Most people would describe a peacock as a beautiful bird with a brilliant tail of fanned feathers in hues of green and blue. While that is accurate for male peacocks, peahens, and baby peacocks have none of that beauty. They are plain, grayish brown birds with indistinct features. These bland colors on the peahen and peachicks help them hide in the brush to avoid predators.
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Wild Pyle Acres is a family hobby farm in Red Wing, Minnesota. Among their wide variety of animals, they count several peafowl. This year, while attempting to strengthen their flock, several eggs were placed in the incubator. Sadly, none of those made it. However, peahen Jane had a different plan. She ran off and hid, secretly laying and incubating her own egg. Jane reappeared after about 30 days, trailing the only baby peacock born on Wild Pyle Acres this season.
Peacock babies can walk and begin foraging immediately after hatching. In the wild, peachicks have a high mortality rate, so you can bet that Jane will be taking special care to look after her baby. She keeps it close, which is how that adorable peekaboo footage came about. Peachicks will frequently hide under their mother. This little one poking its head out is adorable!
It takes about two weeks for a peachick to take flight in a limited manner. At that point, they can fly into lower branches for safety. The baby peacocks will grow their crests after about a month. Peachicks will be into their second year before males begin developing their distinctive adult coloring.
To watch Jane’s secret baby continue his path to adulthood, you can follow Wild Pyle Acres on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and the farm’s informational website.
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You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
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