Peacock dead this morning, other pea problems need answers.

[Frosty]

A few things come to mind...

Did you recently open a new bag of feed? Have your birds ever been tested for mycoplasmosis? (They can have it and symptoms show when they get stressed - cold weather, etc...) What does the poop look like? Are you running a water heater? I ask the last because I lost a few birds early this fall and was stumped and worried. One night when I was getting them water, I moved the fount to fill it and the heated base was buzzing. I am wondering if they may have been getting low levels of shock that was enough to kill them without frying them. After I took the heater out, I lost one more bird, then the rest seem to be fine.

I really don't like mysteries like that!

 

[Tootsie]

They were always together with those chickens as the chickens were there first in their 8x12 coop with 10x10 run attached which I was going to expand to a 10x20 run this spring. I had Allan almost 2 years and Nellie in there 2+years, got her a few months earlier so she went in there first, she is a few years older than him.

What do most of you do in the sad event of a loss of a peacock?

 

[Tootsie]

Oh Frosty thanks for the heads up. I only have one water base heater in my barn group far away from them so no, I did lose more than usual down there during our terrible cold snap but I don't hear anything off on the heater but will keep an eye and ear out. Opened a new bag of feed yesterday afternoon around 4 pm (nutrena gamebird pellets) but it looks just fine and most were done eating for the day but I will inspect it again tomorrow under bright lights and smell it too, don't think it could have happened that quickly and just to one bird or am I wrong?

I gave them all a look over this evening and the only one who is showing any signs of illness as in sneezing at times is the white peacock in the front of the coop (not where Allan was) so I gave him more baytril tonight and some more VetRx on his nostrils. I said prayers over them tonight and am hoping things will be better in the morning when I go back in there. Super vitamins in the water too.

 

[Tootsie]

Poop looks good but aI will recheck tomorrow and also in 2005 or 6 I had them tested when I found out a neighbor's birds had it but mine did not. If I can get it done for free I would happily do it again.

 

[TerriLaChicks]

All I can offer is sympathy, as I am so new to keeping peacocks-- but please keep us posted as to what you do and find out, for our own future information, and I will most definitely send some prayers for your peas; I know I would just be devastated if something like that happened to mine. Hope you find an answer soon. I am so sorry you are going through this.

 

[kuntrygirl]

So sorry for your loss.

If it were me, I would take him to a taxedermist and have him mounted. That way, he will be with you always.

 

[chickenzoo]

I'm so sorry, it's so hard to lose one.... If you don't want to have him mounted, cut off some of his best feathers, from different places. Take one of the best pics you have of him and either have a crafty friend or picture framer arrange his feathers around the picture in a shadow box. That way you keep his memory. I would burn the body, to keep anything else from spreading since too much time has past to do a good necropsy. Respiratory issues can linger for some time, but most of the time you will see some symptom.... runny nose, water eyes,bubbles in corner of eyes, labored breathing... wheezing etc.. Blackhead disease is carried by chickens and can be deadly to peafowl, it can be hard to recognize, but they generally start to look depressed, pick at food and get yellow poop. Yours have all been together for some time, so I don't think that is likely....... Did Allen get spooked by the guy working and fly into the pen? He could have broke his neck or something? I wish I had an answer for you....

 

[missevie]

If you decide to save some feathers, you can send them to me and I will make something for you with them. Just send the feathers and a picture of him and I will put together something really nice. Won't charge you anything since I know how hard it is to lose one of them. Just cover shipping back and forth and we are good. So sorry to hear about that, I really am. I am like a child when something happens to one of mine. I just sit on my porch and look into the pen, crying, and looking like a baby who you just took their pacifier away. I do think it is wonderful that everyone on this forum cares so much about not only the breed, but the birds and the owners. So much support.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I do the same thing. I cry like a big ole baby when something happens to one of my animals.

 

[Tootsie]

One person wants 500-600 to mount and another 425 but I am not sure if I should go that route since I am having trouble paying bills as it is and also what if I get him back and get sad seeing him. Then there is the question of where to put him without the cats getting involved in bothering his feathers. I still have him packed in snow and if I do the feather thing I will sure take you up on you generous and kind offer. I did take 2 feathers all ready to see how easily they would come out and they came out very easily.

I had the federal agent who tests my birds come today and I told her of my concerns. She randomly tested in each coop and took blood from 2 birds to test. She said overall most all of my birds look quite healthy and in good shape especially this time of year so she wasn't concerned but said hopefully the blood will tell if anything is going on and she said she would tell them I still have the bodies if they decide they need to see them but she doubts they will want to see them.

Sure would like to hear a good report. We did find one hen in Allan's group who today had a little bubbling in her eyes which I have never seen before. Everyone else looked good in there.

She brings the samples to the lab tomorrow and then it takes about 48 hours for results. Sure do appreciate all the help and support. Today was the first day it was a little easier getting up, I wake up in the morning and then when I remember I don't want to get up but my other animals need me so I have to.