FINCHforum

I've had this new pair for 2 weeks, and the female started laying 2 days ago. She succesfully passed 2 eggs with no problem. This morning I found her on the bottom of the cage. It looks like she's egg bound! I have seperated her into a small cage with a heat lamp and wet rag for added humidity. She has egg food, crushed egg shells, cuttle bone, seed/pellets. I also put a little lubricant on her vent. She really looks rough. Is there something else I should be doing?

Do you know the age of the owls?

You are doing about all you can. Heat and calcium plus to the beak and in the water will help. I found that with egg bound hens they rarely eat or drink, they are in such distress.

Be very careful in applying the oil to the vent, not to press to hard, the egg can break inside of her and cause peritonitis.

She passes the egg That was scary. I know she's atleast 3 years old. I need to get some liquid calcium!

Also try crushing the egg shells fine and mix it with the egg. Hopefully that will get her to eat more of the egg shells.

Great to hear that she is Ok!

she passed another egg this morning with no problem

I had a similar event with my Fawn Owl hen and unfortunately I lost her due to my ignorance. I never experienced this with my Societies that I've had for years. I am learning that I need to make some changes and be more prepared in the future. What type of liquid Calcium do you all use? I found a concentrate on Drs Foster & Smith that is diluted in their drinking water, but from what I've read, when they are in that condition they rarely eat or drink. Would appreciate your suggestions.

I use Morning Bird's Calcium Plus. Like you, I started with a calcium supplement from Dr Foster & Smith but after reading everyone's postings on the forum decided to use the Calcium Plus instead. I've had no problems with egg binding. (knock wood)

I believe a few board members have sites and sell the Morning Bird products or you can do a web search.

Bill...these are the sites for Jan at Texas Pride (she is a forum member) and Rockport Roost, I've ordered meds, nesting material and nests from them. Both carry Morning Bird Products.

ROCKPORT ROOST
(Activities – Wholesale - Retail)
Deryl and Elke Davis
Rockport, Texas
Website: www.rockportroost.com
E-Mail: deryl44@sbcglobal.net or elke47@sbcglobal.net
Phone: 1-361-729-6745


TEXAS PRIDE AVIARY
(Activities – Wholesale and Retail)
Janice and Robert Door
Sweeny, Texas
Website: www.texasprideaviary.com
E-Mail: Texasprideaviary@earthlink.net
Phone: 1-979-345-7387

Thank you for the replies. I'll support the forum members, but have more questions. Do you dilute the Calcium plus before you administer when they are egg bound? I assume an eye dropper is the proper way.

I'm just trying to be prepared for the future and please forgive my ignorance. Hopefully it won't happen again.

I did purchase a new cage that will be delivered in the next week. It allows me to divide the flight, unlike the large one I've had the Owls in. The age of the birds made me think I needed to do that.

last question is, what type of heat lamp do you all use? Again, I'm just trying to be prepared and have everything available if it's needed...

I use a cc syringe and put 0.01 cc of Liquid Calcium to the beak. Basically, that is less than one normal drop, so using a cc syringe is best. I add it to the water according to the bottle directions as well. Then, give them the eggfood with shells crushed and heat and moisture/humidity. I've saved at least three hens with this method over the last year. Most were young and laying their first clutch, but one was older and had laid other clutches without problems. Glad she made it.

Thanks Cindy, but I'm having nasty issues with the Texas Pride website..

@finchmix22 - thanks for that info. I have several cc syringes left over from my Borzoi days. I used to vaccinate them, but the finches are so much smaller. I may have to find a different tip, not the needles. What do you use?

Bill try this one...they deliver quickly

ROCKPORT ROOST
(Activities – Wholesale - Retail)
Deryl and Elke Davis
Rockport, Texas
Website: www.rockportroost.com
E-Mail: deryl44@sbcglobal.net or elke47@sbcglobal.net
Phone: 1-361-729-6745

Thanks Cindy. I'm not in a hurry and working with Texas Pride to figure out the issues.

I didn't mean to take over this post. Sorry!

Bill, glad Jan is helping you out!