03/30/2026
‘tis the season for respiratory issues in Peafowl, please see the excellent information below by Carol Morgan for information on medications which may be used. You may have to get a script from a vet to order to procure some meds.
I always recommend vet consultation.
PEAFOWL HEALTH MEDS:
By Carol Morgan
MEDICATIONS/Antibiotics~treating Respiratory or Blackhead require specific antibiotics Some may still be available at Family Farm & Home, TSC or your feed mill/supply store. Some have antibiotics left in their back room some can be ordered online without RX still. First and foremost seek Veternary care. Veterinary intervention and treatment is very important to do all you can to obtain.
Always realize you need to know if your treating Respiratory infection/illness or seeing symptoms from wormload or protozoan. One will not treat the other, often both are needed.
Medication list:
RESPIRATORY INFECTION-struggling to breath as subtle opening and closing of the beak, sometimes head tilted back struggling for air, gasping , labored breathing any or all of these symptoms, is normally indicative being caused by a respiratory infection. Symptoms will often include a runny nose, swollen sinuses or labored breathing. Sometimes a cough , sneezing that continues through the day. TREATMENT… Antibiotics-Provided ORALLY.
✨Tylan 200 ~2 cc’s of Tylan 200 if a year old or adult, twice /day, if under a year old 1cc ~twice/ day of Tylan 200…. Give for 5-10 days. Under 4 months, 1/2cc … orally twice /day NEVER inject.
⭐️All medications to birds of any age can be provided orally… as a syringed(needle removed after drawing up the med) drench  down the birds right side of the throat, note if you are facing your bird, this will be your left(birds right side) , avoid the center, which is the windpipe so you do not cause your bird to aspirate. Another option is to hide the medication inside a bite sized bread ball, and feed it to your bird. Make sure your bird does eat it as the full dose will be necessary for effectiveness. ⭐️

Note with tylan, provided orally~you should provide it 2-3xs a day, 8 -12 hours apart) (3x’s/day , 6 hrs apart in Severe situations- reduce to 12 hrs apart once improving) helps ease breathing fairly quickly usually within an hour. Injections(only provide if Experienced in injecting) should still be twice a day with tylan and can be up to 8-12 hours apart. Only if EXPERIENCED in injecting & if the birds not to thin. I suggest ONLY the first injection at the breast, away from the breast bone and on the right side(the left side is the burds major organs)… for speedy delivery of the medication to start .ONLY if your bird isn’t to thin. Watch out for the breast bone and stay away from it and do not inject deeply. This should only be basically poke to the skin not a jab which can kill your bird . Again, injections are not necessary all injectable medications can be provided orally.
All subsequent injections I recommend at the nape of the neck. The skin pulled up just above the area between the shoulder blades as tylan causes permanent muscle damage, so I do not recommend all injections to be done in the breast again do not provide injections. ✅If you are not experience as one wrong injection, can kill your bird. Tylan injected does cause muscle damage .
✨LA 200 (oxytetracycline injectable) provide ORALLY~3/4cc for a year old-adult, under a year 1/4cc. ((Special notation~under 4 months old 2/10 cc)) ALL doses for any age ~Once/day (24 hours) for 4 days LA 200 is Oxytetracycline that is also sold under the brand names of Duramycin (Duramyacin 72/200)and Liquamycin . This works the quickest to ease breathing troubles …usually within minutes.
✨One or two 1cc injections of Baytril 100 is also highly effective-adults, (we advise Not to provide injections unless you are experienced ! Meds can be orally dosed ) for very sick birds or ones that have relapsed after previous antibiotics.
Baytril most common is the 10% solution which is 100mg/ml and the desired dose, per avian vet is 15-20mg/kg for five days, 🦚that's .15 to .2 ml per 2.2 pounds. Average adult peacock is 10-12 pounds, average peahen is 8 -9 pounds.
Generic option of baytril is Enrofloxacin~ https://jedds.com/products/enrofloxacin-10
Provide orally. Baytril is normally veterinary prescription only. Baytril/enrofloxacin/Enrotril have excellent activity against Mycoplasma (the principle agent of air sac disease). They are also effective against most of what are called gram negative bacteria, which includes Salmonella (which causes the disease Paratyphoid) and E. Coli. Very good against most sinus infections, unless caused by strep bacteria. A culture will show.
They are, however, less effective against what are called gram positive bacteria (such as Streptococcus). Baytril is therefore a poor first choice of an antibiotic for this type of infection. Fluoroquinolones do have some Chlamydial activity. Chlamydia is the agent that commonly causes ‘eye colds’, dirty ceres and deeper infections of the respiratory tract including the air sacs. Although treating Chlamydia infections with fluoroquinolones may eliminate clinical signs, this group of medications is not as effective at actually clearing these organisms from the birds body as other antibiotics such as doxycycline. The birds appear to get better but, as the carrier state persists, are much more likely to relapse. Baytril/enrofloxacin / Enrotril , has no action against fungi, viruses, canker or parasites. 
