peacocks gone wild but they are free

Cannon_Farms · #1 05/30/12, 04:30 PM

so how hard would it be to catch them and do they have spurs? What way would you catch them and transport, would large dog crates be suitable? Had some offer me several adults if I could catch but not sure its a good deal or a bit of fun for the owners... Heck can they even really fly?

**mygoat** · #2 05/30/12, 05:24 PM

Yes they can fly fairly well. Hit a female peacock on a rural back road going about 55 mph a couple years ago. Don't think I killed her, but she hit the top of my car/windshield on the driver's side. A week before on same road, her mate's tail feathers brushed my windshield as he flew over my car. We were on our way camping and if we had killed the hen we were gonna take her for dinner, lol.

They get loose ALL the time. People don't realize they DON'T stick around very well if you let them free range, and they really require very secure pens.

I'd say the best way to catch them is to ask the owners where they roost at night, then wear headlamps in pitch dark. Bring along a hook on a pole to help hook them out of the trees if that's where they're roosting. Also bring a BIG landing net. Have a helper - one to use a hook to pull them out of the tree, the other to get the net over them once netted. For the peahens, dog cages would be fine. For the peacock, his long tail will likely get messed up no matter what you do, but if you can put him in the back of a truck (with cap) not in a cage that would minimize damage. I've seen people put a zip tie fairly loosely around each leg (like a band), and then zip tie the leg bands together relatively loosely with a third zip tie. Keeps the bird from jumping out or running very fast in case it does get out of the pickup while you're loading/unloading, but isn't terribly uncomfortable especially for a short trip. All three zip ties (or leave one on for ID if desired) are easy to remove while you're unloading.

pancho · #3 05/30/12, 05:49 PM

They can still fly with the zip ties around their feet.
I can tell you that from experience.

**mygoat** · #4 05/30/12, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pancho

They can still fly with the zip ties around their feet.
I can tell you that from experience.

Well if you left them outside of your truck bed, I suppose you could trim the feathers on one side to prevent flight. I was thinking just for transport (IE, catch, zip tie, and put in truck bed). 3 Zip ties would keep them from getting out of the truck bed while you put new ones in, I imagine.

KSALguy · #5 05/30/12, 06:52 PM

the males are easy to catch when they are displaying, just sneak up behind and grab them, the hens you have to corner in a shed or something but its doable, yes they go feral easy, we had a neahbor a mile away that had several and then we got some, our original birds were two young males and three females, all the females left our property and went to the neahbors because their males were more mature, only one hen came back because she was the lowest ranking female over there, so these three that ended up staying at our property became 10 in a few years, dominant males will push young males away and apparently dominant females will push young females away as well, thats how you end up with feral populations all around, but if given the right set up your original birds should stay,

Cannon_Farms · #6 05/30/12, 06:58 PM

I was just thinking I wonder if I could clip wings since I like their call moreso than the appearance but want to hatch eggs to

pancho · #7 05/30/12, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannon_Farms

I was just thinking I wonder if I could clip wings since I like their call moreso than the appearance but want to hatch eggs to

Their call isn't quite the same when it goes on all night long.

hugh · #8 05/30/12, 08:48 PM

For transport cut the toe out of panty house and drop them in. Head out the hole. Adult birds will have to be locked up for months.

Darren · #9 05/30/12, 09:33 PM

I always use a 50 lb feed sack. Cut one of the bottom corners out. Stick the bird into the sack head first. Tie the bag with some twine. I've seen peacocks roost fifty feet up in an oak tree. Good luck with hooking them. I have had luck going out before daylight and waiting below the tree. It always helps to trap them against something. If they don't roost above your reach just grab them by the legs at night. Then control their wings.

CarolT · #10 05/30/12, 09:49 PM

I was wondering how they were going to hook one as high as I've seen them roost. They can jump higher than most chickens can fly (no wings needed) and they can beat the heyhira out of you with those wings. Trimming wings helps but they can still get over a 4' high fence in a jiffy, so you'll need a higher fence to train them where home is.

Love the birds, we have 2. We've _lost_ 4 others... <sigh>

Pony · #11 05/31/12, 10:06 AM

The best way to catch them is with a load of #6s. Wouldn't have them on my place. They will make you crazy, make you crazy, make you crazy.