Please help! Peacock with worms?

[peacockowner1]

A peacock came up to our house about 2 months ago and has stayed here ever since. We began feeding him food we bought at our local feed store and also giving him water. About a week ago, we began noticing that he opened his mouth frequently to breath. A few days later it appeared that he was gasping for air. We gave him Ivermectin in his water and a small amount of medicated feed that contained fenbendazole. He appeared to be feeling better but still isn't well. He is losing a lot of feathers also, but that may just be molting. Should we continue giving him Ivermectin or possibly try to give him a different type of medicine? We are not experienced with peacocks and would appreciate any advice. This is a link to a video showing him earlier today. Thanks in advance!

 

[R2elk]

A peacock came up to our house about 2 months ago and has stayed here ever since. We began feeding him food we bought at our local feed store and also giving him water. About a week ago, we began noticing that he opened his mouth frequently to breath. A few days later it appeared that he was gasping for air. We gave him Ivermectin in his water and a small amount of medicated feed that contained fenbendazole. He appeared to be feeling better but still isn't well. He is losing a lot of feathers also, but that may just be molting. Should we continue giving him Ivermectin or possibly try to give him a different type of medicine? We are not experienced with peacocks and would appreciate any advice. This is a link to a video showing him earlier today. Thanks in advance!

@casportpony

 

[KsKingBee]

Get some Safeguard for Goats at TSC or any farm store for the worms. You will need to give him 3 ml daily for five days and for five more days ten days later. That will take care of most of the worms. It sounds like a respiratory infection and it could be a secondary infection caused by worms. If he is eating well you can put it in his food or treat like bread sopped with SG.

 

[peacockowner1]

Get some Safeguard for Goats at TSC or any farm store for the worms. You will need to give him 3 ml daily for five days and for five more days ten days later. That will take care of most of the worms. It sounds like a respiratory infection and it could be a secondary infection caused by worms. If he is eating well you can put it in his food or treat like bread sopped with SG.

Thank you! We have been giving him Ivermectin in his water for about 4 days and he has been drinking it. Is it safe to use Safeguard after having given him Ivermectin?

 

[casportpony]

Thank you! We have been giving him Ivermectin in his water for about 4 days and he has been drinking it. Is it safe to use Safeguard after having given him Ivermectin?

He looks very sick. Is there a chance you can take him to a vet? You can give ivermectin and Safeguard together, but as sick as he looks I think you should get him to a vet. If you do decide to de-worm him I would weigh him first because the 3 ml dose that @KsKingBee suggested is for a large male bird (13.2 pounds). That much Safeguard for a smaller sick bird might not be safe.

Weigh and give 0.23 ml per pound of body weight orally.

 

[peacockowner1]

He looks very sick. Is there a chance you can take him to a vet? You can give ivermectin and Safeguard together, but as sick as he looks I think you should get him to a vet. If you do decide to de-worm him I would weigh him first because the 3 ml dose that @KsKingBee suggested is for a large male bird (14.5 pounds). That much Safeguard for a smaller sick bird might not be safe.

Weigh and give 0.23 ml per pound of body weight orally.

@casportpony Thanks for the reply! Thankfully he began acting like he felt much better yesterday and has stopped opening his mouth and gasping! He also walked around the yard for a while and perched in his usual tree last night! Is it possible that it just took a few days for the Ivermectin to work? Also, how long would you recommend continuing to give him Ivermectin? Unfortunately no vets in our area treat peacocks or we would have tried to take him when his symptoms began

 

[casportpony]

@casportpony Thanks for the reply! Thankfully he began acting like he felt much better yesterday and has stopped opening his mouth and gasping! He also walked around the yard for a while and perched in his usual tree last night! Is it possible that it just took a few days for the Ivermectin to work? Also, how long would you recommend continuing to give him Ivermectin? Unfortunately no vets in our area treat peacocks or we would have tried to take him when his symptoms began

So happy he is better. If he's not gasping now there is no reason to keep giving ivermectin. If you can catch him I strongly recommend that you get a baseline weight on him in case he has a relapse. He is a full grown male and should weigh 8.8 to 13.2 pounds.

 

[peacockowner1]

So happy he is better. If he's not gasping now there is no reason to keep giving ivermectin. If you can catch him I strongly recommend that you get a baseline weight on him in case he has a relapse. He is a full grown male and should weigh 8.8 to 13.2 pounds.

We will try to weigh him! Thank you so much for your help!

 

[casportpony]

We will try to weigh him! Thank you so much for your help!

You're welcome and good luck!

 

[peacockowner1]

This is a video of our peacock now! He seems to be all better!