Success StoryPeafowl Egg Incubation



Peafowl Egg Incubation

Author: Christin Herbst

Planning Unit: Carroll County CES

Major Program: Poultry/Small Flocks

Plan of Work: Livestock Production

Outcome: Initial Outcome

Over the past several years, incubating poultry and waterfowl eggs has been a popular project with the Carroll County Cooperative Extension Service.  Ducks, quail, and a wide variety of chickens have been successfully hatched, with the hatched birds being offered to Carroll County 4-H’ers for county fair projects.


The 2021 incubation project features a new bird species our Extension Office has yet to incubate:  peafowl.


Peafowl are native to Sri Lanka in India, where they were found living in open forests near streams.  Peafowl males, or peacocks, are most widely known for their beautiful, eye-catching plumage.  Peafowl females, or peahens, are any variation of browns, greys, and creams.   Peahens can lay only about five to nine eggs a year in their most reproductive years (fourth year and up).   The birds eat grains, insects, snakes, small fish, and frogs.


Six peafowl eggs were purchased from the Peafowl Information Center, a peafowl farm in Iowa.  We are awaiting their arrival (expected in May) so the incubation project can begin.   Incubation of peafowl eggs is approximately 28 days.






Stories by Carroll County CES


Babysitting Clinic

Babysitting Clinic

about 1 years ago by Joyce Doyle

Since school is out for the summer, many parents are seeking for someone to watch their children. I ... Read More


Where Does Our Food Come From

Where Does Our Food Come From

about 1 years ago by Joyce Doyle

Where does our food come from? A question I ask frequently when I am in the classroom. The answers a... Read More