Peacocks are among the most beautiful birds that anyone would want to have a glimpse at. But how long do peacocks live?
Peafowl can live in captivity for up to 20 years. Some records have indicated that the Indian peacocks can live for up to 30 years. However, the average lifespan for all peacocks varieties is 15 years. Keep reading to learn more.
How Can You Tell The Age of A Peacock?
It may not be easy for one to tell how old a peacock is. However, you can look at the eye feathers to give you a general idea of how old a peacock is.
Here is a timeline of feather development to help you understand how old a peacock is:
Up to 1 year old
Young peacocks aged one year and below do not have any eye tail feathers.
Between one and two years old
Peacocks aged between one and two years usually have a few eye tail feathers. The feathers will not be enough to form a full display.
Between two and three years old
Generally, a 3-year-old peacock will have a full set of eye tail feathers. The peacock will also be able to fan out the tail feathers and display.
Once peacocks have fully developed their feathers, it can be hard for one to tell their age from that point onwards. They hardly show any signs of aging. Therefore, unless you brand them, it can be nearly impossible to tell their age.
Peahens, on the other hand, are a different story from the beginning. Once they are mature enough, it is nearly not possible to age correctly based on their feathers.
If you are adopting a fully grown peacock, it could be hard for you to know their age unless the seller provides you with written documentation about their age.
Do Peacocks Make Good Pets?
According to most bird enthusiasts, peacocks are great pets. However, this does not mean that they are easy and for anyone to keep.
It is easy for one to be allured by the magnificent appearance of a peacock, but without commitment, the right, and knowledge, raising them can be a bit challenging.
Benefits of Raising Peafowl
Raising peacocks at home comes with some fun and unique possibilities. Here are some of the pros, according to most peafowl owners.
Loads of Fun
One of the main reasons why most people keep any pets or animals is because it is fun keeping them. Peacocks are interesting exotic birds that you can keep in your backyard.
If you are a bird enthusiast looking for something interesting to add to your backyard flock, then a peacock is one of the best options for you.
Community
There is a passionate family of peacock owners. If you get involved in it, you will find the knowledge and tips you require in order to get the best out of your peacock.
Source of Income
Peacock owners end up selling feathers and eggs from their party of peacocks, thus making an income.
There are several patterns that are well known and iconic than the eye in the feathers of a peacock. They are usually in high demand.
Potential Challenges Associated With Raising Peacocks
Like other animals, raising peacocks come with different challenges. Here are some of the main issues that you must be aware of before keeping peafowl on residential or commercial properties.
Noise
Peacocks are noisy birds, especially during the mating season. It is important to check the local ordnance laws regarding keeping peacocks. The laws vary from one place to another depending on your type of property and where you live.
Wandering
Peacocks are more prone to roaming away from home as compared to other domestic birds such as chickens and ducks. If you have a large piece of land and you are your peacocks to roam freely, they will more likely escape and move to other people’s land.
Damage
One of the main challenges that come with raising peacocks is their tendency to damage personal property.
They are known for jumping and standing on cars and can cause deep scratching. In addition, they scratch around and dig up plants in search of bugs to eat.
Therefore, if you are planning to keep peacocks, you should have a chat with your neighbors and check with your local office to avoid being on the wrong side of the law.
How Many Peacocks Should You Keep Together?
Peacocks are generally social creatures. They enjoy being together and being raised in a flock. It is important to note that the correct collective term for a group of peafowl is “muster” or “ostentation.”
There have various opinions about the correct number of peacocks that one should keep. Many keepers say that two peahens are the absolute minimum. Most of them agree that the correct number of peafowl to raise is 3-4.
If you are considering including a male peafowl, then the correct number is one peacock for every four peahens. Raising more than that will result in various challenges such as having issues over territory and fighting.
Space is an important factor to consider before deciding on the number of peacocks to keep. Therefore, if you are keeping several of them, you must ensure that you have enough space to allow them to roam around freely.
Why Do Some Peacocks Live Longer Than Others?
Have you been asking yourself why some peacocks live longer than others? Here are some of the reasons why.
Peacock Nutrition
Like other domestic birds, peacocks tend to eat almost everything they come across. They are healthiest with solid nutrition that has a lot of grains, protein, chicken feed, seeds, green vegetables, grubs, worms, and bugs.
Environment and Conditions
In the wild, peafowls live in groups of about ten individuals. They get along well with others as well as other fowl like turkeys and chickens in a captive environment.
Since they do well in communal relationships, you should avoid keeping them alone. Male peafowls can be very territorial. Therefore, you keep only one male and a bunch of peahens.
Peacock Shelter
Peacocks love roaming around and will require enough space to do so. They can do well in rural settings.
With fencing and pens, they should have plenty of space to roam and avoid physical injury or the stress of overcrowding. It is important to note that peacocks should not be enclosed in a shelter all the time.
Size of the Peacock
The mass of a bird has an impact on its lifespan. Smaller species tend to live longer than large species such as peacocks. The expected lifespan of peafowl is extended in captivity.
Peacock Healthcare
A peacock will be healthy and strong if it gets regular veterinary care. Captive peafowl should be wormed frequently and treated for coccidia. They may also be prone to bacterial infections, mites, histomoniasis, and lice.
Peacock Threats
Peacocks may be threatened in the wild because of poaching, hunting, predation, and smuggling. Because of their beauty, many people take them from the wild for the entertainment industry as well as the pet trade.
For instance, the poaching of peafowls for their feathers is one of the main reasons for their decline in population.
Summary
There are several factors that determine the lifespan of a peacock. Some of them include healthcare, shelter, and nutrition. Under good conditions, a peacock can live for 10 to 20 years.
You should always check if raising a peacock within your locality is allowed before you can take one home.