✨These ALL always can be provided orally if you are not experienced with injections.
….syringed down the birds right side of the throat (again if you are facing your bird, this will be your left ) avoiding the center, which is the windpipe.
If injecting… can be injected under some skin pulled up at the base and back of the neck.
✨Oxytetracycline powder:
Dosage: 1 teaspoon per gallon of drinking water for 5-7 consecutive days
✨ ⭐️Enrofloxacin 10% ~is a generic form of Baytril and is a broad spectrum treatment that helps treat bacterial infections such as Paratyphoid, Mycoplasma, and Salmonella/E.coli. Safe to use on pet birds such as finches, canaries, pigeons, backyard chickens, peafowl and even pet rats. Liquid form is best, enters the bloodstream & tissues better, less concern of potency loss as with any powders.
⭐️ https://jedds.com/products/enrofloxacin-10
Great Bird antibiotics
Penetrates well into different tissues
Helps treat animals sick with certain bacterial infections such as Mycoplasma, Paratyphoid, and Salmonella/E.coli. …effective against a variety of pathogens; not effective against anaerobes
May help when other treatments containing a different active ingredient have not worked
⭐️Enrofloxican 10%Dosage Instructions
Liquid: Administer 2 cc (ml) per quart of drinking water. Minimize dosage to 1 cc (ml) per quart after 4th day. Change water daily. Administering a probiotic supplement after the treatment is advised and extremely important as this can cause GI distress.
Do not “over use /over dose”~may cause blindness & other adverse reactions in overuse. ⚠️
Powder: 1 teaspoon (5 grams) per gallon of drinking water for 7 consecutive days. Change water daily.
Found on Jedds Bird Supply Website
💫Doxycycline ~double the dosage for adult peafowl. 2 teaspoons/gallon ,7-10 days, mix fresh daily. Should be the only source of drinking water and enough for the full day.
Doxycycline powder is an excellent broad spectrum bird treatment for bacterial infections ~ designed for the treatment of respiratory infections as well as Ornithosis, Mycoplasmosis, and Chlamydia
https://jedds.com/products/doxycycline-20-powder
⭐️Doxy-Tyl Powder for upper and lower respiratory infections, Mycoplasma, and Ornithosis/Psittacosis
💫Doxy-Tyl powder contains 40g Tylosin and 20g Doxycycline per 100 grams.
One 100g packet makes 20 gallons of water. Treatment should last 5-7 days.
The perfect blend of Doxycycline and Tylan for the treatment of upper and lower respiratory infections, ornithosis/psittacosis (Chlamydia) and Mycoplasma (Air sac disease).
💫Symptoms of Chlamydia psittaci include inflamed eyes, difficulty in breathing, watery droppings and green urates.
💫Symptoms of Mycoplasma include watery squinty eyes, weight loss, green mucus-y droppings, and croaking while breathing, bubbly or foamy eyes will indicate mycoplasma, but not always a symptom with it.
https://jedds.com/products/doxy-tyl
✨Denegard or TiaGard 12.5% fron Amazon. Mycoplasma , several bacterial illness and when other treatments fail. Dosage:
16ml per gallon of water with 1-2 cups of 100% grape, berry or apple juice within the gallon liquid measurement , or 1/2 sugar to sweeten as its very bitter. For 5-10 days depending on severity. VERY BITTER can cause a gagging reflex if it is not sweetened enough and also your birds may not drink it or enough of it if this is not sweetened up.
✨Aqua Mox it is Amoxicillin 100 mg tablets used in aquariums for fish. Most infections can be
successfully treated with other types of antibiotics and
amoxicillin clavulanate needs to be reserved for specific
indications when it is really needed. ~amoxicillin is a broad spectrum antibiotic, with little side effects generally, but again antibiotic, resistance concern …for bacterial infections in the respiratory tract, digestive system (enteritis), and skin , or birds attacked by a predator to help prevent acute cholera ~broad spectrum antibiotic not effective for treating Mycoplasma in birds, as it targets bacteria with cell walls, which Mycoplasma lacks; instead, antibiotics like Tylosin, Tilmicosin, Doxycycline, tiaguard(denugard)or Erythromycin are used to manage symptoms and reduce the bacterial load, but Mycoplasma is a lifelong infection, so treatment is for control, not cure, requiring vet consultation for proper antibiotics not as qu**ky effective against respiratory distress as injectable broad spectrum antibiotics such as oxytetracycline , or tylan, (provide orally) but a good broad spectrum option, Amoxicillin (Aqua Mox) tablet dose for a 10 lb grown peacock is 500mgs once daily for 5-10 days or until 48 hours past the respiratory infection symptoms.
