Okay so here is how the Queenie, the peahen, and her two chicks go to bed every night.
Firstly, she looks around anxiously from the pen (in these photos both peachicks are underneath her).
Then she starts to sort of purr at the chicks, almost as if she is saying ‘follow me’. She begins this restless ritual at 6pm.
She stirs the chicks up a bit and they begin cheeping loudly. At 6.30pm she flies over the fence into the adjacent yard. This photo is just before she launches herself over and away from the chicks.
The two peachicks go into panic mode and try repeatedly to fly after her while, from the other side of the fence, Queenie purrs encouragement. Eventually, one by one, they fly/climb the fence until they reach an opening they can fit through and plop onto the ground on the other side. The smaller peachick takes at least fifteen minutes longer than the other one but once it’s through the fence, they all have a bit of a hug. By this time it is 7pm.
Queenie then flies out of the second pen straight into the avocado tree, then down to the ground to once again beckon the chicks through the second fence. This photo is an old one but it shows the two pens with the avocado tree on the left. It is a long journey for the chicks.
Eventually the chicks get through and arrive at the base of the avocado tree. These two photos don’t include the chicks themselves because they were quickly climbing the trunk to reach their mother. But as you can see it is a well-chosen tree and easier to climb than any of the others.
Queenie then flies up to perch in the avocado tree and purrs at the chicks to follow.
By this time the chicks are cheeping so loudly that it is almost deafening. They try repeatedly to fly/climb the tree only to plop down to the ground again and again. Queenie remains in the tree, purring encouragement, until finally they succeed. It is difficult to spot the chick in the first photo!
Finally, all is quiet. Here is Queenie curled up on her branch with the chicks underneath her wings. It’s 8pm.
The most amazing thing about all of this is that each morning they are all back in the safety of the yard again!
jmgoyder 
Wow, that’s really impressive they make it up there!
They don’t give up – it’s amazing to watch.
That is amazing………. you must have wanted to help… but of course that wouldn’t work… Diane
I had to stop myself from helping so many times!
Safer up there, I’m sure.
Yes!
This just pure magic… nature can show us so much tenacity… imagine if after a few days we called to the kids to find their own way to and into the cot… we are a bunch of wimps…
I agree! I love watching this every evening.
Wow! What an exhausting ritual for the chicks but great survival instincts from the Queenie. No doubt it will all speed up as they get stronger. Clever things!
This morning they were all in the farthest pen but this afternoon they are in the one closest to the tree – very clever.
Catching on!
I can’t get enough of watching them but at a distance – trying not to interfere apart from providing water and food.
That is wonderful. I had no idea that birds could climb like that.
Neither did I!
Oh, wow! Thank you for sleuthing and watching to bring us this small miracle. It’s just wonderful!
Yvonne
I wish I had David Attenborough here!
He couldn’t have done it any better. 🙂
How marvellous. I had no idea that peacocks would climb trees like that when they were too young to fly up.
I’m amazed too!
The effort and determination to survive and be safe. 🙂 Well done!
They are getting quicker at it now – it’s only 6.40pm so I am going out now to see how they’re going!
I love your enjoyment and wonder Julie. 🙂
Just saw them lead their mother into the tree!
🙂 how joyful you are Julie! 🙂
Wow – that is one determined mom and two equally determined babies. It is amazing that she doesn’t succumb to their pleas at some point, helping them along the way. But I suppose that would hinder their chances for survival, so she does what she must. What an amazing tale.
I have never seen anything like this in my life!
This is amazing. WOW! Blessing them all, Thanks and Love, nia
I wish you could be here to photograph it Nia!
I wished to be there too, but just being with you and having a cup of tea… You are doing great with your camera dear Julie. Thank you, love, nia
Wow – talk about patience!
Yes – mine!
totally awesome photos
It’s so hard to get good shots of them because they blend into the scenery so well!
You do a great job!!!
Queenie is such a great mom and I would have never thought that peachicks would be able to follow their mom up into a tree. Thanks for the lesson Jules I really enjoyed it 🙂 You could perhaps work for NatGeo. 😀
I just wish I could take better photos!
Amazing tenacity! True survivors, or should I say, thrivers?
I’m just about to go outside to watch the last bit of the endeavour!
Amazing. Wonderful. Nature is the best!
I hope they will remain safe!
That’s quite some bedtime ritual, Julie. I’m sure the chicks sleep well after all that exercise. 🙂
They must get exhausted!
My goodness, what a complicated and lengthy ritual they perform every night! I had no idea the chicks could fly/climb like that. Amazing!
I’ve never seen this before either!
Who would think a peahen would get in a tree! Wait till you see what I saw in Las Vegas. R
Just saw it!
It’s amazing and quite funny – almost as if she returns to the pen with the chicks so you feel reassured they are safe?
Yes, the fact that they return is just as fascinating as them climbing the tree.
What an amazing performance each night. Sounds like you could watch them for hours. I’m sure I could. Isn’t Mother Nature wonderful.
Yes it’s much more interesting than tv!
What fun, Julie! So glad you were able to catch this and share. Thank you!
It’s great fun!
I love this, the photos, the attachment to and encouragement of her chicks, and the information!
It’s the first time I have seen this myself!
🙂