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They will soon develop into beautiful creatures

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

New attraction: The newly-hatched peachicks at the Forest Department in Puducherry.

PUDUCHERRY: The latest attractions at the Forest Department are not as colourful as peacocks. But the six newly hatched peachicks, put under the care of a hen, will soon develop into beautiful creatures.

The little ones, which are sure to delight children who come to see them, are able to peck at their food and consume it like all little birds under the care of their mother bird.

At first glance, they might not look like the familiar colourful peacock or the less flamboyant peahen. They do not yet have the characteristic colour.

It will take time and patience, to say nothing of the proper type of care and protection against diseases, until the young ones, born in captivity, take on the looks and demeanour of their cousins in the wild.

“Though they look like chickens, their beaks are longer and their toes and legs are thicker and longer.

“Their colour is yellowish-brown. We used a hen as surrogate mother and incubated a clutch of six eggs laid by one of the two peahens,” Deputy Conservator of Forests P. Devaraj told The Hindu.

The peachicks were incubated for 38 days instead of the normal 21.

The little ones are being given termites and “kambu” (millets) as food.

They are strong and healthy and will, in about five to six months, get their colour and grow to about one and half feet.

Children are welcome to take a look at the peachicks at the Forest Department, he added. The other peahen has also laid eight eggs, which will soon be incubated.

The Forest Department, which presently has two pairs of peacocks and peahens, is busy with plans to increase the number of birds.

The department is making more enclosures to house the two peahens and one peacock that will be brought from the Villianur Sri Kokilambal Temple.

“We are also planning to bring in six spotted deer at the temple,” he added.

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They will soon develop into beautiful creatures

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