???? Lost 2 Peacocks to?????

[crazycoop12]

Help! I am brand new to peacocks. I purchased a 3 yr old pair in December. I have them in a large 10x10x12' coop with my guineas. The male's train had started to fill out and was gorgeous. There is an enclosed area out of the weather and it has perches at different levels. He survived our horrendous winter of -30 wind chills. I went out after our last -30 wind chill night and there he was inside on the ground dead. I was devastated. I just purchased another peacock 8 days ago. He was only 2 yrs old. I went out to feed them tonight and there he was same place dead. I didn't find any wounds, feathers missing, etc. They looked like they just laid down and died. I am at a loss.

The only thing I can think of is that I don't know if maybe it was the cold last night. I have no idea as to where he had been housed and if it was heated or not. Also, I had a problem last summer with my guineas burying their eggs and I wasn't finding them and I did have rats get in there. I got read of all the rats but could it possibly be the droppings from the rats? Maybe worms with the guineas? Any help would be appreciated. I am moving my peahen into her own coop before something happens to her.

 

[Yoda]

How many guineas do you have? I have 3 and they attack my peacocks. They will be going to the auction soon. I also have to geese hens that do the same so they will be going to the auction with the guineas.

 

[crazycoop12]

I have 6 but they get along fine. The peacocks I lost had no wounds or feathers missing or any signs of being picked on.

 

[zazouse]

Without seeing your setup or bird it would be very hard to answer this question.
You said no injury's but did you pluck the peacock and check them cause it could have been a bite of some kind like a spider or snake of course a snake would not be out in the cold.
I lost a peahen to internal laying and i plucked here and found a bite mark on her leg from when something tried to get her a week before, i thought she had just got away unscathed as i saw no wound but there was a bite mark on her leg .

Sorry for your loss

 

[crazycoop12]

No I didn't pluck him. I never thought of looking like that. The first one is disposed of but I still have the 2nd one. I am going to take a look before I dispose him. The 2nd one didn't even live a week. Do you think maybe worms? I have never wormed my guineas.

 

[casportpony]

Sorry for your loss... You should have a necropsy done or do one yourself. They're easy to do and If you need help doing that, just let me know. I'm not an expert, but I have done a few chickens and two peafowl.. Intestines should be nice and pinkish, belly should be free of blood and fluid and the rest of the bird should look edible unless disease was the cause.

-Kathy

 

[new 2 pfowl]

So sorry to hear about your peas.

It's terrible to lose one.

Although it seems unlikely that this had anything to do with their deaths, from what I understand, peas do really need more room than what you have there. The usual recommendation is 100 square feet per pea.

 

[DylansMom]

No I didn't pluck him. I never thought of looking like that. The first one is disposed of but I still have the 2nd one. I am going to take a look before I dispose him. The 2nd one didn't even live a week. Do you think maybe worms? I have never wormed my guineas.

While they may have had worms and that may be what killed them, the second one would have had to have picked the worms up before you got him. He could not have picked them up from your guineas and developed a severe enough infestation to kill him in under a week. You should however worm everyone to be on the safe side. If I were you I would go to your local TSC or feed store and purchase Safe-Guard Cattle drench(fenbendazole) susp. 10%, mix 3 cc into a gallon of drinking water, mix a fresh gallon everyday for 3 days and then repeat again in 10 days, this should get rid of worms in your peas and guineas. Very sorry you lost 2 back-to-back like that.

 

[Tony K T]

Did they maybe get spooked and jumped up and broke their necks?
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[AugeredIn]

Did they maybe get spooked and jumped up and broke their necks?
In N.H.,Tony.

I agree. If you had felt along their neck, you would have found the break. Not being judgmental but probably not enough space. They were on the ground and got into a skirmish with guineas. Jumped up and broke their necks.

We use netting but have occasional 2x4 cross members at 9' high. We had never lost a bird this way until I jinxed myself with Josh at Rocking BABA and told him we had never lost one. I have lost three in the past two years this way. I also had an Opal Black Shoulder freak out during worming in November and flew up and hit his back on a cross member. He could not walk for several days and barely for two weeks after that. He finally got to where he could walk fairly well but still has a weird gait. When he fans it is also crooked. We turned him out to free range since I don't think he can mate.