I could see concrete being a problem especially if they come off a roost and land wrong.
large male found dead
- Thread starter crazygoatlady
- Start date
I researched TT a lot when my chicks developed it. There is not a lot of info. out there about Peas specifically, but you can find some studies done on broilers and also Emu and Ostrich. It can be a result of injury, but when there is no injury and it simply starts to rotate for no apparent reason, it is attributed to rapid growth and weight gain. Bones are still pliable in younger birds and if too much weight is gained too quickly it can cause those weight bearing bones that are still soft to start twisting. Too much Protein isn't what actually causes this, it is the rapid growth and weight gain that results from a high protein diet. I read studies from Australia, where they eliminated it almost completely from Emus by keeping them underfed and therefor underweight.
They were raised *on* the concrete with little to no bedding and no perch. Cages are only 4' x 4' by 30".
-Kathy
Last edited:
- Sep 23, 2014
- 2,176
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I doubt it is the sunflower seeds as well. My peafowl's main food that I give them is sunflower seeds. I give them other food as well such as cat food, vegetables, etc, but the food they get the most of is sunflower seeds.
I would definitely lean to it being a broken neck, but as you all have mentioned we are not sure if the bird was showing signs of being sick, and the owner just didn't know what the signs of a sick bird look like. Here is an article I wrote a bit ago about identifying when a peafowl is sick: http://bamboopeacock.com/Knowing_When_a_Peafowl_is_Sick.html
If you have known your birds for a while, it is very easy to notice when they are not feeling well, but if you haven't had them for long it can be hard to know what is normal behavior and what is unhealthy behavior.
Regardless of what the issue is, if these birds are in a dog kennel, the top of it should NOT be chain link fencing! I have had issues with raccoons before so I wondered if I should be using fencing on the top instead of netting. I remembered reading about netting being safer for the birds, but it was time for me to do my own research into the subject. What I found was very sad. Many people have lost birds because they used chain link fencing (or some kind of fencing) for the top of their pen. The peafowl spooked, flew up, and broke its neck.
My first peafowl pen was a dog kennel. It wasn't a very nice pen for 2 adult peafowl- but it was temporary until I turned them lose. We covered the top of the dog kennel with a plastic tarp. I would recommend using a tarp instead of fencing over the top, just make sure you replace the tarp whenever it starts to become brittle and make the peafowl a larger pen as soon as possible. A chain link top is also dangerous for new peafowl. New peafowl are almost always flighty because they are not used to you and will fly up and hit the top often until they calm down and get used to you.
I think chicken wire is safer than other types of fencing for a top. I know several peafowl breeders that use chicken wire, but often it is smart to look to large peafowl breeders to see what they do, since they have some of the most experience. Most if not all of the pens large scale peafowl breeders have are covered in netting. The netting that is probably the best is toprite 2 in. knotted netting.
We are all just guessing what the cause of death was, but if it really was so sudden with no signs of illness at all, that really sounds like the peacock flew up and broke his neck. A dog could have spooked him, etc. Anything can spook them that is why chain link is usually a no no.
I would definitely lean to it being a broken neck, but as you all have mentioned we are not sure if the bird was showing signs of being sick, and the owner just didn't know what the signs of a sick bird look like. Here is an article I wrote a bit ago about identifying when a peafowl is sick: http://bamboopeacock.com/Knowing_When_a_Peafowl_is_Sick.html
If you have known your birds for a while, it is very easy to notice when they are not feeling well, but if you haven't had them for long it can be hard to know what is normal behavior and what is unhealthy behavior.
Regardless of what the issue is, if these birds are in a dog kennel, the top of it should NOT be chain link fencing! I have had issues with raccoons before so I wondered if I should be using fencing on the top instead of netting. I remembered reading about netting being safer for the birds, but it was time for me to do my own research into the subject. What I found was very sad. Many people have lost birds because they used chain link fencing (or some kind of fencing) for the top of their pen. The peafowl spooked, flew up, and broke its neck.
My first peafowl pen was a dog kennel. It wasn't a very nice pen for 2 adult peafowl- but it was temporary until I turned them lose. We covered the top of the dog kennel with a plastic tarp. I would recommend using a tarp instead of fencing over the top, just make sure you replace the tarp whenever it starts to become brittle and make the peafowl a larger pen as soon as possible. A chain link top is also dangerous for new peafowl. New peafowl are almost always flighty because they are not used to you and will fly up and hit the top often until they calm down and get used to you.
I think chicken wire is safer than other types of fencing for a top. I know several peafowl breeders that use chicken wire, but often it is smart to look to large peafowl breeders to see what they do, since they have some of the most experience. Most if not all of the pens large scale peafowl breeders have are covered in netting. The netting that is probably the best is toprite 2 in. knotted netting.
We are all just guessing what the cause of death was, but if it really was so sudden with no signs of illness at all, that really sounds like the peacock flew up and broke his neck. A dog could have spooked him, etc. Anything can spook them that is why chain link is usually a no no.
A bird with necrotic enteritis (NE) can look good one day and be dead the next. Also read somewhere that a bird on a high protein diet is more susceptible to NE, which is probably why so many medicated turkey starters have bacitracin in them.
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou...verview_of_necrotic_enteritis_in_poultry.html
Clinical Findings and Lesions
Necrotic enteritis, small intestine, chicken
Most often the only sign of necrotic enteritis in a flock is a sudden increase in mortality. However, birds with depression, ruffled feathers, and diarrhea may also be seen. The gross lesions are primarily found in the small intestine (jejunum/ileum), which may be ballooned, friable, and contain a foul-smelling, brown fluid. The mucosa is usually covered with a tan to yellow pseudomembrane often referred to as a “Turkish towel” in appearance. This pseudomembrane may extend throughout the small intestine or be localized. The disease usually persists in a flock for 5–10 days, and mortality is 2%–50%.
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou...verview_of_necrotic_enteritis_in_poultry.html
Clinical Findings and Lesions
Most often the only sign of necrotic enteritis in a flock is a sudden increase in mortality. However, birds with depression, ruffled feathers, and diarrhea may also be seen. The gross lesions are primarily found in the small intestine (jejunum/ileum), which may be ballooned, friable, and contain a foul-smelling, brown fluid. The mucosa is usually covered with a tan to yellow pseudomembrane often referred to as a “Turkish towel” in appearance. This pseudomembrane may extend throughout the small intestine or be localized. The disease usually persists in a flock for 5–10 days, and mortality is 2%–50%.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #49
he was alpha, as other birds are very young. They back off when he sees them. First roost is about 4 foot off the ground.
- Thread starter
- #50
will read about NE…it might be the cause. A lot of high protein going into these guys.
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