NEED HELP!!! NOT SURE IF BIRD IS DYING!

[MCiccosanti]

Our Gouldians mated today and now the female is acting VERY strange. I've attached a few pictures hoping it helps. We have no clue what to do or what's wrong or if it's normal. Please help!!

[debbie276]

Could your hen be egg bound? Was she laying eggs? A bit of liquid calcium and extra heat wouldn't hurt.

[MCiccosanti]

I haven't seen any eggs yet. They just mated this morning *that I know of*. Also, I don't have any liquid calcium. Is that available in any pet store?

[Martie]

I'm sorry your hen is not well! If this is kind of sudden and you are seeing no other symptoms like diarrhea, etc. - it is very possible that she is suffering from egg binding - an egg she is unable to pass out of her body.

It would be good if you have a smaller cage for her, but even if you need to leave her in her current flight, you need to provide her with a heat source. In the absence of a heat lamp for this purpose, another kind of lamp with a regular light bulb can be placed right at the cage bars near where she is sitting so she can get warm. Get it right up to the bars. She will move away if it is too warm. Maybe provide a soft cloth over the floor grate so she can be more comfortable.

Place a small dish of water near her and the heat to raise the humidity there.

She will need liquid calcium - which is made for birds, but if you don't have it on hand, you can go to any pharmacy and ask the pharmacist for liquid calcium gluconate. You can put one or two drops at the side of her beak. Put some millet near her - and hard boil an egg and crush it shell and all - and put some of that near her as well.

If this is egg binding, as I suspect, you can keep her warm and quiet - and administer the calcium, she should recover quickly.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[finchmix22]

I agree with Martie. Could be eggbinding. Heat and Humidity with the calcium, a drop or two to the beak should help. Hens can go quickly with egg binding so, try to get some Calcium asap. I hope she pulls through.

[MCiccosanti]

Thank you SO much, everyone. We followed all of your recommendations, so let's hope for the best. I really appreciate your helpful and prompt responses.

[MCiccosanti]

Not sure if my last post actually went through. I just wanted to thank you all for getting back to us so fast with your suggestions. We just finished doing everything that was recommended for Egg Binding. Let's all hope for the best. Thank you again.

[debbie276]

Best of luck

[MCiccosanti]

I'm at the vet now. She's not reacting to anything. We're going to leave her here in an incubator for the night. The vet says she will probably not make it through the night. My heart breaks for her!

Thanks everyone for your help.

[lovezebs]

Oh my goodness. Does the vet know whats wrong with her? Did you just get these birds recently? If that's the case, I would be keeping an eye on your male as well.

Other than that, I wish you and your girl all the best. Poor little baby and poor owner.

Goodluck.

[Derk]

I have gone through similar recently - unexpected illness with birds. Wanted to send best wishes to you and the birds. Good Luck!

[MCiccosanti]

To avoid double posting, I'll leave this link here. I'll post any update I receive on Olive's progress as I get them.

http://finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28259


Thank you all for all your help and support! I can't explain what it means to my wife and I