Frequently asked questions
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Noisy peacocks
Peacock calls are best described as shrill raucous shrieks. They can be extremely noisy and annoying to some people. However, other people will put food out to encourage peafowl into their area so that they can admire these beautiful birds.
Peacocks are native to India and are usually kept as free-roaming ornamental birds on large estates in the United Kingdom. However, if they are seen out and about in other areas they may have escaped from a private collection.
Ask local estates whether they have any birds missing and also see whether the police have been informed about any missing birds.
The effectiveness of deterring the peacock from your property very much depends on how tame it is. If it has been in captivity for some time and has escaped, then it will see humans as a source of food. However, if a peacock has had little or no contact with humans before, then just making a noise and waving your arms should scare it off.
A key to getting the bird to leave is to ensure that all sources of food are removed. Even putting out food for garden birds may have to be stopped for a while, unless you use only hanging feeders and regularly clear up any dropped seed.
Bear in mind that a neighbour may be feeding the peacock, in which case the best way to resolve this would be to try and discourage them from doing so if there is strong opposition to the bird staying in the area. If the matter cannot be sorted out in a friendly way, you are advised to complain to your local authority about the peacock causing noise pollution.
Although we understand the concerns and sympathise with complaints that have been made about noisy peacock(s), we do not rescue or relocate animals that are healthy and capable of surviving in the wild. Noise caused by peacocks is not an animal welfare issue, so it is down to the individual to find a solution.
If a peacock is sick or injured, please contact the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty and advice line 0300 1234 999. If the sick or injured bird is still mobile, then a trail of grain can be laid on the ground to lead it into an enclosed outbuilding or garage to contain it there temporarily until it can be collected.
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