The Peacock Birds 
The white peacock, and those that are pied, are 
sports of the common species. However, there is 
another species found in Java which is called the 
green Java peafowl, since its feathers are green 
instead of blue. It also has a crest of feathers that 
have barbs for the entire length, instead of the fan- 
shaped crest feathers of the common species, which 
have the naked quill below. These Java fowls are 
really the more beautiful birds, especially since the 
hen is almost as gorgeous as the cock. There is 
also a black-winged species from Cochin China, 
which is called the Japan peafowl. In this species 
the male is the darkest of all the peacocks, while the 
hen is almost white. 
HOUSE 
Peafowls will roost out of doors the year round, 
but they should be provided with a shed in which 
to retire, and of course this should be fitted with 
perches. It is rather difficult to keep them with 
other fowls, since the male is likely to kill the chicks, 
and indeed, is a very disagreeable member of the 
poultry yard. A peacock and four hens should be 
kept together, and apart from the other poultry; 
as a matter of fact, the males live peaceably with 
each other, so that several of them may be kept in 
the same yard. They are hard to confine in an 
enclosure, for even with clipped wings, they can 
manage to get over a six-foot fence. The peafowls 
do better when they are allowed to wander far and 
wide, for they have never become fully domesticated 
despite their long association with man. They 
resemble turkeys in their habits and they will thrive 
on the treatment given to turkeys. 
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