Amoxicillian :
https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=6ee0a92e-1ba4-4748-bf6f-52a20a63bf36
You can find this in Fish stores, aquarium shops, large pet stores. Also online at jedds, mikes falconry or pigeon supplies plus website and valley vet website for best value.
✨Metrondaziole 250mg~Very important to have on hand for Blackhead as rarely, does the bird have time to wait for something to come in the mail and this one does need to be ordered or prescribed (it does not require an RX to be ordered. )Metronidazole is an antibiotic that is used to commonly treat protozoal and anaerobic bacterial infections.(antibacterial and antiprotozoal agent) For Blackhead~Classic symptoms of Black head would be yellow egg colored stool, droopy wings, and lethargy, not eating. This medication also can be good for coccidiosis as it can save a bird that has not been eating or drinking in most cases. Metrondiazole is critical treatment for the dangerous /life threatening infection that develops from blackhead. Probiotics are critical after treatment, Blackhead -Metrondiazole 250 mgs. 12 months old-adult~250 mgs/1-2 x’s/day, 10-14 days depending on the bird. 4 months to under 12 months old , half the dosage. Additionally critical to worm, preferably with Valbazen(Albendazole ) a broad spectrum anti parasitic . If albendazole cant be obtained use fendbendazole -adults 3cc/5 days repeat in 10 days.
⭐️tylan powder (Tylosin 99%)is a good antibiotic for respiratory illnesses in peafowl.
Mix 1 ½ teaspoons of Tylan powder into 1 gallon of water and mix thoroughly.
⭐️ VetRX should be used during any respiratory treatment, NOT a cure nor a treatment in itself…vetrx is an aide to help relieve symtoms and provide comfort, and kill external bacteria …this oil is a critucal aide in cleaning affected and swollen areas on the face, eyes and sinuses. Warm the bottle in a cup of warm water first to activate…(do Not microwave~ this will kill nutrients & cause hot spots)drop 10-12 drops of vetrx into 1/2 cup of warm water and clean the face, eye(eyes first) , sinuses with a dipped gauze (use fresh cause between face & beak) to safely treat, avoid contamination spread and clean the area of bacteria, dry the face gently with gauze. Apply undiluted vetrx to the full beak and nostrils even the face to help continue fighting bacteria and relieve breathing by clearing the sinus area to help. Then apply original formula neosporin or triple antibiotic ointment . VetRX is a safe, natural formula as an important aid not a treatment. Found at most feed stores and online, no prescription needed.
⭐️Metronidazole will treat Blackhead, Canker and Heximitia. It may treat coccidiosis but is not a targeted treatment for it. Not a treatment for respiratory infections. Symptoms of advanced cases are a lethargic Peacock going light with red or yellow in the p**p.
💫For Blackhead treatment -Metrondiazole is the most effective treatment . Veterinarians may prescribe it and it can be ordered online.
See more at: https://poultrydvm.com/drugs/metronidazole Blackhead. It also has anti-inflammatory effects in the bowel. Metronidazole is bactericidal, it kills bacterial microorganisms.
Metrondazole 250 mgs/once -twice/a day (depending on how advanced) for 10 -14 days for a year old-adult, under a year~half the dosage. A dose of Valbazen wormer should be used additionally with the metronidazole when treating blackhead. Fendbedazole if albendazole can’t be obtained. Alternative to pills~
✨ Flagyl (Also called Metronidazole)for Blackhead -500 mg per gal water(powder) 10-14 days depending on severity. Not as effective treatment as pills as they dont drink well with blackhead. . Relying on your bird to drink enough isn’t a good idea if this is being used for blackhead. You may need to syringe oral doses of the mixture.
Additionally~Flagyl is excellent in the water for 10 days of chicks to give them a good start if they are not thriving.
✨ Canker- yellow or white spots or chunks inside the mouth, if severe canker with swelling as well~ over 12 months old…(if Under 12 months old
1/2 the dosage)
⭐️canker severe case, adult dose~metronidazole 250 mgs/twice/a day for 10 days For a total of 500mgs daily divided in 2 -250 mgs dosages. If not severe , not advanced 250mgs/once /day is sufficient, 10days 🐥4 mos-under a year/half dosage -175mg 🐣under 4 months, powder packets of metronidazole in drinking water , 500mg, 10 days.
✨Rhonidazole 20%- The product of choice in Europe for the treatment of Canker, and is regarded by most veterinarians as the No. 1 medication for canker in pigeons. It is not harmful to young birds, ideal for peafowl.
