh Muslim University, India has an interesting 2 page article on peafowl communication, mating, tail length. If you’re really smart you will read it once. I had to read it twice. http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Auk/v113n02/p0490-p0492.pdf
The San Diego has a great web site, below is a link for information on peafowl.
Below is a listing of peafowl that are known to exist or have the potential to exist. To my understanding there are no stud records kept. You can find additional information by going to http://www.peafowl.org.
1. Green, Muticus-Muticus (Javanese)
2. Green, Muticus-Imperator (Indo-Chinese)
3. Green, Muticus- Specifier (Burmese)
4. India Blue
5. India Blue Pied
6. India Blue White-Eyed
7. India Blue Pied White-Eyed
8. India Blue Silver Pied
9. Black Shoulder
10. Black Shoulder Pied
11. Black Shoulder White-Eyed
12. Black Shoulder Pied White-Eyed
13. Black Shoulder Silver Pied
14. White
15. Cameo
16. Cameo Pied
17. Cameo White-Eyed
18. Cameo Pied White-Eyed
19. Cameo Silver Pied
20. Cameo Black Shoulder
21. Cameo Black Shoulder Pied
22. Cameo Black Shoulder White-Eyed
23. Cameo Black Shoulder Pied White-Eyed
24. Cameo Black Shoulder Silver Pied
25. Charcoal (varieties under consideration)
26. Charcoal Pied
27. Charcoal White-Eyed
28. Charcoal Pied White-Eyed
29. Charcoal Silver Pied
30. Charcoal Black Shoulder
31. Charcoal Black Shoulder Pied
32. Charcoal Black Shoulder White-Eyed
33. Charcoal Black Shoulder Pied White-Eyed
34. Charcoal Black Shoulder Silver Pied
35. Purple
36. Purple Pied
37. Purple White-Eyed
38. Purple Pied White-Eyed
39. Purple Silver Pied
40. Purple Black Shoulder
41. Purple Black Shoulder Pied
42. Purple Black Shoulder White-Eyed
43. Purple Black Shoulder Pied White-Eyed
44. Purple Black Shoulder Silver Pied
45. Buford Bronze
46. Buford Bronze Pied
47. Buford Bronze White-Eyed
48. Buford Bronze Pied White-Eyed
49. Buford Bronze Silver Pied
50. Buford Bronze Black Shoulder
51. Buford Bronze Black Shoulder Pied
52. Buford Bronze Black Shoulder White-Eyed
53. Buford Bronze Black Shoulder Pied White-Eyed
54. Buford Bronze Black Shoulder Silver Pied
55. Peach
56. Peach Pied
57. Peach White-Eyed
58. Peach Pied White-Eyed
59. Peach Silver Pied
60. Peach Black Shoulder
61. Peach Black Shoulder Pied
62. Peach Black Shoulder White-Eyed
63. Peach Black Shoulder Pied White-Eyed
64. Peach Black Shoulder Silver Pied
65. Opal
66. Opal Pied
67. Opal White-Eyed
68. Opal Pied White-Eyed
69. Opal Silver Pied
70. Opal Black Shoulder
71. Opal Black Shoulder Pied
72. Opal Black Shoulder White-Eyed
73. Opal Black Shoulder Pied White-Eyed
74. Opal Black Shoulder Silver Pied
75. Midnight
76. Midnight Pied
77. Midnight White-Eyed
78. Midnight Pied White-Eyed
79. Midnight Silver Pied
80. Midnight Black Shoulder
81. Midnight Black Shoulder Pied
82. Midnight Black Shoulder White-Eyed
83. Midnight Black Shoulder Pied White-Eyed
84. Midnight Black Shoulder Silver Pied
85. Jade
86. Jade Pied
87. Jade White-Eyed
88. Jade Pied White-Eyed
89. Jade Silver Pied
90. Jade Black Shoulder
91. Jade Black Shoulder Pied
92. Jade Black Shoulder White-Eyed
93. Jade Black Shoulder Pied White-Eyed
94. Jade Black Shoulder Silver Pied
95. Spalding
96. Spalding Pied
97. Spalding White-Eyed
98. Spalding Pied White-Eyed
99. Spalding Silver Pied
100. Spalding Black Shoulder
101. Spalding Black Shoulder Pied
102. Spalding Black Shoulder White-Eyed
