Peahen Sick, can someone PLEASE offer me some advice...

ritaz1964 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2011 3:22 pm

My girl is acting a bit different. She is easily approachable, no fighting me in my arms. She spends a lot of time in a nesting position. I hope she isnt ill. I had a very young peacock (boy or girl I dont know) found it dead in the coop house. It would have been about 3 months old. Fine the night before, dead in the morning.

It isnt nesting time yet for Peahens..is it? She dosnt perch much either. She didnt before but now, even less.

I am worried she may be ill and die next...... she is mature 2-3 years old. Such a lovely natured girl too.

Update: No one has responded to my query... she has perked up, but now,NOW, another young one is dead!!!!I fear its blackhead, although no physical signs, the fluffing up and thirst and lethargy are there.

I cant find this drug anywhere! I have no avian vet nearby.... what do I do?

ritaz1964 · **Posted:** Thu May 12, 2011 9:20 pm

OK, now I have been to the vet, have had all 5 put on metrogyl for "blackhead", no more deaths, but the girl is still not happy, she isnt eating, and losing weight, her keel is sticking out a mile and her wings droop. She just wont eat!

Can someone help me PLEASE. Im not getting any answers.

I dont know what else to do...

anyone out there want to help me?

bluepeafowl · **Posted:** Fri May 13, 2011 8:12 am

The symptoms you have described can be applied to many diseases but as you have had veterinary advice then I will ask

Did the veterinarian conduct a blood test or fecal test to confirm histomoniasis is present? The reality is mature birds that contract histomoniasis usually do not survive the % is very low. I had to look up metrogyl and is more suited for bacterial infections not treating the parasite histomoniasis the treatment commonly used is Dimetridazole however this is more for prevention or treatment of young birds. I have searched for you and it may be available in Australia or use EMTRYL which is much the same. Sick birds should be isolated from the main flock and treated separately. Dead birds should be burned or buried deeply. All equipment used by an infected flock should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. With regards to eating have you tried food she would consider a treat that you would not normally feed to her every day such as kibble?

I wish you the best

parvo · **Joined:** Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:39 pm **Posts:** 735

Hi RitaZ1964,

Sorry that you haven't had an answer until bluepeafowl's helpful words of advice.

First of all you need to be sure that blackhead is in fact the cause of the problem. A post mortem of one of the dead birds would give you the best information.

If it is blackhead, then as well as treating for the organism that causes the disease - a small protozoan parasite called Histomonas meleagridis-[i] you also need to treat for worms as the caecal worm often carries the blackhead parasite.[/i]

Metrogyl (active chemical = metronidazole) may well help as it belongs to the group of medications which are used to treat these protozoan parasites. Emtryl is only available through a veterinarian and cannot be used in poultry/game birds destined for human consumption. Another alternative is ronidazole (sold as Ronivet or Turbosole)- your vet would have to order it in for you as it is also a prescription medication.

As for your sick hen, if you have wormed her and treated her for blackhead, then make sure she is getting plenty of electrolytes and food that she likes, including lots of her favourite treats.

Getting her checked by the vet or at least a faecal sample examined may help also. For example some worms are quite resistant to medications so a faecal exam may help to uncover this.

Hope this helps a little.

Parvo

ritaz1964 · **Posted:** Fri May 13, 2011 11:20 am

I have today treated her for the caecal worm, she is limping now? Examined her leg all the way up to hip, toes, claws, all looks fine, she dosnt wince when we touch it.

I made her a treat I read here of boiled rice and raisins, I just came in from watching her for a good half hour and she started nibbling it. The worming solution I administered right down her throat (diluted), the others will drink readily.

I was told by the vet that the metrogyl (sp?), would cover the histomoniosis... I cant get emetryl here, no vet has it...Im frustrated by it all.

The vet did not do a faecal test. There is NO vet around here who knows much at all about peacocks....

How long after they are wormed should there be a visible improvement (to my eye)?

So, I know Im on a winner with the rice and sultanas, so that is now on the menu as a staple.

thanks again...

bluepeafowl · **Posted:** Fri May 13, 2011 11:46 am

The limp will be from muscle softening which is not uncommon with histomoniasis it should improve if her overall condition improves. The most important factor now is she must continue to eat as her body fat reserves will be low or depleted and in turn her immune system will be weak. The rice is excellent for this and if you can add a small amount of bread product would also help and boiled egg yolk would also assist. Another point is to try to keep the hen in a stable temperature environment with no temperature under 50°F preferably 70°F would be better suited. Above all keep the food to her and if she survives you will need to re worm her and any others 14 days from the first treatment but only by offering in their water supply not orally as it will stress them. It can take many weeks for any significant improvement but your first sign will be improved eating and a return of normal wing position. I wish you all the luck and hope your hen beats the odds please keep us informed of her progress

coldcoops · **Joined:** Wed May 18, 2011 12:32 am **Posts:** 1

If I got the same problem do I need to treat the sand in the coop to stop the worm cycle or not?

ritaz1964 · **Posted:** Wed May 18, 2011 1:44 pm

Been to vet again, she was real bad, had the runs, very very smelly. Ruled out Mareks, her leg is limp but its due to the lack of nutrition. She is 1.8kgs. So back on the antibiotics again but for ten days this time. I have penned her seperate, giving her the drugs, she is eating again, her wings dont droop as much, still limping.... vet dosnt guarantee she will even make it, her condition is so bad. No more runs, so thats a bonus, that means nutrition is staying in...thank goodness for that at least!

This Blackhead is a terrible illness!

Cheers, Rita

parvo · **Joined:** Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:39 pm **Posts:** 735

Keep at it Rita- Good luck!

ritaz1964 · **Posted:** Thu May 19, 2011 9:16 am

Today I broke the pill in 4, squished it into bits of white bread and scattered it on the floor in her enclosure, she limped over and ate it all up all on her own! That is a definite improvement!

What should an adult peahen weigh (min-max)?

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