Deceased Peacock

[bantamluv]

Hey guys, I recently had a peacock pass away.

He was a Black Shouldered I.B. and somewhere around 3-5 y/o . His name was Indigo Lou (Louie Bluie). I had taught him to be held and sit on my hand, as he was extremely calm when well-trained. It was maybe September 14 or 15 when he died, and around 1:00 when I noticed he was panting. He sat on my lap and I syringe-fed him water with electrolytes and probiotic powder in it. Not too much, but enough to keep him hydrated, as i suspected overheating was the cause. His symptoms only continued to get worse, so I carried him up to the garage , set him in a wheelbarrow with pine shavings, and turned a fan on him. This continued for a few minutes until I took him back down. My sister and I then set him in a nestbox in the wall of his coop when we noticed his eyes were closing halfway and his breathing shallowed. His neck began to lay back on his shoulders and twist. It was then we realized he was dying. We took him outside and he died on my lap as I knelt in the grass. It was somewhere around 7:30 to 7:45 when he died. I don't know why he died and I don't really think overheating was the cause now. If you guys have any info or anything you would like to tell me, please do. I really don't know why he died.

Thank You,
Rachel

 

[bantamluv]

Btw he was also molting at the time and my mom suggested maybe his heart just gave out for some reason. Could it have been stress from molting? I don't know. Anything will help!


-Rachel









RIP LOUIE <3 <3

 

[new 2 pfowl]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

It's very hard to lose a pea friend.

It's likely your peaboy was sick before you realized there was a problem - they're good at hiding their infirmities.
Other experienced peapeople will probably have some suggestions for you as to his cause of death.

In the meantime, if you still have the other peaboy, it would be a very very good idea to get him to the vet to be checked out. He may also be ill but not showing signs yet.

 

[bantamluv]

Ok thank you so much. Yes, I am still very upset about my loss, but I will get the other one to the vet ASAP.

 

[Birdrain92]

Sorry for your loss. It's very hard to determine exactly what went wrong. Panting can be caused from a serious infection, excessive stress, or overheating. Usually when peafowl begin to show symptoms it can go down hill fairly quickly. Do you have pictures of him during, before, or after he got sick? Do you remember what his feces looked like? What did you feed him as his regular feed? For example, a laying hen, cracked corn, dog food mix. Did you feed him treats, what were his treats usually? Do you remember what the temp was the day you noticed symptoms? Do you have pictures or remember what his feces looked like?

Molting is and isn't stressful to birds, usually not enough to kill the bird. It isn't stressful since it's a natural cycle, the body is getting rid of them so it can recharge for next season. Also a kind of out with the old and in with the new. The process of loosing the feathers isn't stressful since the feathers are sort of "dead", ready to fall out. Sometimes have to be pulled out by the peacock himself. How it is stressful is because the body needs protein and calcium from the body to begin building the feather itself. So nutrients are going from a maintenance to a production change. If the body doesn't have the nutrients to perform this it can put some stress on the body. Usually it ends up with a non fully developed feather though, nothing extreme to my unless the bird is already lacking nutrients. Then it takes energy to push the feathers through the skin as well. This sort of stress is minimal stress. Molting itself wouldn't end up with a dead bird. Molt I wouldn't worry about.

 

[doudini2]

Oh gods, I am so sorry for your loss! I cannot imagine how it must feel to lose a pea friend. I hope he rests in peace...

 

[bantamluv]

Sorry for your loss. It's very hard to determine exactly what went wrong. Panting can be caused from a serious infection, excessive stress, or overheating. Usually when peafowl begin to show symptoms it can go down hill fairly quickly. Do you have pictures of him during, before, or after he got sick? Do you remember what his feces looked like? What did you feed him as his regular feed? For example, a laying hen, cracked corn, dog food mix. Did you feed him treats, what were his treats usually? Do you remember what the temp was the day you noticed symptoms? Do you have pictures or remember what his feces looked like?

Molting is and isn't stressful to birds, usually not enough to kill the bird. It isn't stressful since it's a natural cycle, the body is getting rid of them so it can recharge for next season. Also a kind of out with the old and in with the new. The process of loosing the feathers isn't stressful since the feathers are sort of "dead", ready to fall out. Sometimes have to be pulled out by the peacock himself. How it is stressful is because the body needs protein and calcium from the body to begin building the feather itself. So nutrients are going from a maintenance to a production change. If the body doesn't have the nutrients to perform this it can put some stress on the body. Usually it ends up with a non fully developed feather though, nothing extreme to my unless the bird is already lacking nutrients. Then it takes energy to push the feathers through the skin as well. This sort of stress is minimal stress. Molting itself wouldn't end up with a dead bird. Molt I wouldn't worry about.

Yes- his feces was grayish-green, with some white mixed in, with a very watery clear substance (haha maybe water) that kind of "splatted" on the coop floor. The other one has had it and maybe I can get pics. His regular feed is Purena dog food and corn mixed with oats and goat grain. He got fruits and veggies as snacks, along with maybe a raw egg or two to share with his friend. The temp was pretty high, maybe in the 90's, but he DID have access to clean, cool water and a shady coop. Thanks for the molting tips btw.


Pics-


the day we got him Sunbathing he is the one laying down (but I guess you know...)



I don't think that I have any pictures during but I will look for some.

 

[bantamluv]

btw it goes clock wise from the one of him on the fence to the close up to both of them. words the same way.

Oh gods, I am so sorry for your loss! I cannot imagine how it must feel to lose a pea friend. I hope he rests in peace...

Thank you- hope you never lose one, it is pretty sad.