Egg Bound

[laurab]

Hi all, my Cut-Throat went downhill very fast this afternoonand it would appear that she is egg bound. I have read that Cut-Throats are prone to this.

What makes one species more prone to egg binding than another??

[Waxbillman]

its strange Laura, may be its something in their genes, or may be something they get in the wild that they don't get in captivity that makes them prone to it.

Matthew

[PAUL HEARN]

Hello Laura,

The reason for Cut-throats being prone to eggbinding is most likely to be due to their natural range in the wild, they do inhabit hot and dry areas in the wild along with other African Bird Species that are also prone to eggbinding in captivity in the UK.
Another Species that springs to mind is the Blue Capped Waxbill, I have experienced eggbinding problems with Blue Caps in the past, and I think the reason for this was because they went to nest too early in the year when the weather was a little too cold.:(

My advice to you would be to bring the hen Cut-throat indoors until she passes the egg, and keep her indoors for at least another month until our weather is a little more consistent.;)

Paul.:grin:

[laurab]

Thanks for that.

Paul, I have brought her indoors; although the egg hasn't passed she does seem a lot happier today and is sitting on the perch and not the floor.

[Strawblady2000]

Hi Laura,

From my experience, there are many factors that can cause this.

Size of the bird (such as waxbills) can make it highly susceptible. Genetics, age of the hen, nutrition, obesity, nutirition, etc...

And there's the all around "it just happens sometimes".

I'm glad she's indoors now. Hope she passes it soon. Have you given her a drop of calcium to the beak? Raise the temp to about 85 degrees if possible.

Keep us posted!

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Laura,

I'm pleased to hear the Bird has improved,:grin: and I think Nikki has pretty much covered the advice you need.:grin:

I would certainly put the Bird on extra heat between 80 and 85 degrees as Nikki has suggested, this will be the only way the hen can pass the egg with very little discomfort, and then gradually reduce the heat until she is comfortable at room temperature.

Obviously you know then to slowly reintroduce her to the cooler temperature of the Birdroom.

Our Online Plantsman Chris will be the one to advise you (and the rest of us for that matter:-) ) on the Greenfoods that contain higher levels of Calcium that will ensure that we can avoid this happening to our Birds in the future.

Paul.:wink:

[Strawblady2000]

Hello,

I was wondering, would those of you who have expereinced and witness eggbinding please post your observations and symtpoms that you saw? I know we talk often of eggbinding and how to help, but when it comes to recognizing that there's egg trouble, there is only general info on a few websites.

Some people say they've seen their birds on the floor, wings outspread. Others notice a very wide stance and tail-pumping or panting. Others can see an egg or bulge. Even others have birds that dont come out of the nest and eggbinding isnt caught until its too late.

I thought it would be helpful for people dealing with this for the first time to see what others have picked up on as signs of eggbinding. I can only imagine the panic one goes through the first time they see it and if a vet isnt available, they scour the internet looking for solutions as to what may be wrong and how to help.

Remember the American guy who lost his parakeet a few months ago? I was thinking about his story for some reason and thought beginners to breeding may be able to use the information.

[laurab]

Hi Nikki, good one!

On each occasion for me I have noticed the bird concerned is 'dull' or perhaps 'sad' explains it better; with wings held down at her side and generally sat on the floor when it would be on a perch (except for my quail).

The other big tell-tale is that the bird can be picked up no problem at all.

I have been very lucky. I do not have a conventional 'hospital cage'. But I use a small cage that only has a wire on one side, and direct a heat lamp through the wire.

Apart from my quail, each bird I have treated in this way has passed the egg within the hour, more often than not, within half an hour.

The weather here is still appalling, I am seriously thinking of taking some of my birds back into heated areas!!

[Strawblady2000]

Hi Laura,

Great information! I had forgotten about the "depressed look" as well as ease of catching them. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. I'm sure beginners and not-so-beginners appreciate it greatly!

Ya know, with all the different types of small cages, what works works. I have different sized small cages, from tiny carriers, transport cages to a starter keet cage that is way too small to house a well bird in.

Great info. I hope others chime in too.

That is terrific that all of your birds made it and passed the eggs quickly. Time is truly of the essence.

One thing for those who are experiencing this for the first time to remember is that the problem with an egg being stuck is that it causes a plethora of major problems in a short period of time. Organ damage can occur from lack of circulation due to the pressure of the egg. It can block the birds ability to pass waste, causing kidney and intestinal damage. It can cause nerve damage from the compression of the egg against nerves. Rupture of the egg can cause peritonitis.

So, as breeding season is getting rolling, make sure one is well prepared with a hospital cage, heat source (such as a lamp or heat lamp or pad), calcium drops, and a water dish to raise humidity within the cage.

[Strawblady2000]

Well, I have a story to add...my beautiful hen in my avatar had a case of being eggbound. It was pretty scary.

She was well into laying...3 in the nest. She was pretty consistant about laying at the same time each day. I noticed on the fourth day, she had not laid at her usual time. That evening, I noticed she passed an egg on the floor. Whew! So I thought.

The next day, no egg. This was on a Friday. All day...no egg. I knew there was a problem coming and that she wasnt done laying. My gouldian hens all show signs of tail-bobbing when they are about to lay. After the clutch is complete, the bobbing stops. This is what I go by to tell if they are finished laying.

Anyways, she was still pumping her tail...by evening (26 hours after last egg was passed), she was listless and could barely perch. I examined her and could definately feel the egg inside. It was not visible, but it certianly was lodged.

I removed her to hopsital cage, gave calcium to the beak, added heat and some electrolytes and vitamin B to the water. I checked on her well into the night and she only got worse.

As a last option, I warmed some veggie oil and held her on her back. I dropped 1 drop on her vent...as soon as it started to "pulsate" (sorry for the detail) I added 2 more drops, under the hopes that the pulsating would pull the oil into the oviduct. As of bedtime, she had notpassed it.

Saturday morning, I expected to find a dead hen. She was not dead...but in very bad shape. I repeated the oil, and let her be. At this point I was out of options. She had not passed an egg since thursday afternoon. I had to leave the house for a bit and did not get home until 6pm or so. I KNEW she would be gone, as birds with calcium,oil,heat, etc. usually can pass the egg fairly quickly, but it had been more than a day and a half with an overdue egg.

Much to my surprise, she passed the egg in tact. She was shaky and could not fly because of the pressure on her nerve. She coldnt perch. But she was alive.

I continued giving vitamin b and liquid energy sources. SHe was shaky and such for a few days afterwards, but seems to have recovered. Monitoring her for permanent damage. SHe has been removed toa flight with only hens to keep her from breeding till next year, if not indefinately.

What a close call!!!!!

She still looks a bit tatty, but I think the oil on her vent got everywhere when she preened herself. When she's up to par, maybe next week, I'll give her a bath with baby shampoo to get rid of the oil.

Quite an experience, especially after losing my favorite yellow male last month.

Thanks for listening!

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Nikki,

I'm pleased to hear that the work you have put into saving this bird has paid off, well done to you!!:-D

All the best with your other birds too, Paul.;-)

[kenny]

hi nikki
thats great news mate well done for being so prompt with the first aid.it sounds almost as long as a humans labour...i can only guess at the pain she must have been in and the releif to finally pass the egg...i bet it made her eyes water when she finally laid it ...well done again nikki great work

ken8)