Many people admire the beauty of peacock feathers, but very few know how to care for and maintain their stunning appearance.

Peacocks are known for their beautiful plumage, especially the males, which possess long, trailing tails adorned with shimmering blue-green eye-shaped patterns. These ornamental birds from the genus Pavo are famous for the males’ habit of displaying their long tails to attract females during the mating season.

Dr. Boedi Setiawan, drh., M.P., a Lecturer in Animal Nutrition at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Airlangga University, explained to the Poultry Indonesia team at a café in Surabaya on Wednesday (8/10) that the metallic green color and three-dimensional iridescence on the male peacock’s feathers do not appear by accident.

“For a peacock to radiate its maximum shine, certain conditions must be met. The vibrancy of its colors depends on the well-being of the bird. Animals that live in good welfare—fulfilling the five freedoms, free from hunger, thirst, pain, and stress—will display their most optimal coloration.”

From a nutritional standpoint, peacocks require high-protein feed to support feather growth. According to the lecturer, popularly known as Buset, peacocks reach full maturity at the age of three, when their feathers and coloration are already fully developed.

“Protein sources can come from insects, worms, and added fruits. But in captivity, the natural nutritional balance can be replaced with complete formulated feed,” he explained.

Nowadays, breeders are greatly helped by the availability of complete feed. There is no need to find insects or fruits. All nutritional needs of peacocks are fulfilled, allowing their feather colors to reach optimal brightness.

Ponorogo Peacocks: Between Culture and Conservation

Moving to Ponorogo, on Saturday (11/10) the Poultry Indonesia team visited Gentan Farm owned by Edi Kurniawan S.T., M.T., who breeds various species of peacocks in his enclosures. He is also a member of the Reog Ponorogo foundation and has been actively breeding peacocks since 2018.

“Since I am involved in Reog Ponorogo, I want this culture to be preserved. One of the requirements for UNESCO recognition is having its own natural resources, and peacocks are part of that.”

Gentan Farm currently can only meet 1–5% of Ponorogo’s demand for peacock feathers. Edi showcased various peacock species at his farm, from the Indian blue peacock and white peacock to the Javan green peacock, which is Indonesia’s pride. For the green peacock, he collaborates with the East Java BKSDA due to its protected status.

“When trusted with these green peacocks, I was a bit worried, afraid I wouldn’t be able to care for them properly, especially since they are a protected species native to Indonesia. So I’m very careful, especially in terms of feed, and I’ve proven myself that the 599 Aurora feed meets their nutritional needs.”

When asked about his feeding practices, Edi explained that he feeds the peacocks twice a day—morning and afternoon. He now keeps more than 200 peacocks with three workers, plus around 150 eggs in an incubator, all fed with 599 Aurora.

Curious about the feed used by Edi, the Poultry Indonesia team then interviewed Teguh Woer, Head of the Non-Commercial Feed (NCF) Department at CPI Surabaya, on Saturday (11/10). Teguh explained that CPI indeed designed 599 Aurora as the first ornamental poultry feed in Indonesia.

“Its formulation is specifically for ornamental birds—chickens, pigeons, or waterfowl. It contains complete nutrition with three added components: amino acids, probiotics, herbal extracts, and trace minerals.”

In addition to 599 Aurora, Teguh also introduced 582K as another alternative feed for ornamental poultry. Equipped with probiotics and multivitamins, 582K supports the basic nutritional needs of ornamental birds.

“582K is commonly used as a substitute for traditional feed such as corn, paddy, bran, and red rice. It is suitable for all kinds of birds and pigeons. Besides being practical and efficient, it is also affordable,” Teguh explained.

For feeding management, Teguh recommends mixing 599 Aurora with 582K. He suggests giving about 3 tablespoons of 599 Aurora in the morning and about 5 tablespoons of 582K in the evening. This combination results in softer, denser, stronger feathers with sharper coloration. Adv