Peacocks are amazing birds with big, colorful tails. They are not just fancy or exotic, but also common in some places. They are like chickens in their habits and easy to care for. They have special calls and move gracefully, captivating everyone who sees them. But how long do peacocks live? Do they have long lives like their appearance suggests, or do they die young?
How Long do Peacocks Live?
Peacocks, also known as Peafowl, can live up to 20 years. In the wild, male peacocks usually live longer than females. Males live to be around 10 to 15 years old, while females live to about 10 years. In captivity, some say peafowl can live over 30, 40, or even 50 years! In captivity, peafowl rarely live past 20 years, although it can happen.
How Long do Peacocks Live in Captivity?
Domestic peacocks live longer than wild ones, with some reaching 40 or even 50 years. Proper care and feeding help them live to at least 30 years. Regular check-ups and care can help them live even longer, without the threat of predators. Keeping peafowl as pets has become more popular worldwide, but it can be challenging.
Peafowl needs a lot of space to roam and find food. They should be fed twice a day at least. Peacocks can fly and prefer sleeping in trees at night in groups. They can be aggressive and like to be in charge, but they can also get along with chickens and ducks.
Peafowl are social birds and need to be in groups. They like to be together to eat and sleep. If you want to keep peafowl, start with a group of at least six, with only one male peacock.
How Long do Peacocks Live in the Wild?
In the wild, it’s difficult to know exactly how long do peacocks live. Peafowls in the wild usually live for 10 to 15 years. They are strong birds that can protect themselves from small predators. Peacocks are at risk from larger animals like lions, tigers, leopards, wolves, mongooses, and wild dogs. Young peafowl, called peachicks, have a high chance of dying, with a mortality rate of 50% or more in the wild and in captivity.
What is the Average Lifespan of a Peacock?
Peacocks can live over 15 years. They are large birds with few predators in some areas and more in others. Peafowl are well-known in popular culture but not studied much.
Peacock Life Cycle
Peafowl have a slow lifecycle. Eggs hatch in about 28 to 30 days. Baby peacocks are born fluffy and can walk and eat quickly. The mother peahen guides her baby peacocks and shows them what to eat by pecking on food. The peachicks become independent after 5 to 6 months.
In the wild, peahens fiercely protect their chicks, but captive peahens may not be as nurturing. Baby Peacocks reach full maturity in about 3 years, with male peacocks developing their adult plumage by then.
- Incubation Time: 27 to 30 days
- Sexual Maturity: 2.5 to 3 years
- Lifespan: 15 to 20 years
Factors That Influence a Peacock Lifespan
Here are the few factors that affect peacock life span:
- Balanced diet for a long life.
- Shelter to keep them safe from harsh weather and predators.
- Regular visits to the vet to keep them healthy.
- Enough space to move around helps them to stay happy and healthy .
How Many Peacocks Should I Keep in Captivity?
It’s ideal to have one male peacock for every 6 to 7 peahens to prevent conflicts. If you have more than one male, ensure they have enough space and females to avoid fighting.
Peafowl are social animals that live together and do activities as a group in the wild. To keep them happy and healthy, try to replicate their natural habitat.
How can You Tell the Peacock Age?
Finding the age of peacocks can be tricky.
1 Year Old
When baby peacocks hatch, they are taken care of by their mothers for about 2 months. By the time they are 2 months old, they have grown feathers and can mostly take care of themselves. They are mostly brown, and it is difficult to distinguish between male and female until they start growing adult feathers.
At nine weeks, they have a pale head, small crest, and light brown and yellow-white feathers.
When a peacock is a year old, its tail feathers start to grow longer. They will still be mostly brown and will not have colorful eye feathers yet.
1 to 3 Year Old
Peacocks aged 1 to 3 years look different. Most peacocks are full-grown by 24 months. They develop eye patterns on their feathers between 1 and 2 years, with more feathers by age 3. Some peacocks may have underdeveloped feathers at 2 years old. Typically, a few eye feathers mean they are about 2 years old.
By 3 years old, they have full adult feathers, and we can distinguish between male and female peacocks.
