Help- fluid pouring out of peacocks mouth

msmolly said:

Lab Results Back-  This is what killed my peacock.  "Aflatoxin" - a common type of Mycotoxin.  Basically a deadly and even carcinogenic mold/fungus that contaminates corn and peanuts(most often) but other grains as well.  The contamination can happen before harvest,or sometimes after- in poor storage situations- hot, humid summer weather and relaxed husbandry...ie,cleaning and disposal of old feed.    Hope every one reads this- since its a real wake up call.  This fungal toxin can be completely invisible- in other words the grain does not even have to look moldy- to be deadly.  There are many articles about aflatoxin- but there is one from Cornell University I found interesting (and alarming).   

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Knowing this was there anything that could be done.

EyeKeyYou said:

Knowing this was there anything that could be done.

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Apparently not. The vet said there is not a "treatment"for the toxin other than supportive care. My male was eating and behaving normally right up until 48 hours before he died. The autopsy showed very pale liver and kidneys- and his lungs full of blood. So, now that we know it was aflatoxin, the vet says he must have been harboring it for some time. There were significant changes in his liver morphology and it was completely compromised causing the hemorhage in his lungs- The scary part is, you wouldn't know it was this grain toxin unless you do the elaborate tests. I have a chicken that has been going up and down all summer. She gets very pale(her comb) and broody- staying in her box and then we worm the heck out of her, feed her up and she bounces back for a bit- then down hill again. I'm now thinking she may well be suffering from the same toxin - as all my birds live together, free range etc... So its super dilligent cleaning, throwing out of all old and suspicious grain, bird seed etc.. even cob corn I leave for the squirrels... I am also suspect of one of my sources of grain- as they store there bags of grain out in an open sided barn- and we had an incredibly hot, humid and rainy summer.... hmmmmmm

Thanks for the update. Here is an interesting link:
http://www.mycotoxins.info/myco_info/animpy_sr.html

-Kathy

@ms molly, would you mind sharing a copy of your necropsy report, because I know two avian pathologists that would be interested in seeing it. My email address is [email protected].

-Kathy

Thanks Kathy- you reminded me that i have yet to get the final teport from the vet. It has taken forever to get these results back and so far they are just verbal ad they say there are still more pending... i need to call and prod them some more. As soon as i get the report , i would be happy to share it with you. Molly

msmolly said:

Thanks Kathy- you reminded me that i have yet to get the final teport from the vet. It has taken forever to get these results back and so far they are just verbal ad they say there are still more pending... i need to call and prod them some more. As soon as i get the report , i would be happy to share it with you. Molly

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Thanks!

-Kathy

I'm very sorry for your loss.
Thanks for posting about it. I'm new to peafowl myself and need to know all I can to keep mine healthy and happy.
This spring I raised two from eggs and bought 3 at a poultry swap. Still in the process of getting the coop
and aviary up to snuff. They really are fun birds, lots of character.

Widlast said:

I'm very sorry for your loss.
Thanks for posting about it. I'm new to peafowl myself and need to know all I can to keep mine healthy and happy.
This spring I raised two from eggs and bought 3 at a poultry swap. Still in the process of getting the coop
and aviary up to snuff. They really are fun birds, lots of character.

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Well Thank you, and good for you for reading all you can to learn about these cool birds. You have no doubt fallen in love with your new hobby and are already thinking, more more more! This is a great community of people here on BYC who will help and guide you along the way. Good luck and enjoy!