Free-ranging peafowl

[Andrew Swales]

Blue Peafowl comes from dry regions of India where it experiences near-zero temperatures and is domesticated. Green Peafowl is cold-sensitive, aggressive and suspectible to disease. So it is not common in captivity and almost unheard-of as free-ranging. In fact, many Green Peafowl in collections are artificial hybrids with Blue Peafowl, which are said to be tougher.

I wonder about other galliform birds free-running. Besides domestic Guineafowl and Red Junglefowl (probably actually domestic Chicken), anything else? I know that wild Common Pheasants live in some zoos in Europe. Of other pheasants, most commonly kept are Golden, Reeve's, Silver and Lady Armhest which are naturally very skulking birds of dense forest undergrowth. Released in a zoo, they would hide in thickest bushes.

I wonder if Eared Pheasants sp. or Himalayan Monals were ever tried free-ranging? Both are native to semi-open or open habitats and winter-hardy. What about Vulturine Guineafowl or Ocellated Turkeys?

Neither Vulturine Guineafowl nor Ocellated Turkeys are hardy in northern Europe, just like the Green Peafowl.
I kept Silvers and Blue-eared, Blue Peafowl and domestic Guineafowl at liberty in our waterfowl collection around our farm. All were hardy, bold and trouble free.

 

[Zoovolunteer]

I seem to recall Marwell had Grey Junglefowl free ranging at one time

 

[Andrew Swales]

Peafowl is traditionally kept free ranging in my country, that goes for places like zoos, ornamental parks near castles and private gardens. Occasional losses are expected.

Fun fact: Peafowl used to be commonly kept in my country (and some others like Slovakia or east Austria) since at least late middle ages, not only by rich families, but also by vilage farmers. They were like chicken or geese, they were kept for meat and for feathers. The most prized part of the tail feather was not that nice colourful end, but the quill. The quill would be cut into 4-6 long strips and used to embroid traditional belts and other clothing pieces made from leather. Later on, around beginning of 19th century, with spread of turkeys and generel change of agriculture production, breeding of peafowl in villages disappeared and it survived only at rich estates for ornamental purposes.

Yes, there is the same history in England. A local farmer two villages from us still has Peafowl at liberty, the birds seem to to stay within a mile or so of the farm and feed in the fields. Years ago, my ex-wife's Grandmother had them free-ranging around her home in south Devon. They bred routinely more than keeping up their numbers and birds were routinely used for the table. We ate them on most family visits to her. Blue Peahens do not sit tightly during incubation and are very vulnerable to fox predation when nesting. This is often the reason for failure to establish.

 

[FBBird]

I seem to recall Marwell had Grey Junglefowl free ranging at one time

Sure they weren't Red Junglefowl?

 

[Andrew Swales]

Free ranging Blue Peafowl are common. They cannot be prevented from flying into predators' exhibits, and sometime don't make it out again.
Congo Peafowl are too rare and too specific in their requirements, ever to be considered for free range. Green Peafowl are not cold hardy, and the males can become aggressive.

Blue cocks can be aggressive too. The Blues I had privately came from Lilford Park in the 1980s when they cleared out their free-ranging stock as the males had started attacking young visitors. The habit started when children were allowed to chase the peacocks trying to tread on their 'tail' feathers to pull them out. The males could hardly be blamed for fighting back, but they developed the nasty habit of jumping into the air and kicking backwards hitting the child in the face. An unrelated issue is that they will also often fight with their reflections in the sides of dark-coloured, shiny cars which have a mirror effect. Not popular...

Peacocks were not the most famous liberty birds kept at Lilford of course as in addition to a pair of Lammergiers kept at liberty in the grounds of the hall by the 4th Baron, with the Kiwis and the Pink-headed Ducks were kept in closer confinement - the Little Owl was established as a wild species in the UK.

 

[Echobeast]

Predation of peafowl definitely happens more commonly than people think. Wild predators are probably the main issue depending on the zoo's location. Females will nest on the ground and are very susceptible to attacks from coyotes, bobcats, cougars, and other native predators. They're basically colorful turkeys.

