Peafowl Life Cycle

Peafowl are most commonly associated with the male member of the species, the peacock. Peacocks are noted for their large, bright tail feathers. The peafowl is a species of bird. The life cycle of a peafowl follows the pattern of all birds to produce both male and female (peacock and peahen).

Egg

The life cycle of the peafowl begins with the egg. The hen lays her eggs in a clutch over a period of 10 to 12 days and then sits on them to maintain proper temperature and humidity for 26 to 29 days.

Hatchling

The young peachick (baby peafowl of either sex) is born without feathers but immediately able to eat and drink. Birds do not provide nourishment in the form of milk for their babies and all chicks must be able to eat immediately. However, some species of birds feed their babies by regurgitating into their mouths, and some do not. Peafowl do not. As hatchlings, peachicks scratch and peck for small pieces of feed on the ground like adults do and can also eat small bugs and grasses.

Peachick

Peachicks are dependent on their mothers for warmth for the first few weeks until they develop their feathering. As soon as they no longer need their mother for warmth, they become a part of the general flock they were born into, with no more attention from a particular family within the larger group.

Peacocks And Peahens

Although no longer called chicks after one year of age peahens and peacocks do not become sexually mature until about 2 years of age. At that time they mate and produce several clutches of chicks per year.

Environment

Peafowl require a temperate climate year round in order to live free. They can be kept in artificially controlled environments or barns in areas where the winters drop to below freezing.

References

• Peafowl
• Peafowl Hatching Chart