In northwest China's Xinjiang Ugyur Autonomous Region, a retired worker is causing a sensation with her budding flock of peacocks. For the last three years, the large colorful birds have been a big hit with the woman's neighbors in her local farming community.

This retired worker, Zhang Weixin, has been raising the birds for the last three years, even seeing them through their incubation.

Spring is turning to summer, and these peacocks are in heat. This retired worker, Zhang Weixin, has been raising the birds for the last three years, even seeing them through their incubation.

The peacocks, one male and three females, are attracting a lot of attention, as the male peacock spreads his mesmerizing tail feathers, in an attempt to woo the ladies.

He Chengfu, a neighbor of Zhang Weixi, said, "Many people come here to take photos everyday. I come here several times a day. They are quite beautiful."

Zhang Weixin herself says she was given a dozen peacock eggs by a friend in 2009. She then managed to persuade a turkey to incubate the eggs.

Zhang Weixin, peacock keeper in Xinjiang, said, "At that time, a family in Korla fostered peacocks, and gave some eggs to me. I had nothing to do as I was retired, so I wanted to raise them for fun."

After just a month, eight little peacocks were hatched, although she lost four of the chicks. But now, three years on, the surviving quartet have grown into quite a local attraction.

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