When we are planning the breeding season we always need to start early with the Java Peacocks. Breeding Java Peacocks is harder thn the other breeds. The Java as a breed are more flighty and easier to upset, they also take longer to settle into breeding groups. To ensure a successful breeding season we like to get the Java pen set up in November / December time. This gives the birds longer to get used to their breeding group and to settle in.

The Java peacock is the largest of the peafowl family with male birds their tails can grow to two meters. The male is 1.8–3 m in total length, but this does include its tail covert (or “train”). The tail coverts are longer than those of the male Indian peafowl. The adult female is around half the total length of the breeding male. Both sexes look very similar with both the males and hens having green scaly neck and breast feathers. Java peahens like to lay their eggs on the ground and in the wild will lay two clutches per year.

Planning for Success

In the past we have had limited success with breeding Java peafowl. We would have the eggs, but then they would fail to hatch. Java peafowl are early layers and we consequently increase the protein in their diet earlier than the other peafowl breeds. In January the birds go onto Game Breeder feed with added protein from cat biscuits. The birds are also wormed earlier than the rest of the flock. It is so important to get the Java peafowl into peak physical condition prior to the breeding season. The healthier the peafowl are the better quality the health of the chicks will be.

Java peafowl are polygynous and operate in harems. The males are also solitary and very territorial. Although in captivity they have been observed as being monogamous.

This year instead of hatching Java eggs in the incubator we will be using natures method and hatching them under peahens to see if this improves the hatch rates.

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