FINCHforum

My strawberry hen is laying too many eggs. I let her sit on the last four just so she wouldn't lay anymore. I finally tossed them..... and she is at it again. I took her today and put her into a cage within the aviary since it is nice and warm and the humidity is just right.

She was having some problems flying and I didn't think she looks so well. Anybody have any suggestions I can do for her?

dfcauley wrote:My strawberry hen is laying too many eggs. I let her sit on the last four just so she wouldn't lay anymore. I finally tossed them..... and she is at it again. I took her today and put her into a cage within the aviary since it is nice and warm and the humidity is just right.

She was having some problems flying and I didn't think she looks so well. Anybody have any suggestions I can do for her?

I assume you considered egg binding as the culprit?
You know the drill... add a damp cloth for more moisture and ramp up the heat on her. Grab her and maybe drip a drop of the liquid calcium into her mouth or at least add it to her water so she gets some calcium into her.

Yes, I have considered egg binding. I left her in the aviary, but put her into a small cage. It is very warm in there (80 degrees) and with the fountain there is plenty of moisture. I put her cage over near the fountain in the sunshine. I added calcium to her water, but did not put it on her beak. I didn't want to stress her just too much.
She can hear and see her mate in the aviary, but cannot get to him or a nest. I will just wait and see if she lays an egg. She can fly.... but not so good. I gave her some soaked seeds with shaved cuttlebone on it also. Hopefully she will be okay, but I have got to see how to stop all this egg laying. I guess keep her in a cage for a while.......

I had a similar problem w my gray zebra.
Not having a nest did not stop her from laying eggs, she just laid it in the food tray, or off the perch (crashing to the cage bottom). I finally said ENOUGH, and separated her from her mate, and the eggs stopped.

You may think abought increasing the heat. I find 90% to 92% even better for eggound hens. Maybe add a little desk lamp shining on her cage. Especially for tonight when the sun will not be shinning on her and the room cools some. Hope she is better soon.

CandoAviary wrote:You may think abought increasing the heat. I find 90% to 92% even better for eggound hens. Maybe add a little desk lamp shining on her cage. Especially for tonight when the sun will not be shinning on her and the room cools some. Hope she is better soon.

I put a heat lamp over her cage and covered it with a little towel so the other birds would not land on it.
The temp in there at the moment is 85, but I know it will cool down tonight. She appears fairly active and is eating. I don't know what her problem is. She wasn't able to fly very well in the aviary. I went right over to the tree and picked her up. Now she is flying around in the cage.

And if it is eggbinding - I would still increase the heat (as mentioned above and the humidity too even more (just for her) overnight by wrapping/laying a warm wet towel over and around her little cage. She needs special treatment if it is eggbinding.

L in Ontario wrote:And if it is eggbinding - I would still increase the heat (as mentioned above and the humidity too even more (just for her) overnight by wrapping/laying a warm wet towel over and around her little cage. She needs special treatment if it is eggbinding.

I did all the above.... no egg this morning. She seems quite active in the cage, is eating and drinking.
I guess I will leave her a few more days and watch her to make sure she gets the calcium water. A little confusing......

Strange.... Keep us posted, I am interested to learn what happens here.

Have you ever had any success with them raising any babies Donna?

Finch Fry wrote:Strange.... Keep us posted, I am interested to learn what happens here.

Have you ever had any success with them raising any babies Donna?

Nope.... all eggs are infertile.

Glad she is better