Zoo database

Indian peafow

Pavo cristatus

Natural diet Indian peafow

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.

Grain / seeds
Grain / seeds
Insects
Insects
Leaves
Leaves
Vertebrates
Vertebrates

Feeding advice Indian peafow

Feed quantity per day

3-6%

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 greens and cabbages
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 greens and cabbages
0.05 x 0.2 kg = 10 g other

Diet Suggestions

Recommended

Variety of leafy vegetables
Variety of insects
Grain mix
Soluble grit

In moderation

Corn silage

Not recommended

Bread

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

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).