Peahen closing one eye

[Waterfaery]

One of my lovely peahens, Meena, is suddenly not quite right today. She's only 10 months old so still a peachick really.

I noticed today that she seemed to be just standing around a lot holding one of her eyes closed. Every time I went to get a closer look she opened it up and acted normal so it's hard to get a photograph. She can open it fully and it doesn't look swollen at all but when left alone she will keep it closed.

I separated her and gave her some scrambled egg and wet mash. She seemed quite starving at first and ate a good amount but lost interest before finishing the food. I spent about an hour observing her while she was separated and in that time she did two regular droppings and one cecal one. They were a reasonably normal consistency and colour but extremely small. I also saw her drink normally and fly up and down from a roost.

Most of the time she was there her eye was open but that was because she was really distressed, wanting desperately to get back in with the flock. Eventually I let her back in because I didn't think her symptoms were that bad and I was worried that the stress might cause more harm. However, after letting her back in and observing her from more of a distance, she started closing the eye again and was actually standing a bit hunched and ruffled and at one point she had her head tucked into her shoulder. Now it's close to roosting time and I've been watching the birds with binoculars from the house so they don't know I'm watching and act differently. She's foraging around and clearly trying to act ok but is slightly less active than the rest and she seems to be picked on a lot, especially by the mature peahens.

She actually has an eye deformity and is slightly cross beaked but she has been like that since she hatched and has been otherwise healthy so far, although she has always been slightly smaller than the others. I don't know if that could be relevant? It's her good eye that is affected now and the one that's always been funny seems unaffected.

There are no respiratory symptoms from her or any of my other birds. Droppings seem normal across the aviary.

I was hoping her eye might have just been a bit sore for some reason like from a scratch or a peck but I don't like the way she was hunching earlier, the tiny droppings and the way she's being picked on. Has anyone any idea what could be going on?

 

[KsKingBee]

That eye action could be the beginning signs of a respiratory infection in the beginning stages. Respiratory infections are secondary infections that are caused by another problem. If it turns into a sinus problem it was caused by dust or some other allergen. You are very good at observing and some of what I am hearing tells me that it would be best to hit her with a deworming, a cocci treatment, and be sure to delouse her as well. Lice can bring a bird down and make them look rough. She is a bit old for cocci unless stressed by something else. Hopefully, you do oral deworming with one of the white dewormers such as Valbazen or Safeguard. I would give her 2.0ml orally and again in two weeks. I would treat for lice with Ivermec pour-on, 0.4ml on the skin between the wings, and a tiny drop behind the crest.

 

[Waterfaery]

That eye action could be the beginning signs of a respiratory infection in the beginning stages. Respiratory infections are secondary infections that are caused by another problem. If it turns into a sinus problem it was caused by dust or some other allergen. You are very good at observing and some of what I am hearing tells me that it would be best to hit her with a deworming, a cocci treatment, and be sure to delouse her as well. Lice can bring a bird down and make them look rough. She is a bit old for cocci unless stressed by something else. Hopefully, you do oral deworming with one of the white dewormers such as Valbazen or Safeguard. I would give her 2.0ml orally and again in two weeks. I would treat for lice with Ivermec pour-on, 0.4ml on the skin between the wings, and a tiny drop behind the crest.

Thanks. They have just been wormed with two x 3 day rounds of Fenbendazole 10 days apart. It's only about 2 weeks since the last dose.

I have some Toltrazuril so I'll do that today in case of cocci. Is it worth treating all of them? It would actually be much easier for me that way.

I'm afraid I can't get Ivermectin here without a prescription. I'll start looking into what other lice treatments are available here.

Do you think stress from social issues could bring her down? My adult peahens, especially one of them, have turned a bit unfriendly towards the peachicks since they started laying again. Instead of feeding them they're grabbing food away from them and I have even seen the occasional kick. I have been putting out extra feeders but it's still a bit hectic in there. The young peacocks are sparring a bit as well. I think they're too young for serious fighting but I wonder if all the action might be stressing her. She's a very quiet and gentle bird.

I'm concerned about how much she was being pecked at yesterday. I'm wondering if she's run down from being picked on or if she is being picked on because she might be unwell with something underlying. Which way does it usually work in your experience?

 

[casportpony]

I'm afraid I can't get Ivermectin here without a prescription. I'll start looking into what other lice treatments are available here.

Can you get ivermectin paste for horses? You could use that too.

 

[Waterfaery]

Can you get ivermectin paste for horses? You could use that too.

Actually, since this morning I was looking into it and I can get Ivermectin so I'll definitely do that. The government here is bringing in a new law to stop sale of all wormers for all animals without a prescription. I thought it had been in effect since January (and I had made sure to stock up on Fenbendazole before that) but it turns out they have deferred the law change until the end of this year. So I can buy Ivermectin until the end of December.

 

[KsKingBee]

Thanks. They have just been wormed with two x 3 day rounds of Fenbendazole 10 days apart. It's only about 2 weeks since the last dose.