103. Spalding Black Shoulder Pied White-Eyed
104. Spalding Black Shoulder Silver Pied
105. Spalding White
106. Spalding Cameo
107. Spalding Cameo Pied
108. Spalding Cameo White-Eyed
109. Spalding Cameo Pied White-Eyed
110. Spalding Cameo Silver Pied
111. Spalding Cameo Black Shoulder
112. Spalding Cameo Black Shoulder Pied
113. Spalding Cameo Black Shoulder White-Eyed
114. Spalding Cameo Black Shoulder Pied White-Eyed
115. Spalding Cameo Black Shoulder Silver Pied
116. Spalding Charcoal (varieties under consideration)
117. Spalding Charcoal Pied
118. Spalding Charcoal White-Eyed
119. Spalding Charcoal Pied White-Eyed
120. Spalding Charcoal Silver Pied
121. Spalding Charcoal Black Shoulder
122. Spalding Charcoal Black Shoulder Pied
123. Spalding Charcoal Black Shoulder White-Eyed
124. Spalding Charcoal Black Shoulder Pied White-Eyed
125. Spalding Charcoal Black Shoulder Silver Pied
126. Spalding Purple
127. Spalding Purple Pied
128. Spalding Purple White-Eyed
129. Spalding Purple Pied White-Eyed
130. Spalding Purple Silver Pied
131. Spalding Purple Black Shoulder
132. Spalding Purple Black Shoulder Pied
133. Spalding Purple Black Shoulder White-Eyed
134. Spalding Purple Black Shoulder Pied White-Eyed
135. Spalding Purple Black Shoulder Silver Pied
136. Spalding Buford Bronze
137. Spalding Buford Bronze Pied
138. Spalding Buford Bronze White-Eyed
139. Spalding Buford Bronze Pied White-Eyed
140. Spalding Buford Bronze Silver Pied
141. Spalding Buford Bronze Black Shoulder
142. Spalding Buford Bronze Black Shoulder Pied
143. Spalding Buford Bronze Black Shoulder White-Eyed
144. Spalding Buford Bronze Black Shoulder Pied White-Eyed
145. Spalding Buford Bronze Black Shoulder Silver Pied
146. Spalding Peach
147. Spalding Peach Pied
148. Spalding Peach White-Eyed
149. Spalding Peach Pied White-Eyed
150. Spalding Peach Silver Pied
151. Spalding Peach Black Shoulder
152. Spalding Peach Black Shoulder Pied
153. Spalding Peach Black Shoulder White-Eyed
154. Spalding Peach Black Shoulder Pied White-Eyed
155. Spalding Peach Black Shoulder Silver Pied
156. Spalding Opal
157. Spalding Opal Pied
158. Spalding Opal White-Eyed
159. Spalding Opal Pied White-Eyed
160. Spalding Opal Silver Pied
161. Spalding Opal Black Shoulder
162. Spalding Opal Black Shoulder Pied
163. Spalding Opal Black Shoulder White-Eyed
164. Spalding Opal Black Shoulder Pied White-Eyed
165. Spalding Opal Black Shoulder Silver Pied
166. Spalding Midnight
167. Spalding Midnight Pied
168. Spalding Midnight White-Eyed
169. Spalding Midnight Pied White-Eyed
170. Spalding Midnight Silver Pied
171. Spalding Midnight Black Shoulder
172. Spalding Midnight Black Shoulder Pied
173. Spalding Midnight Black Shoulder White-Eyed
174. Spalding Midnight Black Shoulder Pied White-Eyed
175. Spalding Midnight Black Shoulder Silver Pied
176. Spalding Jade
177. Spalding Jade Pied
178. Spalding Jade White-Eyed
179. Spalding Jade Pied White-Eyed
180. Spalding Jade Silver Pied
181. Spalding Jade Black Shoulder
182. Spalding Jade Black Shoulder Pied
183. Spalding Jade Black Shoulder White-Eyed
184. Spalding Jade Black Shoulder Pied White-Eyed
185. Spalding Jade Black Shoulder Silver Pied
Please, come back for another look later. We hope to post pictures of a new group of birds, White Texas Peafowl --- altered colors...Only at Texaspeafowl, with the hope of having fun at the expense of all who sell birds, including us.
