A flamboyant peacock named Percival is helping a Queensland chicken farmer protect his hens from preying animals.

Mark Burgunder, from Conondale on the Sunshine Coast, bought a peacock chick three years ago as a pet.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 4 minutes 35 seconds 4 m 35 s A Big Country: Percy the chicken protector Download 2.1 MB

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 4 minutes 33 seconds 4 m 33 s Percival the peacock is helping a Queensland chicken farmer protect his hens from preying animals ( Marty McCarthy ) Download 2.1 MB

But the bird turned out to be surprisingly good at defending Mr Burgunder's free-range pastured chickens.

"We initially got the peacock to help against snakes because we read that peacocks kill snakes," he said.

"But then we realised that we hadn't had any goshawk attacks [for a while].

"We think it's just because of his size, the goshawks see a big bird like a peacock in the pen and they say 'Nope, not going in there'."

Percival the peacock: flamboyant feathery bird, or fearful defender of the realm? ( Supplied: Mark Burgunder )

Despite singing Percival's praises, Mr Burgunder said the peacock was picky with the predators he chose to take on.

"He doesn't do the foxes or the feral cats, because we had a feral cat attack recently," he said.

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"We only have one peacock so he can't be everywhere at all times.

"But he likes to stick around with the laying flock more than anything. That is where we want him really."

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Clucky hens, but Percival not lucky in love

Despite being the only male bird on a farm full of clucky hens, Percival is still single.

"We haven't actually had any hens attracted to him as such yet," Mr Burgunder said, reflecting on Percival's loneliness.

Although the hens do still like to flirt with him.

Percival is a good pet when he is not on the job. ( Supplied: Mark Burgunder )

"The chickens have worked him out. When he displays to them there is always one or two hens that stand in front of him to keep him entertained," Mr Burgunder said.

"He had a bit of a go at some of them, but it is not a viable combination. I mean, a peacock egg is the size of an emu egg and I can't see that coming out of a chicken!"

Mr Burgunder said when Percival was not on the job, he made a good pet.

"We are happy. He is a pleasure to have around and is fairly tame," he said.

"If you get him at the right time he'll eat out of your hands, which is unusual for a peacock. Most peacocks never come that close."