We take our peafowl breeding and raising very seriously and hope to pass on information that will have your

birds growing healthy and stable. I cannot tell you what is best. I can only tell you : what we do, what we feed and the antibiotics we use. Each peafowl breeder has his own methods.

I feed my chicks Purina turkey starter (crumbles) 30 percent protein. At approximately 12 weeks of age, I put them on Bluebonnet 24% Super Bird (pellets, a new feed custom made for me). This year, I am feeding Bluebonnet 24% Super Bird to all of my breeders. This feed has additional vitamins and minerals and can be fed to all ages of birds.

I do feed all birds cracked corn and rice on the side, especially in the winter months. At one time, I prepare my own mixture of dehydrated peanuts, parboiled rice and Bluebonnet feed to economize my feed bill. However, you must be sure to keep the protein properly balanced.

My birds grow off good and are healthy. The few problems, I do have are usually brought on by mother nature and are easily remedied with practical treatments and medicines.

For wormer-I take all the feed away for one day and then feed a pig wormer pellet for three days. I do this every thirty days.

February the 1st, I put 1/2 cc pancure on bread, down the throat of my birds. Then I do not worm again until after the breeding season. Then I worm again with pancure for the first time and then go back to the pig wormer pellet every thirty days.

For a sick bird, I use Tylan 200. I give 1/2 cc under the skin on the back of the neck and quarantine the bird. If that does not cure the problem, I wait four days and repeat the medication.

My wife believes firmly in Vitamin E. She will give our sick birds, 5 capsules of 1000 IU Vitamin E the first day, four the next, three the next, etc. I have seen badly sick birds down and they get up and go with this simple application.

Peafowl chicks are MORE DELICATE than chickens. They must be kept warm...96 degrees for the first ten days, 92 degrees for the next ten days, 90 degrees for the next ten and then, no heat is required.

Watch your chicks to be sure they start eating. You can hold food up and slowly drop food in front of them until you get their interest. Some people put baby chickens in with the peafowl because the chickens will eat right away. This is in hopes that they will gain example from the chickens as they are instinctively smarter than the peafowl. To get them to drink, you can put a shiny spoon or other object and they will peck at it and realize where the water is. These are a few of the tricks used to get your chicks off and running quickly after birth.

We feed 30% Turkey starter, crumbles (medicated). At twelve weeks of age, I put them on Turkey grower pellets (also, medicated).

If you see a chick not doing well, Try the Vitamin E by putting a hole in the end and squeezing a couple of drops in the chicks mouth for three days. You can get the Vitamin E at any department store. I recommend the 1000 IU (I use the Wal-mart brand).

We hope this is of some help to you. We all learn each day in the peafowl business and We am willing to share any information we acquire. Be sure and send us any techniques we can pass along by email or snail mail to the contact information an the contact page.

Thanks for your interest,
Bill and Monte Haney
BIG TEX RANCH