A Complete Analysis of Key Points in Blue Peafowl Breeding Technology
The peafowl is known as the king of birds, characterized by a strong game flavor, high protein, low fat, and richness in various amino acids needed by the human body. It is a high-end delicacy and a meat poultry species with great development prospects. In terms of breeding, because of its low investment, quick returns, and high profits, it has become one of the preferred breeding species for farmers. Let us take a look at blue peafowl breeding technology below!
Blue Peafowl Estrus and Mating
1. Estrus: The breeding season of blue peafowl has strong seasonality, generally from June to August. However, under artificial rearing conditions, the breeding season can often be advanced and extended, thereby prolonging the egg-laying season. Adult blue peafowl, especially male blue peafowl, often chase female blue peafowl, and through the contraction of the skin muscles, raise and spread the upper tail coverts on the magnificent train feathers (more than 200 feathers) into a fan shape, commonly known as "showing off the train," while continuously shaking them with a rustling sound. They can display multiple times, each lasting as long as 5 to 7 minutes, turning left and right, with the eye-shaped spots on the train feathers reflecting light, attracting female blue peafowl to approach the male frequently.
2. Mating: Under group rearing conditions, fierce fights often occur over mates, and sometimes female blue peafowl already in estrus are chased relentlessly by male blue peafowl and injured as a result. The male-to-female breeding ratio is 1:3 to 5. Female blue peafowl begin laying eggs 15 days after mating. For this reason, a sand pit should be dug in a corner, with sand placed there for egg laying. Dedicated personnel should be on duty to collect eggs, to prevent egg-eating habits or induced brooding behavior.
Blue Peafowl Incubation Technology
1. Natural incubation: It is best to use Silkie chickens and local grass chickens with strong brooding instincts for surrogate incubation, and use brood-breaking medication to wake broody female blue peafowl. Generally, small-bodied broody hens can only incubate 4 to 6 blue peafowl eggs per session. During the incubation period, the broody hen should be let out or taken out twice daily in the morning and afternoon to defecate, while water and grain are provided, and after about 15 minutes she is returned to continue incubating. The incubation period for blue peafowl is 26 to 28 days, with egg candling performed on days 7, 14, and 21 respectively.
2. Artificial incubation: Any electric incubator for poultry eggs can be used for incubation after modifying the incubation tray according to the size of blue peafowl eggs. Disinfect the breeding eggs and incubation equipment according to routine procedures. The incubation process is basically the same.
① Temperature: The temperature inside a flat incubator is 38.5 to 39.5°C, and inside a cabinet incubator is 37.5 to 38°C. The incubation room temperature should be maintained at 24 to 27°C. During the hatching period, the temperature drops by 0.5°C. Whether to adopt constant-temperature incubation (batch loading) or variable-temperature incubation (single loading) is determined by the incubator operator according to production needs.
② Humidity: Relative humidity should be maintained at 60 to 65%, preferably 70% during the hatching period, and the incubation room relative humidity should be kept at 65 to 70%.
③ Turning eggs: In the first 7 days, it is best to turn eggs once every half hour to 1 hour, once every 1 to 2 hours in the second week, and once every 3 hours thereafter. Stop turning eggs 3 days before hatching after transferring to the hatching tray.
④ Cooling eggs: Generally, if the temperature does not exceed the limit, cooling is not necessary. In the middle and later stages, eggs can be cooled for 15 to 20 minutes daily, until they reach 30°C (when the eyelid no longer feels heat). Because blue peafowl eggshells are relatively thick, the temperature and humidity in the first few days should not be too low, and ventilation and humidity in the later stage should also be higher to ensure normal hatching.
Feeding and Management During the Brooding Period
1. Brooding equipment: The brooding period is 2 months. Newly hatched blue peafowl have yellow-brown down feathers, slightly darker on the top of the head and back, lighter on the abdomen, and dark brown flight feathers. Artificial brooding methods are generally used, with net rearing or cage rearing for 1 to 20 days of age. Each net frame is 250 cm long, 200 cm wide, with the bottom net 60 cm high. Perches should be set both indoors and outdoors. Cage rearing should be advocated, and chick cages can be used.
2. Temperature and humidity: 34 to 38°C for 1 to 10 days of age, 28 to 26°C for 11 to 20 days of age, 26 to 24°C for 21 to 30 days of age. After that, as feathers increase, the temperature can be the same as room temperature. Relative humidity should be controlled at 60 to 70%.
3. Feed and feeding: From month 1 to 10, feed 4 times daily with hard-boiled eggs, powdered feed, green feed, breadworms, and supplemental feed. From month 11 to 30, feed 3 times daily with hard-boiled eggs, minced meat, powdered feed, green feed, breadworms, and supplemental feed. From month 31 to 60, feed 2 to 3 times daily with the same as above, plus corn grits, sorghum, etc.
4. Rearing density: The appropriate number per flock is 40 to 50 birds, and rearing density should decrease as age increases. Adopt free feeding and drinking. Keep the environment quiet to prevent flock panic. Establish signal-conditioned reflexes to facilitate management. Carry out regular disinfection, deworming, and epidemic prevention, rodent control, and predator prevention, and promptly isolate and inspect sick chicks.
Feeding and Management During the Adult Period
The adult period of blue peafowl refers to blue peafowl in the egg-laying period or resting period at over 2 years of age. In breeding blue peafowl houses, the male-to-female ratio per pen is 1:3 to 5, and the pen area is 5 m × 10 m, with half indoors and half outdoors, and net height of 5 m. The mesh size is 1.5 cm × 2.5 cm. Shade plants should be planted in the exercise yard. Feeding should be at fixed times and in fixed amounts, keeping quiet and paying attention to cleanliness and hygiene.
1. Spring management: During the breeding season, activity levels are high and feed intake is also high. The diet should be adjusted in a timely manner, with attention to supplementing protein, vitamins, and mineral feed. Nesting boxes should be set up in corners (lined with sand or soft grass).
2. Summer management: High temperatures, frequent rain, and high humidity cause feed intake to drop sharply, egg production to decline, and gradually stop. More concentrated feed should be given, green feed increased, and mold prevented. Do a good job in cleanliness and hygiene and in heat prevention and cooling.
3. Autumn management: Although the autumn sky is clear and refreshing, temperatures drop and daylight shortens, and it is also the normal physiological molt period for blue peafowl. Oil-bearing feed should be reduced or stopped in the diet. Forced molting should be adopted during the molt period, which can effectively shorten the number of days of natural molting. In addition, high-quality and high-priced train feathers can be obtained. By appropriately controlling water, feed, and light, and suddenly changing the living environment conditions, the purpose of uniform molting can be achieved. The content of animal and plant proteins, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements should be increased in the diet to promote feather growth. Prepare well for overwintering.
4. Winter management: The weather is cold. In addition to doing a good job in cold protection and warmth, increase the amount of grain and oil seeds in the diet. Some bedding material can be spread on the ground, and while keeping warm, pay attention to ventilation. Carry out epidemic prevention and parasitic disease control work during the non-laying season.