There are some factors that influence how far peacocks will roam, but generally speaking, they will roam for miles in any given direction if they feel like it. This doesn’t mean you’ll lose your peafowl though, and they’re good at returning home.
Most owners keep their peafowl in a pen for the first couple of weeks to help acclimate them to their homes.
Plus, generally speaking, if you’re providing everything they need, peacocks are pretty loyal and know where life is good.
They’ll roost up high in trees or on the top of structures overnight given the freedom to. But will return during the day to feed and interact with you.
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How Far Do Peacocks Travel?
So, I asked a number of people I know who have owned or currently own peafowl. I also dug up dozens of answers to this question online, and the best answer I can come up with is:
Peacocks or peahens are capable of traveling miles away from their homes when they want to. Generally speaking, however, if properly acclimated to their living area they will always return.
There are incidents of peafowl getting ‘lost’ or not returning when they should at night. They can be pretty wild at times, but they do know where their food and flockmates are.
A lot of people who raise peacocks do so in large pens. Those who allow them to roam free have acres of land, and hopefully no neighbors near enough to be annoyed by their peas.
The main issue with peacocks roaming is the potential damage they will do to other people’s property.
Peacocks dig and scratch around for bugs and plants to eat. They will also walk over vehicles, roam on people’s land, and poop everywhere.
Related - Where do peacocks sleep?
Do Peacocks Fly Long Distances?
This is also something that I see debated and often disagreed on. Some people think peacocks can barely get off the ground, while I’ve spoken with many owners who say their peacocks can travel more than a mile in one flight.
One thing we do know for sure is that peacocks can fly. Obviously, their large tail feathers make it a little more difficult than most other birds, but they do fly.
They tend to take a short run-up then a few big hops and jumps before getting airborne. Once in the air, it’s generally believed they can fly at least a mile if needed.
Most peacocks will do all their exploring on foot. They tend to only fly to get high into trees to roost, get over obstacles in their way, and flee an area if they feel threatened.
There isn’t a lot of studies into how far peacocks tend to fly or roam though. Maybe a scientist - or just a curious person - out there will do a detailed study into this topic sometime.
Some owners do clip their peafowl’s wings. This stops them from flying, but it doesn’t stop them from jumping a few feet into the air.
If you do clip their wings, please make sure they have a roosting bar or somewhere they can get up high to roost.
Peacocks like to roost up high as in the wild it’s how they know they’re safe from predators. Even if there is no risk of predators where you are, it’s instinctual behavior to them and makes them feel secure.
Will Peacocks Stay In Your Yard?
This is a question that gets asked a lot, and there are two main things to consider;
- The first is that it depends on how big your yard is!
- The second is that I have to say, “no”. It’s very unlikely a peacock will always stay within your yard if you allow them to roam free.
Peacocks love to travel and explore, and as already discussed it’s not uncommon for them to travel miles when they go out exploring.
This doesn’t mean you can’t allow them to roam freely through. Lots of people do, and they never lose their birds.
There might be incidents when they do not return home at night. But generally speaking, peacocks will return to where they know they have a good food source, water, and shelter.
Just think about the public places you’ve seen peacocks, like amusement parks, farms, and such. They live within those grounds and are allowed to roam freely.
Related - Here's a look at what peafowl drink.
Can Peacocks Find Their Way Home?
When first bringing new peafowl home, it’s recommended that you keep them confined for 2-3 weeks so they can become familiar with their surroundings.
Peafowl are much more likely to get lost within the first few weeks of you having them. The more familiar they are with their home, and the more gradually they start to roam, the more likely they are to find their way home.
Losing peafowl is generally not a huge issue for owners. Sure, if you have neighbors within a short distance, they’re going to get to know your peafowl. But they should be able to find their way home.
Peacocks are actually very loyal to their owners, other flockmates, and their home. They know where things are good; like food, water, and shelter, and will always try to return.
Some owners actively teach their peafowl about their boundaries. They do this by watching them the first few times they are released and coax them back from wandering too far by shaking treats, calling them, and cutting them off.
They will get used to their surroundings though.
In Summary
Peacocks are clever, trainable, and loyal. It may take some time and effort to reinforce where their boundaries are, but when you do, they will tend not to roam too far away from home.
Just keep in mind that peacocks are capable of flying and traveling a good distance when they want to.
Resources
Image credits - Photo by Natalia Terskaya on Unsplash
