Peafowl Help (Please help!) [Update and Pics-may be graphic]

[Wolf-Kim]

I just acquired my first pair of peas. Now that I have them home and can watch them closer, I'm starting to realize that I may have purchased some "less-than-healthy" birds.

How plump or bony are peafowl suppose to be? Both of these are breeding adults and they are very very bony. The peahens breast bone protrudes at least 3-4 inches down her length. I felt it and looked at it and it was easily compareable to a meat clever. The peacock is in the same condition.

The peacock has what appears to be a bumble foot, or the scar of a bumble foot. When I first brought him home and had him in my arms, I looked for a open sore, but didn't find one. After a bird has a bumble foot, does their foot ever completely heal to the point it was before? Should I look harder for a sore under the skin?

Right now, they have Ivomec in their water for deworming. I also went ahead and gave them each a shot of Tylan 50. I have them in a large horse stall with a thick bedding of shavings and no roost(just in case he has a bumble foot). I am letting them eat as much as they want of a mixture of laying pellets and puppy chow, to boost their protein.

Should I use chick crumble in place of the laying pellets?

I plan on purchasing some plain yogurt tonight, to help replenish their digestive track. I know that people use this for chickens, can I use it for peafowl? Or should I let it replenish on it's own?

Are there any other tips for rehabilitating peafowl that have seen better days?

Am I doing anything right? Or am I making beginner mistakes?!?!

I just need some advice or reassurance. I know I made a beginners mistake by not having someone experienced with peafowl with me when I went to get them. I should have looked more closely, but they are here now and it's swim or sink for me. Someone throw me a life line!

-Kim

 

[DANNY]

It sounds like blackhead. The vet has pills called metranizadole. You give them one pill down the throat and mix 11/2 pills to gallon of water. For 2 birds i just put a pill in a quart of water. I am not sure i spelled the name right but it is very close. If you are going to be raising peafowl you need to keep some on hand. It is also a human medicine. Your vet can call it in at the drug store. It.s a little more expensive but that may be a way of getting it quicker. You also need to check around their vents for lice. dog or cat food is also a good way to put weight on them. any more questions just ask. Glad to help.

 

[sandspoultry]

Kim,
Have you spoke with Iona about them???
What did she say?
Also where did you get them from?
Also look for an email from me, I just found the email that you sent me a few days ago.
Sharon

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Thanks Danny.

No, I haven't spoken with Iona about them yet. I need to, I'll type up an email to her right now.

I got them from a local bird fancier that usually raises pigeons and caged birds, but they have a managerie of things from bantams to ducks and geese. There were selling all their peafowl and all were breeder age, so I jumped on the chance to have an adult pair. Silly me, I wanted to avoid the wait and heartache of purchasing peachicks and here I end up in a mess.

-Kim

 

[chickenzoo]

The UPA web-site has a lot of good info too.

Danny what mg is the med you suggested? I'd like to ask my vet for it to keep on hand.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

I have a good thread going on UPA right now as well. I just wanted answers and quick since it was a health issue.

-Kim

 

[DANNY]

I read the upa thread. I know most of those guys and they make good points. I think i would worm them and treat them for blackhead.

 

[deerman]

Kim, wait a few days after worming them with ivomec. You need to worm them with panacure(Safe guard for goats). when worming just a few birds, the best way with ivomec is a 1 cc place at the base of the wings, shoulder.

The ivomec will not kill all worms.

Are they gaping like they have something in their throat.

Peafowl dont have big breast like turkeys, but these sound to thin.

The tylan 50 for two days.

You are on the right track. Just worm with panacure 2 days then repeat in 10 days.

The ivomec works best when place on the birds skin.

Not sure about blackhead, could be but more likely worms.

How are their eyes and head look

Edit, to add dose, The panacure you need 3/4 cc per bird down the throat, could be add to a gal of water 3cc per gal. but your need to get wormed my mouth to make sure they get enought.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Okay, here's an update.

I dewormed them with Ivomec, it is what I had on hand and I will pick up some Panacur for deworming in a few days.

Both were dewormed, then I cleaned the cock's feet. He has both bumblefoot AND frostbite. The birds are thin, worm, frostbitten, and bumblefooted.

I pulled two plugs from the cock's foot, squeezed puss out, rubbed on a triple antibiotic cream and bandaged it. Tonight when I go to get panacur, I will pick up some Iodine, so I can flush his foot with a mixture of Iodine/Water/Epsom Salt. We used this treatment under vet's orders for a horse with an absessed hoof, it helps draw out the puss and blood and helps them heal up. I plan to do the same with the cock.

Here are some pictures of them:

First pictures of the hen:

(I think her color will improve with her health)


Her breast bone and a picture of her weight issue. The cock is in the same condition.

Next pictures are of the peacock's feet. Combination of bumblefoot and frostbite.

Pictures of them in the stall after deworming and foot surgery, so they aren't exactly feeling great and pleased with me

 

[MillipedeFarm]

aw...poor little peas

i hope they get well