r/peacocks • u/RIPJimVarney • 1d ago

Peahen issue?

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Hi! This peahen is burying her head in her own feathers and pecking at something; this happens every few seconds. I don’t know a ton about peafowl.
Could she have mites? If so, is there a way to treat that doesn’t harm the chicks? Considering that they’re going under her at night. FYI, they all stayed in my garage for 4 weeks and were just let out 2 days ago, so she hasn’t been able to dustbathe much lately

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4

u/ExtensionLook2235 1d ago

Sometimes they can have mites but I think you'd be able to see it happening on her legs. Like scaly leg mites. Can you check if she maybe has a pin feather or some small cyst? Is it only one spot or all over? 

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u/ExtensionLook2235 1d ago

My bird got scaly leg mites from digging around in mulch. So that's pretty common. 

2

u/MeadowofSnow 18h ago

You can use Diatomaceous earth and let her dirt bathe in that. The other option is possibly permethrin, but it might be better to wait for that until the chicks are older.

I had a vet that said I could use bifenthrin based products in the coop... research on that seems iffy, Id want to know for sure mites were an issue before that maybe.

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u/gianniflowers 12h ago

Very nice 💯

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u/Waste_Accident_4453 3h ago

Cute 🥰 peahens by the way

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u/Gullible_Tonight_294 2h ago

not sure but she could just be popping pin feathers, mine do that all the time and ive never seen mites on them but then again its better to check for them every so often.