3 Years & Older
When peacocks are 3 years old their tail feathers are fully grown. After this point, it’s hard to figure out a peacock’s exact age. Once they are fully grown, it’s almost impossible to guess their age just by looking at them.
How do Most Peacocks Die?
Mostly baby peacocks die. Peachicks have a high chance of dying, about 50%, and are very weak until they are a few months old. Even when kept in captivity, many baby peacocks still die. This happens because adult peahens, the mother peafowl, may not take good care of all the chicks.
Baby peafowl are at risk of being attacked by other peafowl, getting sick, starving, or being eaten by predators. When peafowl grow up, they are at risk of getting sick, especially when kept on a farm. They can get diseases like avian flu, fowl pox, mycoplasma, laryngotracheitis, and parasites.
In the wild, peafowl are hunted by predators like lions, tigers, wild dogs, wolves, and leopards. Baby peafowl are hunted by smaller predators and birds like eagles and owls.
Where do Peacocks Live?
Peacocks are found in zoos and backyards around the world. Phoenicians brought peafowl from India to Syria and Egypt about 3,000 years ago. They were brought to Europe (Greece) by Alexander the Great in 323 BC.
In the wild, peafowl are in Southern Asia, mainly in India, Sri Lanka, and the Congo Basin in Africa. The male peacock most people know is the Indian Blue Peafowl, also called the Blue Peacock, found in India, parts of Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
The Green Peacock lives in Southeast Asia from Java to Myanmar and southern China but is endangered due to habitat loss, poaching, and illegal sales.
Where do Peacocks Live in the Wild?
Peacocks are native to Sri Lanka and India, where they are the national bird. They live in forests near streams and around temples. In the wild, peacocks live in lowland forests, staying together during the day and roosting in trees at night.
What do Peacocks Eat and drink?
Peacocks are omnivorous and eat a variety of things like insects, small animals, and plants. Peacocks, like other birds drink water. People who have peacocks as pets often give them cat food as a treat, but it’s not the healthiest option.
It’s better to feed them fresh vegetables like spinach and kale, along with corn meal. They can also find natural foods like insects to eat. Pet peafowl need fewer calories than wild peafowl because wild peafowl move around a lot to find food and burn off the calories they eat.
In the wild, peacocks face threats from big predators like lions, tigers, wild dogs, wolves, and leopards. Peafowls are large birds with strong claws and a powerful beak. They can easily defeat small predators like snakes and rodents.
Are Peacocks Dangerous
Peacocks are beautiful birds with colorful feathers and a proud attitude. They can become aggressive if they feel scared or threatened. It’s important to be careful around them and remember that they are not tame animals. Keeping a safe distance when observing peacocks in the wild is crucial to avoid any potential harm.
FAQs – How Long Do Peacocks Live
How Long can Peacocks Live Without Food?
Peafowl must be eaten every day to stay healthy. They eat protein-rich gamebird mixed with leafy greens and fruit to match their big appetites. Male peafowl need extra protein for their colorful feathers.
Peafowl in captivity should be fed twice daily to stay healthy.
How Old is the Oldest Peacock?
The exact age of the oldest peacock is unknown. Some rumors say that peacocks can be 50-year-old. Captive peafowl have been reported to live up to 30 or 40 years.
Can Peacocks Survive Winter?
Peacocks live in warm areas in the wild, but they can also live in colder places and are kept as pets in Europe. Peacocks can handle freezing weather well. They need good quality food to stay warm because they burn more calories.
How Much is a Peacock Bird cost?
The adult peacock cost up to $500 or more. Rare color & hybrid Peacocks are even more expensive, up to $1,000 to $1,500. The price is based on factors like age, breed, and location.
Do Peacocks Mate for Life?
Peafowls, also known as peacocks, do not usually mate for life. They are polygamous, which means a male peacock mates with many female peacocks during the mating season.
Can Peacocks Fly?
Peacocks are large birds that can’t fly far. They usually fly short distances, up to 120 meters. They jump from high places to fly further.
Can Peacock Survive Alone?
Peacocks can survive alone but do well in groups. In the wild, they live in flocks of up to 20 birds. If you have peafowl as pets, it’s best to have at least two to keep them from feeling lonely or sad.