Egg Binding?

[Zebrafinch000]

I posted a question about half year ago regarding a sick finch. She had got better and suddenly she became sick again. She ate a lot but is fluffed up... She's not pooping as much as before and when she does, it is unusually huge! But it looks like she is having troubles pooping ;-( she also has a big belly. I googled her symptoms and found that maybe she's egg bound? I also learned that maybe she doesn't get enough nutrition from her diet. I'm rather worried about her... Is there anything I can do at this point? I read that cod liver oil might help but what else can I do to make her feel better?

Note - I only have one other female zebra finch. And she's healthy.

Thanks again in advance!

[Sally]

One thing I always keep on hand for hens is liquid calcium for birds. It usually has to be ordered online. In an emergency, you can substitute human liquid calciium (calcium gluconate), which you can get at the pharmacy. One or two drops directly to the beak (usually the side is best) can be a lifesaver. Also, you want to put a heat lamp on the cage. A 60w bulb in a gooseneck desk lamp will work, aimed at the perch at one end of the cage. You need to make sure the hen can move away from the heat if it is too warm for her. The third thing to help an eggbound hen is humidity. Wet a small towel or dishtowel, wring it out very good, and then drape it over one end of the cage, keeping it well away from your heat lamp.

As far as diet, hens need to have calcium plus vitamin D3 in their diet. You can supply this with natural food items, such as hard-boiled eggs, veggies, oystershell, or you can give a vitamin supplement.

Good luck, keep us posted.

[OAvila1986]

I saw a video on YouTube how this guy help a love bird with her egg that didn't get laid. With a Finch I wouldn't know how that would work. Finches are rather tiny compare to the love bird. The guy used oil and some tools to open her bottom and out came the egg. The bird was put to sleep during this procedure.
Best of luck to you.

[Zebrafinch000]

Thank you very much for all the suggestions! Just wanted to give you guys an update : my female finch is more active these two days after I gave her some cod liver oil on her food, and she laid a tiny egg is there a cause for her laying eggs without a mate? I am curious if female finches just lay eggs on their own on a regular basis? I read somewhere that it's better to provide them some fake eggs so they won't produce more because it will lead to health problems if they keep making eggs?

Thanks again!

[Sally]

If you have just the two female Zebra finches, and haven't had a male around for quite some time, then she is just being broody. Sometimes hens will be stimulated to lay eggs when they are offered a diet high in protein. If you are giving egg food, I would cut back on that to an occasional treat. I have had a few hens that found egg shells to be stimulating, they would go nuts over them, so I was careful about not giving them egg shells, I'd offer oystershell instead.