Pecking feet- first time postin

[kitchenchick]

I'm posting this question for my mom... She had 6 juvenile india blue peafowl-5 hens and 1 cock- for the time being they are separated into 2- 3 bird pens. The pens are 12 X 16 each with an attached walkin peafowl house that is split between the 2 trios. they are feed a mixed diet of seasonal greens, game bird crumble, the occasional hands full of cat chow, fruits, some mixed seed, and veg.

She noticed one of her hens was pecking at the webbing between her toes to the point of breaking skin with bleeding, no lameness, or swelling, just pecking herself til she bleeds. Mom's treated with BluKote and an antipick lotion. The hen will clear up then just out of the blue start on the webbing again. Now Mom's noticed that another hen in the other pen has started pecking the webbing between her toes the same as the first hen in the other pen. I've looked at the hens for mites, etc and not seen anything out of the ordinary- their plummage is healthy and no other damage other than to their webbings and that's just a small wound. I don't think it's hygiene- they are bedded on pine shavings in the house and the pen is very clean.

Looking for advice about other possible causes for this web picking. Could it be something environmental that we're missing? Is this something they may grow out of? Mom's wanted peafowl for as long as I can remember and she doesn't want to lose any of them. Are there signs to tell if this may be fungal or bactrial? How would this be treated? Should she be treating this in another way other than how she's treating now?

Thanks for taking the time to read and reply.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi kitchenchic and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

Are the birds maybe bored? Sometimes lack of environmental simulation and exercise can lead to self-mutilation. The blu kote, applied the moment she notices a problem, sounds like a great idea.

 

[CORNISH_MAN]

Hello, and Welcome to BYC!!

How old are these birds? Have they been wormed and if so with what and how long ago? My first thought would be mites but also could be some kind of fungus or bacterial infection.

 

[kitchenchick]

Thanks 1muttsfan and cornish for replying.

the birds are less than a year, wormed at 36 weeks with SafeGuard. Is there a better wormer for them. We use a rotation schedule for the horses- should we do the same for the pfowl?

I wondered that myself about boredom, I even would have thought that more if they had be housed in a smaller pen. Is there something she could add to their pens to alleviate boredom? How are they with a FlockBlock? Could it be a vitamin def?

what are the signs of a fungal or bac infection? What meds are recommended?

 

[AugeredIn]

It could still be a parasite, internal or external, that safeguard cannot treat/prevent. I would try a course of Ivermectin if nothing else to cover the broad spectrum worming.

I don't think it is your problem, but I hate pine shavings or shavings of any sort on fowl. I much prefer the finer grass hay/straw. So much less irritation potential internal and external.

 

[kitchenchick]

what would the ivermectin dosing be for them?

Thanks!

 

[AugeredIn]

.5 cc for over a year, .25 cc under one year down the throat. Lots of folks also use the pour on on the neck or even in their water.

You should probably search on peafowl worming and get fully up to speed. The Hopkins Livestock website is a good start.

 

[1muttsfan]

You could provide entertainement in the form of perches of different heights, novel foods like big chunks of pumpkin, dry loaves of bread, heads of lettuce or kale - things that occupy their attention for a while. A larger exercise pen that you could let different groups out into at different times would help. You may think your pens are generous in size, but remember that in a natural state they would have no boundaries and spend all day searching for food and moving around

Checking for mites is also a great idea. Look closely before you treat so that you Know if you have them and are not just guessing.

 

[kitchenchick]

Thanks for all the advice. We will re-worm A.S.A.P. and go from there.

 

[Yoda]

Can I ask why they are seperated? they should be fine growing up together as they do not breed til 2 years old. I don't think they have mites as I have one (juvie) that does it and she is on pine shavings. Could be that she has a scrape and it is bothering her. Do they go up on a perch? Mine just started to go up and she has stopped pecking at her feet. They all would be doing something if they had mites not just one. Check the pens for anything sharp that they might be coming into contact with.