In this article, we will explore, What do peacocks eat? Peacocks are opportunistic omnivores. They tend to eat all kinds of different foods such as berries, grains, leaves, grasses, and insects.
Like most other birds, they are specially adapted for a plant-heavy diet. Their digestive system has a gizzard that helps them to break down food. Keep reading to learn more.
Common Foods That Peacocks Eat
As stated earlier, peacocks are omnivores because they can eat any kind of food, such as vegetation or meat. However, they are usually happy with an easy diet. They move from one place to another in the wild, looking for something to eat.
Here are some of the common foods that peacocks eat.
Insects
Insects are among the favorite foods for peacocks. They are not fussy creatures and will feed on a wide range of insects. Here are the common insects that you will find these pretty birds looking for:
- Crickets
- Ants
- Centipedes
- Millipedes
- Locusts
- Termites
- Scorpions
- Mice.
Vegetables and Fruits
Nearly all birds feed on different kinds of fruits and vegetables. Peacocks are not an exception. In captivity or the wild, they will eat green lots of green vegetables and fruits.
They prefer consuming herbs, seeds, and some flowers. Here is a list of vegetables and fruits that you will find them eating.
- Watermelon
- Pineapple core
- Cabbage
- Green grass
- Papaya
- Green seeds
- Flower petals
- Leafy greens
- Carrot tops
- Celery
- Bananas
Legumes
Peacocks feed on a wide variety of legumes. The most common legumes eaten by peafowls are beans, peas, and peanuts.
Berries
Peacocks like eating berries. They will also eat insects that assemble around the ripe berries. They usually consume grapes, raspberries, and blackberries as a whole. If you are keeping peacocks at home, you can try giving them this delicious food.
Amphibians and Reptiles
This might sound strange to some, but yes, peacocks do eat amphibians and reptiles. You will find them eating small amphibians such as toads, frogs, newts, and salamanders. Some of the reptiles that peacocks eat are snakes and lizards.
Grains
Peacocks enjoy eating a wide variety of grains. However, they are more fond of wheat and corn. They will also eat oats and other grains that they might find in bowls of other pets or in crops.
Pet Feed
Peacocks can sometimes be annoying when around pet bowls. They love eating pet kibble food, and most keepers may find this challenging.
Since they do not have larger mouths, they can easily gobble down tasty foods such as a cat or dog kibble.
What Should You Avoid Giving Your Peacock?
As seen above, peacocks feed on a wide range of foods. However, there are some foods that you should avoid giving your peacock as they can be very harmful and even lead to death.
In general, peacocks should not be fed on most foods that have been processed for human consumption. Most processed foods have various components such as sugar, preservatives, colorants, wheat, and other ingredients that may not be healthy for peafowl.
In addition, most of these foods have a low nutritional value. Therefore, they should be kept away from peacocks as they can affect their fragile digestive system.
Here is a list of some of the foods that you should avoid giving your peacock:
- Chocolate
- Chips
- Bread
- Processed meat
- Candy
- Dairy
- Cheese
Feeding Peacocks as Pets
The normal diet of captive peafowl should tend to mimic their wild diet. It should also include as much variety as possible.
Unlike most other birds, peacocks should not be fed on seeds and grains only. They will require more nutrients provided by amphibians, insects, and reptiles.
If your peafowl is free-ranging within your yard, they will have an opportunity to access a wide variety of nutritious and tasty insects and even some rodents, lizards, and frogs. However, this is not always the case.
You will also have to offer them supplemental insects just to be sure that they get the required amount of protein.
Peacocks also require commercial food that has been specially formulated for the species. You can give them a diet formulated for pheasants and turkeys if you are finding it difficult to source peacock food.
Their overall diet should include about a third of these commercial feeds, especially during the winter season.
What Does Baby Peacocks Eat?
A baby peafowl is known as a peachick. They are usually timid when still young. If you have some, you should ensure that they learn to forage on their own when they are about four days old.
During the first two days, peachicks survive on the nutrients they receive when they absorb the yolk sacks before hatching.
At this time, the mother will stay closer to their side and even help them to find different types of food such as grains, berries, seeds, and insects.
During the first few days, you can also offer them different types of food to boost their immunity and growth.
Such foods include chopped leafy greens, cooled and cooked vegetables, small insects, chopped fruits, grain meals, and hard-boiled eggs.
How Much Can Peacocks Eat?
Peacocks spend most of their time feeding on natural plant life. You should provide them with a regular supply of clean water.
They will also require a daily supply of a variety of foods. Most pet owners keep their peacocks healthy by supplementing them with con and a handful of pellet feeds.
How Often Do Peacocks Eat?
Peacocks love to eat and can eat the whole day. They will spend most of their time looking for insects and various types of foods. Most owners prefer giving them one supplementary meal in the afternoon and in the morning.
Can a Peacock Eat Snakes?
Yes, peacocks can attack and even eat snakes. Generally, they are fast creatures and will avoid any snake bite. However, they mainly focus on small snakes and will avoid an encounter with a larger snake.
Do Peacocks Eat Meat?
Peacocks are omnivores and can feed on meat too. They catch amphibians, lizards, and even small animals like rodents. They require proteins for general body development and to stay healthy.
Do Peacocks Eat Fish?
Yes, peacocks can eat fish. They can use their senses and speed to locate and catch fish in shallow waters. However, this is not a common source of food for peafowl.
Do Peacocks Eat Bread?
Generally, bread is not bad for birds. Peacocks are fond of grains and will eat bread if they come across one. However, you should be cautious with this as too much bread can be harmful to your beautiful bird.
What Do Peacocks Drink?
Like other birds, peacocks need to drink water. Birds that consume large amounts of insects and other water-rich foods do not need to drink a lot of water.
You should avoid giving your peacock processed drinks such as juices as they contain chemicals that can be harmful.
Conclusion
Peacocks are opportunistic foragers that tend to eat nearly everything they come across in the wild. They are not picky eaters and will eat a wide variety of things such as insects, rodents, fruits, vegetables, grains, frogs, and snakes.
You should avoid giving them processed foods with chemicals such as cakes, chips, and juices.
