Chickens are very common and familiar animals with everyone, while peacocks are known as the queens of birds. This difference makes a lot of people wonder whether peacocks do require any special caring or easy to pair up with other animals. So can peacocks and chicken live together?
Can peacocks and chickens live together?
Surprisingly, they can live in harmony beyond expectation if managed properly.
Peacocks’ gorgeous feathers have a strong impression that makes them very unique. It also makes people think that peacocks must be taken care of in a special way or it seems to be difficult for them to share a living environment with other species.
However, unlike their amazing appearances, peacocks are easy to raise and can get along very well with chickens as well if you know how to manage and deal with some caution properly.
Though it is possible for them to live well together, it does not mean that there is no difficulty. Here are some advantages and disadvantages you need to take a look at before raising peacocks and chickens together.
Advantages
Pest control
Peacocks are omnivores so they consume a variety of food. They even eat rodents, snakes, and amphibians apart from normal insects, bugs, earthworms, etc.
This feature of peacocks not only helps to control pest populations of people’s farms, but also can prevent their chicken flocks from danger. So this is the reason why many people come up with an idea to add some peacocks to their chicken flocks.
Peacocks are good protectors
Peacocks are the wonderful watch dogs. They have an acute sense of hearing that nothing happens without their knowledge.
To be more specific, when peacocks recognize a few sounds at night, they will make loud noises and scare any animal or anyone getting close to your farm. They are just amazing alarmed bells to protect both your farm and chicken flocks.
Disadvantages
Blackhead disease
If you have experienced raising chickens for a long time, you may have heard about Blackhead disease at least once.
Blackhead disease is the most common disease with poultry and caused by a parasite named Histomonas Meleagridis which is contained in a cecal worm egg.
This disease can easily pass from bird to bird through its excrement. Firstly, an infected bird will expel its droppings which contain the worm egg. Next, another bird continues to consume these feces directly or by eating an infected earthworm. After that, a chicken eats this earthworm and is infected.
So it cannot be ruled out that your chickens will be the disease sources and harm the peacocks. While chickens are less susceptible and have a strong immune system to fight Blackhead disease, peacocks are not the same.
They are much weaker to put up with the parasites which most poultry carry. Once the peacocks have blackhead disease, it will definitely threaten their health and survival.
Noise
If you used to raise guineas and could not put up with their loud noises, it is totally a severe task to handle with having peacocks.
They are considered to be much noisier than guineas. Peacocks make some jarring sounds that can be expected to hear when staying away 5 miles, in some cases, they also create honking sounds. (Source)
This situation can have impacts on chickens’ laying process like scartling chickens and making them stop to lay eggs temporarily. Therefore, it is one of the most concerning problems when putting peacocks and chickens in the same place.
Fighting
Getting into a fight is an unavoidable thing between animals living together. Though how they get along, it still has conflicts from time to time. Peacocks are much larger than chickens and they can make chickens injured, so you need to watch them carefully.
Caution and solutions
Housing requirements
Keeping in mind to provide peacocks with a large space with a top roof. Since they roost like chickens, we have to prepare enough generous enclosures to prevent their long tails from mouse’s gnawing.
One more reason is that their feathers are huge, so it is vital to give them adequate space to not damage their bodies.
Peacocks are excellent flyers and they will jump out of their areas if having a chance, that is why you need to cover their houses.
In addition, peacocks adapt to weather changes feebly. In winter, they need a draft-free and high-heat space.
Especially peachicks’ requirements are more complicated like living in an enclosed brooder for the first eight weeks, demanding the particular temperature, etc. So you need to find out and meet their needs to raise them properly. (Source)
Dietary food
Peacocks’ diets are generally similar to chickens’ feed, there is just a minor difference that they need a higher protein content which takes about 20-24%.
Though peacocks are not picky at eating and they are still able to have the same diet as chickens, it would be better for their development when eating appropriate food.
Besides, they also need access to fresh and clean water sources to satisfy their easy dehydration.
Conclusion
In summary, peacocks and chickens can be a well-matched couple if managed properly. The information above can help you know some caution as well as have full preparation to tackle those problems.