Lonely peacock separated from family adopts chicken as friends after pining for mates

A LONELY peacock has found some unlikely new companions after his family was removed by Gold Coast City Council following a noise complaint by a resident in the Nerang street.

A LONE peacock that was left behind on a Nerang property after the Gold Coast City Council removed his family has adopted a group of chickens as his new friends.

Clearly missing his mate and babies, the male peacock, which lives in Balyando Drive in Nerang, has taken to hanging around a family of chickens and a group of ducks to cope with loneliness after being separated from his family.

Steve Gresham has one peacock remaining in his back yard after council removed several others following complaints from a neighbour. Photo by Richard Gosling

The other peacocks were taken to the Animal Welfare League at Staplyton before being adopted out to a rural property after a resident in Balyando Drive complained about the peacocks being “noisy” and defecating in her garden.

While the family was collected, the male was left behind.

Being social birds that mate for life, the lone male has been searching and calling for his loved ones but is reportedly “happy” to have discovered new, unlikely companions.

Resident Steve Gresham, who alerted the Gold Coast Bulletin to the peacock’s plight, said the male had befriended his hens and local plumed whistling ducks.

“He is still calling for his mates but he is a happy bird looking for company so we will try and buy some peacocks from different areas,’’ he said.

Steve Gresham has one peacock remaining in his back yard after council removed several others following complaints from a neighbour. Photo by Richard Gosling

“They cost about $100 to $200 each and we are looking to buy some males and some females.

“We have found two males from Caboolture and are now looking for some females to go with them all.

“He has been hanging around our hens and a group of ducks. There is a mum, a dad and some babies.

“He is still pining for his mates, so we will get him some more.”

Despite the resident’s complaint that the birds were “too noisy and dirty”, Mr Gresham said he found peacocks to be “very clean”.

“He hasn’t ripped up our garden, however the bush turkeys are another story,” he said.

“That is nature — and we love to see the wildlife in this area along with all the cockatoos and kookaburras and snakes. It makes a healthy ecosystem.

“We are glad he has adopted an extended family.”

Originally published as Lonely peacock separated from family adopts chicken as friends after pining for mates