Peacock

The body length of adult peacocks reaches 130 cm. Their tail is small - up to 50 cm, and what is commonly called a tail is actually a gorgeous upper tail - up to 160 cm long with an "eye" pattern. The weight of males is in the range of 4-5 kg.In addition to the beautiful upper tail, peacocks are also characterised by bright plumage in blue, emerald and brown tones. Females of the common peacock look much more modest than males, but the green peacock does not have sexual dimorphism.

Origin and domestication of the peacock

Peacocks, due to their beautiful appearance, have been bred by humans since ancient times. The domestication of this bird can be challenged by several countries at once. For example, some sources attribute the first domestic peacocks to India, where the bird is sacred and often appears in images with the Buddha. In 1963, the peacock was even recognised as the national bird of India.However, the peacock is also found in the mythology of Ancient Greece, as a favourite bird of the goddess Hera. The Greeks kept male peacocks as a symbol of power and wealth. At the same time, the much more practical Romans bred peacocks for the purpose of eating their meat. According to historical data, there were times when there were even more peacocks in Rome than quails. From Ancient Rome, peacocks spread to the European continent. In the early Christians, birds were considered a symbol of Christ's resurrection.In the 19th century, peacocks were brought by man to North and South America. Some species of ferals are still found in nature today.

Classification of peacocks

Classification of peacocks photoIn total, there are two main species in the genus of peacocks - the common or Indian peacock and the green peacock. All other existing subspecies belong to one of them according to the main classification.

Popular peacock breeds

Common peacock

The length of the bird's body is from 100 to 125 cm, the tail reaches 50 cm in length, and its elongated feathers of the upper tail decorated with characteristic "eyes" are up to 160 cm. The weight of an adult male is about 4 kg. The male is distinguished by very developed upper covert feathers, which are commonly called the peacock's tail. The female is usually smaller in size, much more modestly coloured and does not have a chic upper tail.The peacock lives about 20 years.The habitat of the species includes countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. Birds choose to live at altitudes up to 2000 m above sea level, forests and jungles, as well as places near human habitation.

Green peacock

The body length of the male is from 180 to 300 cm, the wings reach 55 cm in length, the tail is up to 45 cm, the upper tail is from 140 to 160 cm. The weight of an adult male is about 5 kg. The head is decorated with a lush crest. Bluish-grey stripes are visible around the eyes. The feathers on the lower part of the neck are coloured green with a golden border and a scaly pattern. The chest and back are bluish-green with bright yellow and red spots. Below, this colour smoothly turns into copper-bronze with brown spots. The plumage on the wings and shoulders is dark green with black and grey streaks. Females do not differ from males in the nature of the plumage colour, but they are smaller in size.In the wild, the species is distributed at altitudes up to 900 m on the island of Java, in Indochina, in southern China. In captivity, it is bred everywhere, but nevertheless it is endangered, since the population of the green peacock is very small compared to the common one.

Keeping at home

Peacocks quickly get used to people and, thanks to their calm nature, feel good in captivity. To keep them, a fenced aviary and a poultry house are equipped. The size of the poultry house is determined based on the minimum area per bird - 2 m by 3 m. I pour a layer of dry lime on top of the straw to avoid dampness. Perches for peacocks are made at a distance of 1 meter from the walls and at least 1.5 meters from the floor and ceiling. This is necessary so that the peacock, being on the roost or jumping off it, does not damage its tail feathers. Nests are made from baskets or boxes, in which sawdust and straw are poured.