FINCHforum

I came home to day to find my female BCCB sitting on the floor of the cage, fluffed up, and sleepy. I went to pick her up and she didn't fly. I suppose she's going to part soon.

I'm not sure why. I removed her nest last week and replaced it with a clean (empty) one. Maybe she has eggs inside her but a week should have been enough time to build another nest. She is also a little bald on the top of her head but I don't know if that's related.

The male is singing up a storm now, even if I stand right in front of him. It looks like he really wants her to perk up. I think he'll be disappointed, unfortunately.

Aww, he's grooming her. He loves her

Gosh.... hate to hear that. Is it possible that she is eggbound? Could you put her under a heat lamp and get her really warm to see if it helps?
I hope she makes it. So sorry to hear this

It does sound like she might be eggbound. As Donna said, a heat lamp can work wonders. If you have any liquid calcium, a drop directly in her beak could help if it is eggbinding. Hope she will get better.

I hope she feels better.

Ok, I can try the heat lamp. I don't have liquid calcium, though. Is this something I should invest in for the future? Thanks for the tips!

...

Well, I don't have any lamps so I have to use a undertank heater (for reptiles). SInce she's on the ground it should work. There are no branches so she can't fly up but there is space on the floor for no heat so she can thermoregulate.

BTW, her cloaca is deep pink and a little swollen. So maybe she really is eggbound. I hope the egg(s) passes so she can get better. She did fly up to the top branch but I just removed her to the quarantine cage anyway.

She is a beautiful bird. It would be a grave shame to lose her.

It would be a shame to loose her. I agree - put her alone in a small cage and put a lamp - any lamp very close by for heat in one corner or side of the cage but allow for her to move away from it if she doesn't want/need it. Also get a towel and soak it in hot water and wring it out just so it isn't dripping - then drape it over the small cage. This will provide her with humidity.

Yes - one drop liquid calcium directly to her beak could help greatly in getting her to pass the egg. Also calcium should be added to the drinking water at least once a week along with cuttlebone in the cage for them to knaw on.

Also in addition to seeds, when they are breeding (or moulting) - even before, provide them with fresh eggfood with the shell - mashed or processed in a food processor for a few seconds to crush/mix the shell.

The baldness on top of her head could be from allopreening - when the pair preen each other. I wouldn't worry about that too much - unless it gets severe.

Good luck!!

Mike scrape some cuttlebone in the water along with some vitamins in the same water if it contains vitamin D.

They won't touch cuttlebone. I don't know why. I've placed in in every location I can but they just won't touch it.

I don't keep eggs in the house. I've been using commercial egg food and calcium grit. I can try and swipe another egg from my parents' house. What is liquid calcium and where do I find it?

I still don't have a lamp. With all this energy efficiency stuff I've got nothing left in the house. I'll see if I can get the living room lamp in there.

I'll try the hot towel and I'll try the calcium and vitamins in the water.

We'll see how things go.

The male won't shut up, either. The lights are off and he's still going at full voice.

The fastest way to get liquid calcium would be to call around to your local petstores and ask them. Other wise it is available online and will take about 4-5 days to get it where I get mine (New Brunswick) -

https://healthybird.net/store/advanced_ ... 52f9165bad

All your breeding birds need to be getting liquid calcium. You can also scrape the cuttlebone into their seeds - they won't get much, but they will get some.

Other than Vince's, the only pet stores around here are PJ's and Petsmart. I don't know if they will have it.

I tried the lamp but the male CB won't stop calling her. I shut off the lamp and just left the under tank heater. It's the best I can do if I want any sleep.

I did a search and found liquid calcium available at Petsmart. It is in their aquarium section (Salt Water).

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=2754101

I don't know if that is the same thing everyone is talking about or if that would work for you. Just trying to offer up a suggestion. The main ingredient in that one is Deionized water, calcium chloride.

The ingredients in the other posted are Active ingredients: Magnesium, Vitamin D3, Calcium

Hope others with more experience can tell you.

Best of Luck!

Thanks for that tip. I do appreciate it, but the calcium in liquid calcium is calcium gluconate which is think is used in some human vitamins. I will try Petsmart anyway, though. I already ordered it online from the store Liz suggested but maybe I'll need it before it arrives.

The female is actually doing really well right now. She's hopping around and eating and her feathers have gone down. I don't see any eggs, though.

Well I'll keep you updated. She should be fine.

Her darn partner is having a fit, though. He already started belting them out early this morning.

That's great news Mike.

Annoying bird is a happy bird!!!

(my finches starts up at about 615 am EVERY day) As for annoyance, my male star is right now tearing up the flooring in his cage, makes SOOO much noise and sings while he does it.