With the Independence Day week around, it is no surprise that everyone is in a flurry over our country. While we revisit the National Flag, a quick look at our National animal and bird. While raising a tiger isn’t a viable pet option, unless you live in a National Park, you could definitely grow your own Peacock.
You’ve probably seen a Peacock, with its beautiful plume. When it comes to beautiful birds, a peacock is definitely a frontrunner with its magnificent tail that it spreads on rainy days. So, if you are looking at having birds as pets, you could consider a peacock. Hold on a second though; don’t rush into the decision until you know more about peacocks apart from their much appreciated beauty. Take a minute to read and learn more about our national bird- the peacock, and whether you could have your own pet peacock. Peacocks aren’t really domesticated birds; they are wild birds that prefer the wilderness as their homes. Of course that does not mean that peacocks can not be raised by you. They are not your typical love birds or parrots.
Size: Forget about small chickens that you’ve watched your neighbours raise as pets. Peacocks are larger than those birds and have an average body size of 35-50 inches. Don’t forget their long tails which are the peacock’s pride and can grow up to 5 feet. Obviously, you must have a large space in your house for your peacock. It would not do to have your peacock caged all the time; rather a large garden would be a wonderful home for your pet peacock, which can prance around freely. It is not a good idea to have your peacock inside your house; because it is not easy to house train peacocks like other pets.
Colours: This is most certainly the greatest attraction of a peacock. They can be found in shades of colours described as peacock blue and green. Whereas the male birds have wondrous colours, the female birds are usually grey or brown in colour. It is the male birds which possess the grand tail while the peahens do not possess the upper tail that the males do. While the body of the peacock tends to be a single colour, it possesses a beautiful tail that will fan out in a beautiful pattern of colours. You must have seen peacock feathers; they are a sight to behold. The peacock with its tail fanned out is also a sight to behold and is proud of its beauty too, as male attract the peahens using their beautiful plumage. There are white peacocks out there too! You probably haven’t heard of them, but they have a genetic mutation which makes them snowy white.
Behaviour: It would do well to remember that peacocks are not accustomed to being pets and it might take some time for them to adjust. However, peacocks are sociable creatures that would not prefer to be alone. Your peacock would prefer it if you had a peahen too. Peahens are gentle and can be handled well if they are raised by you from a young age. Since these birds prefer company, you could even have a flock of peacocks if you can afford the time and attention. With exposure to humans, the birds will get accustomed to you and maybe you could even pet them one day! Initially though, it would do if you kept your interactions to just pacing their food and providing them water.
Food: Peacocks are omnivores, and feeding them isn’t a big hassle. Peacocks could be fed commercial pheasant grains. You could provide them with fresh vegetables like cabbage and even small bits of bread. They would be also feeding themselves with worms or bugs that they might have dug out from the ground. Peacocks could get rid of some creepy crawlies that might be pests for your plants. Of course, you would have to provide them plenty of water too. Make sure the water is replenished regularly.
Predators: There is one thing that you should be really careful about if you are planning to have a peacock as a pet. They have to be guarded against predators that might be lurking around. Even cats are capable of causing serious harm to peacocks and your pet birds might even be killed in the tussle. It is extremely important that your compounds are tall enough that other animals do not spring in and the enclosure that you have for the peacocks must be hardy.
You should also note that Peacocks are good fliers and could escape your garden unless the fences are high enough. It would be horrible to lose your pet peacock just after you have housed it and started looking after it. You will also require a large amount of space when it comes to housing peacocks at your home and guard them against attacks from their predators. If your area is populated by wild cats and other creatures that would love to chase down a bird, it wouldn’t be a very wise option to raise a peacock. Also, ensure that you do not find a peacock’s cry grating or annoying. You will get used to it in some time, but if you never do , your relationship with your pet will definitely suffer.
Remember! Peacocks are majestic birds and it would be a delightful experience to have peacocks in your home. Watching your peacocks dance to signal the onset of rains, is indeed a sight that is enthralling. With its beautiful plumage spread out in iridescent colours, there are few things that are more mesmerizing to watch.