Peacock not behaving normally

Birdrain92 said:

In my opinion ditch the cracked corn. Most feed stores contain complete feeds. You should try to find a broiler, game bird, or some sort of feed with a 20% protein. Grains are higher in carbohydrates than most of the other nutrients. Carbohydrates are better for fattening up an animal. Try to spread out the protein feed that way the other can get some nutrients too. Depending on the vegetation the protein level could be anywhere. Beans and alfalfa are on the higher end of protein compared to potatoes.

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Thanks, I'm calling a few of the local stores to see if they carry some of these suggested feeds.
Usually, when I feed the birds Grapes or treats, or the Kitten food, I feed it to them by hand so that I make sure they both get a good share of the food. then also throw more out for them for later. They both have there "own" feeder that they know where I put their treats at and they are usually good at flying right up to those spots to get their treats before I've got the gate closed.
When the sick bird is doing well, I usually try to make sure he gets first dibs on anything I give them, by getting in the cage and hearding the other male away from the food for a few minutes.

I just think that these worms have a fairly long infestation time before real illness starts it's outward appearance. He maybe eating and showing activity, but the food is not helping him.
So for the 6-7weeks between these episodes, he maybe has gotten just 3-4weeks of healthy living, before the worms start taking their share.

I up'ed his Safeguard to 2.5ml last night. Hopefully he'll start acting better in a day or 2 like before.

gary

Birdrain92 said:

In my opinion ditch the cracked corn. Most feed stores contain complete feeds. You should try to find a broiler, game bird, or some sort of feed with a 20% protein. Grains are higher in carbohydrates than most of the other nutrients. Carbohydrates are better for fattening up an animal. Try to spread out the protein feed that way the other can get some nutrients too. Depending on the vegetation the protein level could be anywhere. Beans and alfalfa are on the higher end of protein compared to potatoes.

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The assumption that feed stores and the manufacturers of feed are making 'complete' feeds is just not so. As a commercial business, their first concern is the bottom dollar and the competition for sales. That is why they use the least expensive components in their products, SOY. The immune system of peafowl is being compromised with the use of soy-based products.

Soy is not a good protein base for any animal, but it is the easiest and cheapest thing that they can offer to the public. Try offering some soybeans to your peas, they will eat a few, but quickly learn to ignore it. It is not something that they would eat in the wild. The feeds that are offered in bulk are intended to appeal to the mindset of fast and heavy growth for optimum meat harvest.

Peafowl are not turkeys or chickens being readied for slaughter. The nutritional requirements are very different, look at what they eat in the wild. They eat greens, bugs, seeds, rodents.and things they fish from the water. Which is why an animal by-products and fish based protein is so important in their health.

Please DON'T feed or give any bird raw soybeans/they contain a toxin. That is why all you ever see as feed is "cooked".

Argus said:

Gary, I agree with DylansMom. The food isn't the cause but certainly could be contributing to it recurring. You're doing a great job on all the healthy side dishes, just need the main course. I buy the pellets/crumbles by the pallet, but even at regular price a 50 pound bag of good food is only $18 at TSC around here. That would be the first thing I would do (along with the meds you've already started).

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Ok, here's todays update, he is doing much better, maybe 90% right now. he still can't fly, but he is eating good. I've been putting a lot of kitten food for them, and I got a bag of the Purina Crumbles for them and I started to give it to them yesterday.

thanks all

sasglm said:

Ok, here's todays update, he is doing much better, maybe 90% right now. he still can't fly, but he is eating good. I've been putting a lot of kitten food for them, and I got a bag of the Purina Crumbles for them and I started to give it to them yesterday.

thanks all

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It will take sometime before he will regain the ability to fly. You might, if it was bad enough, have to do flight therapy to get the muscle functioning again. What is the protein % in the Purina crumbles?

Birdrain92 said:

It will take sometime before he will regain the ability to fly. You might, if it was bad enough, have to do flight therapy to get the muscle functioning again. What is the protein % in the Purina crumbles?

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Probably Purina Startena 28-30%, thats what I use from spring until fall.

Gerald Barker

Birdrain92 said:

It will take sometime before he will regain the ability to fly. You might, if it was bad enough, have to do flight therapy to get the muscle functioning again. What is the protein % in the Purina crumbles?

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the Protein on the label says 20%

So far it doesn't seem like their favorite food, but they eventually get around to eating it.

Tomorrow will be day 10 after the first round of Safeguard, and i'll start his 2nd 5 day treatment.
Last night he was able to fly up to his nightly perch

gary

sasglm said:

the Protein on the label says 20%

So far it doesn't seem like their favorite food, but they eventually get around to eating it.

Tomorrow will be day 10 after the first round of Safeguard, and i'll start his 2nd 5 day treatment.
Last night he was able to fly up to his nightly perch

gary

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That sounds like great progress Gary! Good job.

Birdrain92 said:

What is the protein % in the Purina crumbles?

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Most people are very comfortable feeding a crumble that meets a protein level that is recommended for adult peas of around 20% to 18%. What they many times do not understand is that if they feed other feeds of lesser protein levels they reduce the total intake amount.

Say your bird eats 1/2 cup of crumbles of 20% and 1/2 cup of scratch or veggies that is around 6%, add those two together and divide by 2 and the real protein level is 13%. If you are going to feed snacks or filler you will need to up the protein.

KsKingBee said:

Most people are very comfortable feeding a crumble that meets a protein level that is recommended for adult peas of around 20% to 18%. What they many times do not understand is that if they feed other feeds of lesser protein levels they reduce the total intake amount.

Say your bird eats 1/2 cup of crumbles of 20% and 1/2 cup of scratch or veggies that is around 6%, add those two together and divide by 2 and the real protein level is 13%. If you are going to feed snacks or filler you will need to up the protein.

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The reason why I was mainly asking for the Purina crumbles is because most cat foods that I've seen are at least 20%.