Egg Bound

[jacannah]

Hi I had two Zebra finches which I have had from birth. three weeks ago I lost one due to her being egg bound. I have brought another one as advised as she was missing her and they where sisters. My other finch seems to be getting big like my other Finch that I lost. Could she be egg bound also and is there anything i can do to stop this from happening as I keep losing them too early. Dont want to lose her as I said had her from an egg and was upset when I lost my other finch.

[Babs _Owner]

jacannah

For hens laying eggs its important to keep crush eggs shells, cuttlebone in their cage at all time for the calcium. If your birds dont get sunlight, you need a vitamin with Vitamin D to help them absorb the calcium.

Another alternative is liquid calcium. I will not breed my finches without it.

Calciboost is what I use.
A liquid calcium supplement with added vitamin D3 (which is great!) for addition into drinking water Use 5 days per/week maximum during breeding. Sold as Calcivet in Europe.

[Sally]

Even two hens without males around can lay eggs, so precautions need to be taken to avoid egg binding. As Babs has said, liquid calcium can be a lifesaver with an egg bound hen. If these hens are laying eggs, I'd cut their diet back to a more austere one, with egg only being an occasional treat. Be sure they have access to plenty of minerals/calcium.

[Stuart whiting]

Hi there,

I agree with all what Babs has said, as regards to egg shells, cuttle and liquid calcium etc but I'd also like to add that one of the main causes for egg binding is a sudden temperature drop when they are laying,

If your actually intending to breed you ideally need to keep the room at around the same temperature,

Many people breed there birds during the winter but would under normal circumstances supply heat,

If you don't want to breed your birds I'd keep all nest boxes, baskets, pans and bows permanently out of there cages and also supply a basic diet by cutting back all condition foods etc

[cindy]

By getting big do you mean the lower abdomen is swelling... can you look at her lower belly and tell us if the belly is discolored.... bright yellow meringue consistency under the skin or a dark brown fluid filled area that keeps growing, ballooning out or if the underside is lumpy, loopy intestines and bumpy and puffy.

Hens can look swollen on the underside and organs can be pushed forward....most hens severely egg bound do not last days. Eggs can also get stuck higher up in the belly and not descend due to infection, the eggs being rough on the outside and irritating the organ.

When you set the pair up you can get calciboost or calcium supplement with D3 and add it to the water and give to the hen while nesting and laying eggs, once she is done laying eggs stop the calciboost or calcium supplement.