I have some Toltrazuril so I'll do that today in case of cocci. Is it worth treating all of them? It would be much easier for me that way.

I'm afraid I can't get Ivermectin here without a prescription. I'll start looking into what other lice treatments are available here.

Do you think stress from social issues could bring her down? My adult peahens, especially one of them, have turned a bit unfriendly towards the peachicks since they started laying again. Instead of feeding them they're grabbing food away from them and I have even seen the occasional kick. I have been putting out extra feeders but it's still a bit hectic in there. The young peacocks are sparring a bit as well. I think they're too young for serious fighting but I wonder if all the action might be stressing her. She's a very quiet and gentle bird.

I'm concerned about how much she was being pecked at yesterday. I'm wondering if she's run down from being picked on or if she is being picked on because she might be unwell with something underlying. Which way does it usually work in your experience?

I am impressed with you and how you care for your birds, so many have no clue how to deworm properly. By your observations, I believe the lack of harmony is the root cause of the yearling hens' problems. If you don't have another pen to put all of the yearlings in I would turn them out to free-range provided you have an LGD to watch over them.

 

[KsKingBee]

Actually, since this morning I was looking into it and I can get Ivermectin so I'll definitely do that. The government here is bringing in a new law to stop sale of all wormers for all animals without a prescription. I thought it had been in effect since January (and I had made sure to stock up on Fenbendazole before that) but it turns out they have deferred the law change until the end of this year. So I can buy Ivermectin until the end of December.

You will need to build a relationship with a vet who will believe you know how to treat your livestock and will not require you to bring the animal into the clinic every time you need a drug. Many people can't find a vet like that but we are blessed with one here. It is time to start looking if you don't have one already.

 

[Waterfaery]

I am impressed with you and how you care for your birds, so many have no clue how to deworm properly. By your observations, I believe the lack of harmony is the root cause of the yearling hens' problems. If you don't have another pen to put all of the yearlings in I would turn them out to free-range provided you have an LGD to watch over them.

Thank you so much. I have wanted peafowl since I was a child and they mean a lot to me. I think it's so important to research as much as possible and make the best decisions possible with the available information. I know I have made mistakes as I learn, as does everyone, but I want to make sure I do learn and do the best thing I can for my birds. We have a responsibility when we take animals out of the wild and put them in human controlled environments and too many people don't get that.

Do you mean set loose all of the yearlings or just the peacocks? I have always had it in the back of my mind to free range some of them eventually. I thought the young ones would be ok to keep together until next Spring when they will be 18 months old but maybe I do need to start thinking about doing it sooner. I am so nervous about it. They are still babies really! Foxes are the only predators we have here apart from small mammals like stoats and pine martens. I know foxes sometimes take a peahen sitting on a nest but would they take a peacock? I have read your many posts advising people to never free range a bird you aren't prepared to lose. It's a difficult decision. Maybe another aviary isn't out of the question.

Another option may be to separate the two laying peahens and leave them eggs to sit on in the small nursery area we built last year. We have been eating their eggs because obviously we are at maximum capacity but they seem to be the main source of stress so I wonder if things would calm if we let them sit. We could give them chicken eggs. Do you think that would help or make things worse?

 

[Waterfaery]

You will need to build a relationship with a vet who will believe you know how to treat your livestock and will not require you to bring the animal into the clinic every time you need a drug. Many people can't find a vet like that but we are blessed with one here. It is time to start looking if you don't have one already.

Yes, you are very lucky. I had terrible experiences with two different vets last year. I wish there were more options but it is really very difficult here.

 

[KsKingBee]

Thank you so much. I have wanted peafowl since I was a child and they mean a lot to me. I think it's so important to research as much as possible and make the best decisions possible with the available information. I know I have made mistakes as I learn, as does everyone, but I want to make sure I do learn and do the best thing I can for my birds. We have a responsibility when we take animals out of the wild and put them in human controlled environments and too many people don't get that.

Do you mean set loose all of the yearlings or just the peacocks? I have always had it in the back of my mind to free range some of them eventually. I thought the young ones would be ok to keep together until next Spring when they will be 18 months old but maybe I do need to start thinking about doing it sooner. I am so nervous about it. They are still babies really! Foxes are the only predators we have here apart from small mammals like stoats and pine martens. I know foxes sometimes take a peahen sitting on a nest but would they take a peacock? I have read your many posts advising people to never free range a bird you aren't prepared to lose. It's a difficult decision. Maybe another aviary isn't out of the question.

Another option may be to separate the two laying peahens and leave them eggs to sit on in the small nursery area we built last year. We have been eating their eggs because obviously we are at maximum capacity but they seem to be the main source of stress so I wonder if things would calm if we let them sit. We could give them chicken eggs. Do you think that would help or make things worse?

I really do not know what your best option is but you do need to relieve the stress in your aviary. Perhaps selling a few to cover the cost of building another pen? I would opt for free-ranging a couple of the larger birds in the meantime while you figure out what to do next.