 

[Tiger]

In Belgium there are several zoos with free-living peafowls, like in Pakawi Park and Pairi Daiza. In Pairi Daiza, these are a great, colorful and above all beautiful addition to the already beautiful Kingdom of Ganesha area. There are even white peacocks living in the park. In the Netherlands this idea does'nt seem as popular, because in the 4 zoos in the Netherlands I've been to (good for about 5 visits) I've never seen free-living peafowls.

 

[MRJ]

Blue Peafowl comes from dry regions of India where it experiences near-zero temperatures and is domesticated. Green Peafowl is cold-sensitive, aggressive and suspectible to disease. So it is not common in captivity and almost unheard-of as free-ranging. In fact, many Green Peafowl in collections are artificial hybrids with Blue Peafowl, which are said to be tougher.

I wonder about other galliform birds free-running. Besides domestic Guineafowl and Red Junglefowl (probably actually domestic Chicken), anything else? I know that wild Common Pheasants live in some zoos in Europe. Of other pheasants, most commonly kept are Golden, Reeve's, Silver and Lady Armhest which are naturally very skulking birds of dense forest undergrowth. Released in a zoo, they would hide in thickest bushes.

I wonder if Eared Pheasants sp. or Himalayan Monals were ever tried free-ranging? Both are native to semi-open or open habitats and winter-hardy. What about Vulturine Guineafowl or Ocellated Turkeys?

This is a reasonably old post but I only just came across it. I have heard golden pheasants being displayed by placing a female in a pen and having several males at liberty. They spend their time around the pen displaying and challenging each other. Quite a display. Ideally the pen is hidden from visitors by bushes. It could work for other pheasant species as well, I guess.

 

[Jambi]

I've seen a few free-roaming Peafowl at zoos, bit whether or not it's still common practice I don't know. They're a nice thing to have, I certainly enjoy seeing them.

 

[elefante]

Blue Peafowl comes from dry regions of India where it experiences near-zero temperatures and is domesticated. Green Peafowl is cold-sensitive, aggressive and suspectible to disease. So it is not common in captivity and almost unheard-of as free-ranging. In fact, many Green Peafowl in collections are artificial hybrids with Blue Peafowl, which are said to be tougher.

I wonder about other galliform birds free-running. Besides domestic Guineafowl and Red Junglefowl (probably actually domestic Chicken), anything else? I know that wild Common Pheasants live in some zoos in Europe. Of other pheasants, most commonly kept are Golden, Reeve's, Silver and Lady Armhest which are naturally very skulking birds of dense forest undergrowth. Released in a zoo, they would hide in thickest bushes.

I wonder if Eared Pheasants sp. or Himalayan Monals were ever tried free-ranging? Both are native to semi-open or open habitats and winter-hardy. What about Vulturine Guineafowl or Ocellated Turkeys?

I have seen wild turkeys (whether they were actually wild or part of the zoo's collection I'm not sure) in Omaha and red junglefowl in the Hogle Zoo. I think free ranging birds add a nice touch to zoos. I heard of a case where a gorilla killed a peacock in the Hogle Zoo. They are not the brightest crayons in the box. It would be neat to see free ranging pheasants.

 

[birdsandbats]

I have seen wild turkeys (whether they were actually wild or part of the zoo's collection I'm not sure) in Omaha and red junglefowl in the Hogle Zoo. I think free ranging birds add a nice touch to zoos. I heard of a case where a gorilla killed a peacock in the Hogle Zoo. They are not the brightest crayons in the box. It would be neat to see free ranging pheasants.

The turkeys at Omaha would have been wild.

 

[Zoofan15]

Alma Park Zoo in Queensland (closed 2014) had hundreds on my last visit and tbh, they were just a nuisance. The noise was enough to drive anyone mad and the mess was something else.

Hamilton Zoo used to have three males, but have recently acquired peahens and bred them according to their social media. I don’t know if their intention is to build up numbers, but hopefully not.

 

[OkapiFan]

The Greensboro Science Center has free ranging peafowl.