Peacock rightly considered one of the most beautiful birds that live on our planet. Therefore, many will be very surprised to learn that their closest relatives are ordinary domestic hens. After reading this article, you will understand how a male and a female peacock look like.
Short description
These amazing birds are descended from wild pheasants and chickens. Despite their common ancestors, they are much larger than their relatives. It is interesting that the female peacock, the photo of which will be presented in this article, visually differs from the male in the shape of the tail and color. Her body is covered with a uniform grayish-brown plumage, and the head is decorated with the same crest. The bird has a white abdomen and a greenish neck. This discreet color allows it to perform the main function of hatching eggs. If it had bright plumage, then it would not be difficult for predators to track it in the thickets of vegetation and destroy future offspring.
Where does the peacock female live?
Even babies know the name of this bird, so we will immediately move on to the natural habitat. Wild pavs and peacocks can be found exclusively in Sri Lanka and in India. They try to avoid open areas. Most often, these birds settle in sparse forests and shrubs. From time to time they wander into neighboring agricultural plantations.
Lifestyle
One male needs more than one female peacock, so in the wild they gather in small flocks. They live in hilly, forested areas. In the afternoon they hide in shady thickets. After dusk, peacocks begin to look for overnight in the crowns of trees. In general, their daily routine is characterized by a certain cyclical nature. Every evening, peacocks climb the same tree, where they settle for a night's rest. They try to search for food only in well-known places.
What does a peacock female eat in nature and in captivity?
The basis of the diet of these unpretentious and picky birds are cereals. If necessary, they do not disdain small vertebrates, insects and young herbs.
Despite the fact that the male and female peacock are considered granivorous, a third of their diet can be replaced with wet mashrooms with boiled potatoes. It is recommended to add fresh pre-chopped greens to this mixture, including meadow forbs, nettles, alfalfa and clover. In the winter and spring months, when it is not possible to give the birds green food, grated vegetables, dust or hay flour should be added to the mash.
At normal times, they need to be fed twice a day. However, during the breeding season, the female peacock, the photo of which cannot convey all its beauty, must be provided with three meals a day.
Features of keeping at home
People have been domesticating peacocks since ancient times. In those days, they were a true decoration of the gardens and parks of noble nobles. Today, many of our compatriots are breeding these feathered beauties.
The first thing that needs to be remembered for those who plan to start these birds is that they need a separate cage. They can be aggressive towards other birds and are able to just peck the neighbors living in the neighborhood. To avoid such incidents, each peacock family is advised to provide their own paddock.
Ideally, they should be kept in a spacious aviary, consisting of a foundation and a frame covered with stainless fine mesh. It is desirable that the corral, the height of which should be at least three meters, be combined with a barn-house.
On the floor, it is imperative to pour a ten-centimeter layer of river sand, on top of which small pebbles fall asleep, helping the birds digest solid food. In addition to the enclosure, peacocks need a house, which is a barn with perches and nests.
Breeding and breeding chicks
Individuals considered to have reached the age of three are considered sexually mature. The breeding season of these birds usually falls on the spring and summer months. The ritual of mating is very different from other birds. They perform beautiful mating dances. To win the favor of his girlfriends, the male begins to flaunt his tail in front of them. Each female peacock lays from five to twelve eggs. A month later, babies hatch from them.
Interestingly, peacock chicks, whose body is covered with a grayish fluff, develop much faster than the offspring of other poultry. A week after the birth of the kids, they already begin to fly and lead an active lifestyle. In order for them to develop normally, they need to provide sufficient feed and constant access to clean drinking water.
Young animals can be given the same food as adults. However, it is advisable to add kefir, cottage cheese, boiled eggs and oatmeal to their feeders. Up to six months of age, chicks are recommended to give vitamin top dressing and drugs for coccidosis.