So now it is flea season

[old biddy]

I am trying to treat my peafowl for fleas...they were fine all through winter but suddenly the fleas are everywhere. I have some Harts Ultra Guard Flea and Tick Home Spray and also the powder for cats. Is it safe for use on the peafowl? I sprayed permethrin all around their coop and now need to apply directly on the birds. Before I use permethrin I thought I would see if the Harts flea powder for cats would work well. Does anyone have any experience in this regard?

 

[casportpony]

What is the active ingredient of what you want to use?

 

[Manuel742]

Here in mexico we have this. Only about 5 grams per bird or less. But it is toxic if you put too much. Oh and it smells bad. Not recommended for small birds.

 

[old biddy]

What is the active ingredient of what you want to use?

Phenothrin and pyripoxyfen and piperonyl butoxide are the active ingredients in the home spray...and Tetrachlorvinphos is the active ingredient in the powder for cats.

 

[old biddy]

One of my peahens has a really bad infestation of stick tight fleas on her neck. I gave her ivermectin orally and sprayed her with the poultry spray (with permethrin) and put coconut oil on her neck to help smother the fleas. It seems some of the fleas dropped off or were scratched off but most are still there. They look dead but they won't come off. I went out this morning with my tweezers but the neck on her skin is so tender that I am having trouble getting the fleas without catching her tender neck skin. Is there any other way to remove those fleas without using the tweezers? She is lethargic and feeling really bad I can tell. How can I help her?

 

[old biddy]

My poor little peahen died. I am heartbroken. She was 7 months old. I hand raised her from the day she was hatched. Her name was Ninja but I called her Brat. I tried getting the fleas off her neck with tweezers and was able to get about half of them - she was so stressed out. That night she died. I am heartbroken. Would she have died that quickly from the fleas? I am worried now that my other peafowl may be at risk though they all seem to be fine at the moment. I have totally cleaned out their pen and roosting area and treated it with permethrin powder and spray and gave them all a dose of Ivermectin which I will repeat in about 10 days. I am starting them all on Corid in their drinking water in the morning. I have Safeguard that I could also start on them...but should I be doing all these things at once or wait to do the Safeguard after I am through treating their water with Corid?

I have been reading everything I can to get a handle on this but do not feel very confident in my abilities right now - having already lost my little Brat. I could use some positive advice if anyone has any. Sigh.

 

[casportpony]

Oh no, I am so sorry!

Fleas can make them anemic and that can kill them. Can you call a pest control company and see what they recommend for treating the pens?

 

[old biddy]

Oh no, I am so sorry!

Fleas can make them anemic and that can kill them. Can you call a pest control company and see what they recommend for treating the pens?

I had not thought of that. Thank you for the advice. I am presently treating the pens with permethrin powder and spray after cleaning out the pens, shoveling about 3 inches of sand out of the pen and putting down fresh hay and wood shavings and scattering rosemary boughs around the floor. I am trying everything I can think of. I have also put corid in their water, though they act like they don't want to drink it. I guess when they are thirsty enough they will. Do you think they will resist the corid to the extent of getting dehydrated? I have fenced in some new ground for them and am putting the bird netting over it today. AND I am going to call the pest control folks today to see if they have any experience with peafowl pens. I appreciate your knowledge and advice. Any comments as to what I am presently doing and the reluctance to drink corid water?