FINCHforum

Hello, I will try my best to cut a long story short. I got home today and as usual went to look at my finches. My zebra female was sitting constantly fluffed up and it got to the point where she couldn't fly to the perch and was still on the ground. I put her into my spare cage and took her into the bathroom where I increased heat and humidity. I put her in a shallow dish of warm water and eventually I read that you can massage the area with olive oil and gently massage the egg out and it worked but the egg came out shaped like an egg but it was quite small (a lot smaller than the typical zebra finch egg) and it was rubbery and squishy, what does this mean? She always has a cuttle bone in her cage and I give her fresh fruits and vegetable every day or two. Anyway after I let her settle for a while I put her partner back in with her and he encouraged her (I think) and now she is back up on the perches and looks pretty much like she used to, so I guess what I am asking is... What was wrong with the egg? And is that the end of it, I mean now that the egg has gone will she continue as normal?

If the egg was soft, she definitely needs more calcium. I don't think the cuttle bone is enough. Especially if you're counting on her to get her own. They sometimes get very little off of it. I take a paring knife and shave quite a bit off when my hens are in the egg laying mode. I would do that, plus boil and egg, shell and all, mash it all up and give it to her so she gets the benefit of the egg and the shell for calcium. Do you have a good supplement with Vitamin D3. I'm not sure if she gets enough sunlight but most birds don't and she probably needs it. Be very careful about massaging the area where the egg is. Though it worked out for you this time, the risk of breaking the egg inside your hen is very high and this would kill her. I take cotton balls with warm water on it, then put a very little bit of olive oil on it and gently message the vent putting no pressure at all on it. Also the steam and heat making sure she doesn't get chilled from the humidity. If you bring her out of the bathroom and she's damp, make sure she has immediate access to the heat lamp. Is she getting vegetables, like Romaine lettuce, etc?

Hi Corkysgirl, thanks for answering. She was getting vegetables but I think I will increase the amount from now on and I am getting a calcium boost today. Also I will definitely try the boiled egg. And although she does get some sun I think you are right that she doesn't get enough because where I live it gets very cold so I have to often bring them inside. Is there something I can give her that will increase her vitamin D3 intake?

JeveFinch -- That's called a "shell-less" or "rubber" egg.

It occurs in chickens when they experience some sort of stress, which disturbs the body's natural egg-laying process.

In finches and non-poultry birds, the same can occur due to a stressor, but it can also indicate a poor diet that's lacking in calcium (or D3, which is required to absorb the calcium) and protein.

So as Corkysgirl recommended, I"d reevaluate her diet and ensure she's getting sufficient calcium, D3, along with protein.
Egg is one of the best sources of these. So I'd give her some hard boiled eggs or scrambled eggs, cooked in a bowl in the microwave (so no butter or oil or anything.)

A great D3 supplement is called Soluvite D.
You can also get something called Calcium Plus, which has D3 and calcium. That's great for egg binding emergencies.
D3 not only helps them absorb calcium; it also is required for the muscles to work properly. So you can have profound muscle weakness if you're lacking D3.

It makes sense that she was having a difficult time passing the egg. Egg binding most often occurs with a very large egg, or a soft shelled/shell-less egg. In the case of the latter, there's nothing solid to push against (think of using your hand to push a piece of wood and then using your hand to push a hunk of dough.)

Hopefully she'll be okay. I'd keep a close eye on her, as she'll be prone to another egg binding situation if she happens to release another (they don't usually as a result of the stress, but it can occur.)
In an emergency, you can get liquid calcium at the drug store. She won't love it, but it will help. You just put some on the side of her beak.

Birds indoors.....you will need vitamin d3

Buy this.....its brilliant

Thankyou MiaCarter and dutch. I will look at all of the products you suggested and I am just about to hard boil an egg to give them. I think that it was the lack of D3 as they don't get very much direct sunlight. It's been about 20 hours since the egg passed and she already looks a lot better, she is not fluffed up, she is alert and flying around the cage but I will continue to keep an eye on her and I will give them and my other zebra finches a better diet!!

JeveFinch Sorry your Zebra had difficulty. Sounds like you handled it well with increased heat & humidity. I agree with what the others have said. Feeding egg [with the shell crushed in it too] is best. If you do give any supplements but BE CAREFUL to read the label. I found many of the calcium products now have D3 in them & you do not want to give too much vitamin D is a fat-soluble meaning it is stored in the liver & fatty tissues therefore it is eliminated slowly.

Teagarden is very right about that. Always make sure with vitamin supplements you don't double dose. It's so easy to do. Too much of a good thing is not always a good thing.

Thank you Teagarden and Corkysgirl. I was just reading up about how too much D3 can do more harm than good. I gave them hard boiled egg crushed (with shell) and left it in the cage for a few hours but they didn't have any, they just flew around it. Is there some way I can get them to eat it?
I'm hoping that the cold will go away here so I can put them outside and let them get some direct sunlight but it might be a couple of months before it is warm enough for them.

I save my egg shells from frying eggs and such and dry them in the oven on 250 until they're good and dry, then crush them and mix them with other food like greens. If they won't eat the eggs you could do that with them, feeding them separate with something you know they will eat. You can try that.

Ok thanks Corkysgirl, I will have to try that tomorrow and see if I get any progress.

You're welcome! Let us know how everything goes with her.