Peacock birds are admired for their appearance and colorful feathers. Have you ever wondered what they eat to stay beautiful?  

In this guide we will explore what do peacocks eat to stay healthy and beautiful. We look at Peacock food habits and answer common questions about Peacock food needs.  

What Do Peacocks Eat? 

Peacocks are omnivores, so they eat both meat and plants. They need a diet high in protein to keep their feathers healthy and they usually have big appetites. They are not picky eaters and will consume almost anything. 

Peafowls primary source of nutrition comes from vegetation, especially when they are not breeding. 

In the wild, Peacocks eat fruits, berries, grains, small animals, reptiles, and insects like ants, crickets, and scorpions. They also eat seeds, grass, plants, and flowers. They look for food in fields, meadows, and forests. They are opportunistic feeders, which means they eat whatever they find around them. 

In captivity, they eat commercial poultry feed, fruits, and vegetables. 

What Do Indian Peacocks Eat? 

Indian peacocks are omnivorous, so they eat worms, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and plants like roots, fruits, grains, nuts, and flowers. 

The Indian peacock is found in India and Sri Lanka, but can also be seen in Pakistan, Java, Ceylon, Malaya, and Burma. They live in savannahs, grasslands, mountains, and rainforests. 

What Do Green Peacocks Eat? 

Green peacocks are also omnivorous. They eat insects, plants, seeds, shoots, reptiles, and worms. Green peacocks are mainly found in Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Indonesia. They inhabit forests, savannahs, grasslands, shrublands, and on land. 

What Do Congo Peacocks Eat? 

The Congo peafowl are omnivorous, and they eat fruits from trees, insects, spiders, mollusks, worms, and other small creatures in its habitat.  

The Congo peafowl lives only in the Central Congolian lowland forests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It lives in forests near slopes and watersheds. 

What is Peacock Favourite Food? 

Peacocks need a diverse and high-quality diet because they are big birds with specific dietary needs. They like to eat legumes and vegetables such as beans, peas, and leafy greens. 

What Do Wild Peacocks Eat? 

Peacocks use their strong beaks to hunt small animals like lizards, snakes, and rodents. They also eat bugs like centipedes, millipedes, and scorpions, as well as berries, seeds, grains, plants, and flower petals. 

They eat a diet high in protein, mainly from insects. They are not afraid to hunt small snakes, rodents, bugs, and frogs for food. 

What Do Baby Peacocks Eat? 

Baby peacocks, also known as peachicks, are cared for by their mothers until they can find food on their own. Baby peacocks are like other baby birds in their family. They start looking for food on their own shortly after they hatch, but they stay close to their mother.  

Peachicks eat by picking up food from the ground as they walk around. It takes over 2 years for them to become mature. It also takes about 3 years for peachick feathers to fully grow. They prefer softer foods while they are young and avoid eating snakes, lizards, and big insects until they are bigger. They mainly eat small seeds, insects, and berries. 

Domesticated baby peacocks are easy to raise but need proper care. They need a lot of protein in their diet for the first 3 months. In the wild, they get protein from insects, but on a farm, they may not find enough. Peacock owners usually give them commercial gamebird food to make up for the lack of protein in their diet. 

How Much Should you Feed Peacocks? 

The amount of food for peafowl depends on how old, big, and active they are. Adult peafowl usually need 1/4 to 1/2 cup of poultry feed each day, along with fruits and veggies. 

When Do Peacocks Eat? 

Peacocks are diurnal feeders. This means peacocks search for food on the ground during the day.  

How Do Peacocks Hunt? 

Peacocks hunt using their sharp vision and hearing. They search for fish, insects, reptiles, and amphibians. When they see their prey, they catch it with their beaks and eat it. They usually find food on the ground, but sometimes peacocks fly up to get a better view of an area. Their keen eyesight helps them spot prey far away. Once they see their prey, they fly down to ambush and eat it.  

What Do Peacocks Drink? 

Peacocks also drink water like other birds. They need their own clean water supply because they are large birds and won’t stay hydrated enough from their food. 

Insects 

Peafowl really like to eat insects. Peacocks will eat ants, flying insects, grubs, and other bugs. They also eat spiders and look for worms and small creatures by scratching the soil. 

Amphibians & Reptiles 

Peacocks eat lizards, frogs, snails, and slugs because they are high in protein. They also like to eat flowers, but not because they enjoy them. Peacocks tear apart flowers to find snails and insects that live on them.  

Peafowl like to eat vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, kale, and carrots. 

Fruits 

Peacocks eat fruits like bananas, apples, berries, and grapes. These fruits have vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that make peacocks live longer and healthier.  

Peacocks like to eat fresh berries and insects that gather around ripe fruits. They eat blackberries, raspberries, grapes, and wild berries like huckleberries, and gall-berries. 

Pet Food 

In captivity, peafowl are given extra food like pet food or livestock feed. Livestock feed is mainly grains, while pet food has extra minerals and nutrients not found in their usual food. It’s best to mix these foods with fruits, vegetables, and grains for a balanced diet. 

What Do Peacocks Eat in the Winter? 

Peacocks eat the same food all year because they stay in one place and feel safe. Eating healthy food with lots of protein keeps them strong. Peafowl are tougher than people think, but they need to stay warm and eat well in cold winters.  

Do Peacocks Eat Snakes? 

Yes, peacocks eat snakes. Peacocks are cautious animals that spend a lot of time searching for food on the ground. They are alert to predators in their territory, such as snakes. Peacocks have strong beaks and sharp talons that make them skilled at catching and eating snakes.

They grab the snakes by their neck and shake them until they die. Peacocks are protective of their territory and nests and don’t want small reptiles around. 

In places like India and Sri Lanka, peacocks are used to control King Cobra populations.  

Peacocks can deliver strong pecks and use their powerful talons for various tasks, including hunting and eating snakes. 

Can Peacocks Eat Bread? 

Bread is not harmful to birds, but it is not very nutritious for them either. If birds eat too much bread, they can get sick. Peacocks need a diet that is high in protein and nutrients. 

Can peacocks Eat Cat or Dog Food? 

Peafowl can eat cat or dog food sometimes, but it shouldn’t be their main food. Pet foods with lots of fats and proteins can make peafowl sick with obesity and liver issues. 

Do Peacocks Eat Meat? 

Peacocks are omnivorous. They eat meat as part of their diet. Their main meat sources are insects, but they also eat small lizards, rodents, and frogs.