Now, I have heard that peacocks will mate with almost anything, so, what would happen if I gave a peacock a chicken to mate with? would the eggs be viable? I realize that if something DID hatch, it would be like a mule, unable to breed itself, but I would like to try it. Only problem is, I don't have any peacocks, so what are all your opinions?

Cujo - chickens and peafowl are too far removed from each other genetically to cross-breed (I won't even address the "why" here - I'm assuming you have more than a little free time on your hands?) All ova are surrounded by a protective layer that kills any foreign sperm - we could cross a chimp and a human in vitro, by injecting the sperm into the egg, producing something ethically abhorant, and possibly the same could be done with chickens and peafowl, but not naturally. The fact that there aren't any peachickens running around is your best evidence that it can't be done - if it could, nature would have already done it.

well, pheasants and chickens can cross.

Pheasant and Chicken.......I don't think so!

I have heard that a pheasant and a chicken crossed to form the Aeuracana a long time ago.

Nathan, Don't believe every thing you hear--not true. However, the exact origin of the Araucana is not truly known. There is extensive research still being done on the origin of the domestic fowl with DNA now in the works testing breeds of fowl world wide. Unlike the dinosaurs, there are few remains of antique fowl, but those that have been found may reveal the origin of some breeds of fowl???? Ask your library to locate some poultry books for you--and then what you "hear" will not be so believable. CJR

An addendum to CJR's admonition: Farming and animal husbandry are the last bastions of scientific ignorance - which seems surprising, given that it is the focus of existance for these life styles. When and if I retire, I would love to put together a collection of all the far-fetched and outrageous things I've heard from farmers and cattlemen. You will hear things that sound so logical that they "must be true!", but always double check. Advice you get in feed stores may be right on the money, or it may be what we call Tigerpeas (I stuck a pea in my ear and was not bothered by tigers the entire day), or it may even be dangerous.
-liza
ps. Never, never, never try any home remedy involving kerosene.

It is true! Chickens have been known to cross with pheasants. They are not a real good cross, somewhat weak. I have a book that tells about it and also has pictures of them. My aunt had a guinea hen that crossed with a chicken rooster. There are others that had that happen also, is somewhat rare but happens more than you might think. If anyone is interested in viewing one, let me know. I know of a website that shows some pictures and tells about it.

Anonymous,
Please, please, please give me the website. I know for a fact that this does occasionally happen (even with all the nonbelievers screaming "fake, fake"). I had an aunt that had this cross happen "unplanned" in her barnyard but the chicks were killed by predators before they reached full maturity.
I do agree that it would be almost impossible for any to be fertile but some incredible oddities do occur once in a blue moon.
Again, please send me the website.