Dosage Treatment: 1 teaspoon per gallon of water for 5 days
Use VetRx as reccomended above to also aid treatment and more comfort to the bird along with helping to clean up bacteria. Warm the bottle first in warm water begire use-do not microwave . May be used undiluted or diluted . As an aid not a treatment or cure.
Additionally, worm ~oral dosing preferred ~adult dosages ~Valbazen(Albendazole) 1cc directly syringe down the right side of the birds throat, avoiding the center, or hidden in a treat and fed to the bird directly , Do Not use Albendazole in water. Provide for three days in a row The valbazen (Albendazole) plus the metronidazole must be provided 5-(m10 days , max 14 days if the bird isn’t better….additionally to treat the canker, the wormer will not treat canker but will help in other ways to facilitate toward higher recovery chance.
Valbazen(Albendazole) is best option as it’s a broad spectrum anti parasitic, if it can’t be found,
Provide ivermectin 1% -1/2cc directly or a dose or a hidden and a bread bite or treat and tossed to the bird.
Or ivermectin 1.87% horse paste~ directly measure up 1/4 inch strip and hide it in a bread bite(1/4 inch will look like a pea sized amount accurately measured for effectiveness) do not provide ivermectin in water.
Or
Safeguard liquid goat, wormer or paste ~
1 full teaspoon dose (5cc) daily for three days, either syringed down the right side of the throat or hidden in a 1/2 piece of bread, folded shut torn into enough to easily eat … must have a full dosage provide this for 3 to 5 days at this dosage less is not effective. Safeguard (fendbendazole) is safe and you will now dose underdosing simply will not work.
Provide this one again in 10 days for follow up after the last dose was provided.
Any of these wormer options will be very helpful in the situation by ridding any parasites and worms that could be in part responsible with the situation . ..but only metronidazole will treat canker. You can find metronidazole 250mg, pills at fish/aquarium stores or pet stores that sell fish. You can order the tablets of 250mgs on pigeon supplies plus website but your bird needs it asap. Again 250 mgs Metrondiazole/twice /day. 🌟do not provide a 500 mg single dose …Morning and night. If you can only find 500mg, please divide the dose in half, 500 mg is not ideal in one dosage. You want it spread to be in the system at least 12 hours at a time minimum.
✨ Respiratory treatment option ~
Aureomycin soluble powder. Chlortetracycline. Treats respiratory diseases and Infectious Synovitis.
Peafowl over 1 year: Mix 2 measuring teaspoons/gal. drinking water. Medicate 7 to 14 days.
Peachicks over 6 months: Mix 1 to 2 teaspoons/gal. drinking water. Medicate 7 to 14 days.
Peachicks under 6 months: Mix ½ to 1 teaspoon/gal. drinking water. Medicate 7 to 14 days.
✨Fishzole packets 250 mg powder~at your fish stores or some pet stores are Metrondiazole . Just mix with 2cc of water , suck it up into the syringe and gently syringe down the right side of the throat avoiding the center which is the windpipe.
⭐️SEE The other featured Pins for specific antibiotics. Also treating respiratory with antibiotics it is best to additionally worm, to help provide your bird in a higher chance full recovery….as parasites can additionally, cause respiratory illness as a root.
Note⭐️antibiotics will Not treat viral infections such as colds, flus, or fowl pox, and will not treat worm/parastic loads⭐️probiotics are critical after treatment with antibiotics .
Disclaimer:
The information and advice provided here are based on personal knowledge, experience, research, and minimal education in the field, along with journals and research of board-certified avian veterinarians, and clinically experienced veterinarians who have kept up on the many advances of avian science. All recommendations provided are sound advice.
While efforts are made to offer valuable insights, it is important to note that I am not a licensed veterinarian. The advice shared should not be construed as professional veterinary guidance or a substitute for consulting a licensed veterinarian. Many cases of illness in your birds need Veternary intervention and care in order to recover. By utilizing the information provided, you acknowledge and agree that any actions taken regarding the care, treatment, or medication of your pet are at your own risk and responsibility. Any consequences following the avice or misunderstanding and incorrectly, executing the recommendations, are your sole responsibility. Treatments may not always work, especially when situations may be at advanced levels in which the bird’s body may not respond , or if there are unknown underlying conditions . We are not liable for any negative outcomes, side effects, or damages resulting from the use of this information. We do understand that in the largest majority of cases professional care cannot be obtained for Peafowl, this is much of why we are here , however , Always consult with a qualified veterinarian before making any decisions regarding the health and well-being of your peafowl.
Make every effort to seek Veterinary care.
Metronidazole (brand name Flagyl®) is a synthetic, nitroimidazole antibacterial and antiprotozoal agent. It is used to treat bacterial infections caused by anaerobic bacteria (such as Clostridium), and protozoa )(especially flagellates). Specific diseases Metronidazole may be an effective treatment...
