What do Peacocks Eat
Peacocks are birds best known for the male’s impressive tail featuring brown feathers with blue-green eye patterns. This tail is thought to be important to the mating process and/or for intimidating other male birds. Peacocks are also known as peafowl and, although there are 3 peafowl species, only the Indian peafowl and Green Peafowl are commonly called peacocks. These species are native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, but have also been introduced into many other parts of the world. Let’s find out what this interesting bird eats.
What do peacocks eat?
In the wild peacocks are known for eating plant seeds, vegetation, fruits, berries and vegetables. They also recognized as omnivores (eat both plant and animal matter) and will feed on small snakes, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and many insects. In areas of human habitation they will eat agricultural crops, including banana, tomato, chilli and many others. In urban areas they are known for eating a variety of food and garden scraps, and even human feces.
In captivity the birds are fed specially designed pellets or mash, along with grains (corn, wheat, oats, barley, millet, rye), fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, hard boiled eggs, insects, mealworms and vitamin supplements. Although, some peacock owners supplement their diet with dry dog and cat food instead of a vitamin supplement. It is also very important to feed your peacock grit. This is stored in the gizzard (stomach) to help break down the food for digestion. Access to fresh water is also very important.
Did you know?
Peacocks are known for tearing apart fruits and vegetables so that they can get to the seeds. They also do the same thing to vegetation in their search for insects to eat!
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