Zoo database

Indian peafowl

Pavo cristatus

Natural diet Indian peafowl

Grain / seeds
Insects
Leaves
Vertebrates

Indian peafowls are omnivorous birds that mainly consume seeds, flowers, insects and small vertebrates. If foraging around cultivated areas, they may also feed on a wide range of crops. However, this is not necessarily part of their natural diet.

Feeding advice Indian peafowl

Feed quantity per day

3-6% of body weight

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 4 kg and eats 5% of its body weight, it will get

4 x 0.05 = 0.2 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

5% Insects and other invertebrates
65% Concentrates
25% Leafy and cabbage vegetables
5% Other

Proportions (fresh product)

0.05 x 0.2 kg = 10 g insects and other invertebrates
0.65 x 0.2 kg = 130 g concentrates
0.25 x 0.2 kg = 50 g leafy and cabbage vegetables
0.05 x 0.2 kg = 10 g other

Diet suggestions

In moderation

Corn silage

Not recommended

Bread

Additional advice

Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least two feeding moments per day.
Supplement the diet with around 5% grain mixture.
Supplement the diet with ad libitum soluble grit as a source of calcium.
Insoluble grit is not required if they go outside, as they will ingest small stones (read more about grit).
Avoid feeding bread as the high starch content may cause gastro-intestinal disturbances.
Stimulate foraging behaviour by using feeding puzzles and scatter feeding (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).

Common diseases

An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:

Pododermatitis/Bumble Foot
Metabolic bone disease
Rickets syndrome
Perosis

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

Fancy Poultry Pride (partridges, quails, pheasants)

Stomach Gravel 3 (for poultry)

Shell Grit (3)

Pheasant Grains

Jannicke Kiezebrink

Director Operations