dying birds…please help

Have lost 4 of 7 peafowl over the last two months. The birds were just coming out from under lights back in July when I got them. Just moved them outside in the past month. They are in a 10x10 kennel with a top and two dog houses that are insulated as shelter. Not sure whats going on. Have taken them to the vet but we found nothing in the stool of concern. Treating with baytril in the water currently. My next concern is ecoli? They are still on the baytril in the water for treatment. Also wormed with ivermectin at vets office. They don't want to eat much besides meal worms. I have tried 20% laying pellets, and scratch with sunflower seeds (kind of a game mix) and kitten chow as I read they can have it as treats too. But the meal worms are the only thing they eat with any interest. How do you keep these little suckers alive? Ive raised chickens for years with no problems…but these creatures are driving me crazy! Should I try sulmet in the water next? I am about to the point of selling them because I can't seem to keep them alive.

I'm sure someone here will have an experienced suggestion.
It would be helpful if you can describe their symptoms and situation - droopy wings? drinking water? pooping? what does poop look like? is it hot/cold there? are they in a pen previously occupied by chickens? etc.

Also, I'm not sure how old/big they are? But they may be in too small a pen, not sure if this is affecting their health.
Adult peas need at least 100 square feet per bird.

Question.. If the vet found nothing why are they on baytril? what are you treating them for? are you giving them anything else besides baytril? how long have you been treating them with baytril?

When were they wormed at the vets? I would say they are wormy if you are only losing one here and one there rather than all dying close together

Ivermec does not kill all the types of worms that cause peafowl problems so i recommend using safeguard for goats and use the ivermec for external parasites like lice and such.

They are way to young to be on layer pellets to much calcium, not enough protein you need to switch them to a feed with at least 20% protein Purina flock raiser is what i feed.


Sorry for your losses they are so delicate some of us have learned that the hard way

I just reread your post and you said you are feeding 20% laying pellet, what brand is this cause i have never seen it here only like 16%

The poop sample was clean (but we weren't even sure if it was from the bird as I couldn't find a good sample in the pen. I didn't pay attention to the crate if it had anything in it when I took the bird to the vet (he closed early and I was in a hurry). But what we managed to scrape up that looked like bird feces didn't have any parasites showing up under the slide. We treated with baytril because I felt it was respiratory as the birds appeared humped up like a buzzard slightly. Even though he listened with stethoscope and inspected in the animals mouth, he didn't note anything off. So we figured that treating with baytril would take care of it if it is respiratory. I may mention that we've had several days of rain (like 4 hard rain days) and weather patterns changing from the low 80s to 60s as high during the day. No chickens have previously been in their pen unless it was left open and a guinea or two that free range walked in. I am totally new to peafowl so please advise me on food, treats, and anything else I can do to help these sweet babies.

the 20% is offered by Dumor at tractor supply

Is it starter grower mabe but i don't think this comes in pellet form?


cause this is their layer

From what I read here, it seems like the most important thing to do is find out what you are treating for, in order to come up with an effective treatment.
So perhaps you should try again, and take a poop that you are sure came from one of these birds to your vet?

Complete the baytril until the treatment is finished. Wait 10 to 14 days before worming again. I usually start with safeguard in their water, wait 14 days and repeat the safeguard and then use pour on ivermectin 10 days after that. The vet probably either gave the ivermectin directly in their mouth or as a shot, either would be better than on their backs. I give the ivermectin last because it has a residual effect. If it was me, I would have on hand a cocci treatment and give at the first sign of ill health. Once a treatment is started you need to go through with it, don't stop partway through.
Do you have an elevator or feed store nearby? Your peas should be getting game bird starter or grower ( or turkey starter or grower). You might try wetting it into a paste and giving it to them by hand, my peas like it that way. Do they have access to grit?
They need a bigger pen with roosts and if they are going into winter in poor shape they will need protection from cold/damp weather. Your peas should be gaining weight, a good way to tell is to weigh them weekly, if they haven't gained any weight, there is a problem. Good luck.

We have livestock guardian dogs and my other birds have free ranged with no worries from predators…should I turn them out at the least during the day? (we have 940 acres, but most animals stay on the front 30 except the cattle). I am wondering if they would thrive more if they had access to grass and other grazing. I will complete baytril. What sort of cocci stuff do you recommend? and how much safeguard in their water? Just sent off for a product called Avio 4-1which their breeder recommended. She says they need to be up off the ground, but I don't really have cages to support that. Thank you all for the input.