Liquid Droppings

[Raleighwheels]

Can you get someone to help you catch the bird? They could put their hands in one end, shoo the birds to the other end, where you could catch them. Hope the vet is able to help you, and that is a good suggestion to put some paper towel on the floor for the vet to see.

I'll have to see if anyone is even home when I go over to catch the bird, since my girlfriend is away at college, I am pretty much alone in the bird department.

I am going to put a few pieces of computer paper in the cage to help the vet see what is going on.

[Raleighwheels]

Well, I was able to catch her. It took a long time, but it is done. I tried dividing the cage, but she found ways around the divider. Then, I tried covering the cage and peeking under the sheet to grab her, but that didn't work. I also put a bath in the cage, in hopes of getting her wet enough to catch, but she refused to get in, and just watched the other birds. My only other plan was to get her out of the cage, which I absolutely hate doing. She flew around the room for a bit, and I was able to get the net over her.

She is just sitting on her perch all content and pooped out. She has left some nasty looking droppings in the cage for the vet to see. I have a lamp on her right now, and she is just relaxing.

[Raleighwheels]

Well, I just got back from the vet's. They took an x-ray, and found that she is in fact egg bound. The vet suggested that I do what I have been doing in regards to the liquid calcium and keeping her warm. She also suggested bringing Penelope into the bathroom with me when I take a shower, so she can soak in the steam.

The vet didn't recommend that I put a drop of calcium on Penelope's beak, because handling would stress her out too much, and that could make her even more sick.

[lovemyfinch]

I am sure you are relieved to finally know just what is going on with her.
You might also want to try Liz`s trick of putting the heat lamp on her, and placing a damp towel around the cage (not touching the lamp) to give her extra humidity.
Good luck, and I hope she passes her egg soon and without any further complications.

[Raleighwheels]

I am sure you are relieved to finally know just what is going on with her.
You might also want to try Liz`s trick of putting the heat lamp on her, and placing a damp towel around the cage (not touching the lamp) to give her extra humidity.
Good luck, and I hope she passes her egg soon and without any further complications.

Thanks! I will give that a try as well. I am going to keep her at my house until the egg passes, then she is going back to my girlfriend's house. I am going to transfer her to a spare cage and give her some time to rest again.

[Raleighwheels]

A bit of an update...

I have been letting Penelope soak in the steam when I shower, and I also have been setting the cage in the bathroom and turning the shower on as hot as it will go. I usually leave her in there for twenty to thirty minutes and she seems really calm and relaxed.

I have also been drapping warm wash cloths over the cage to help with humidity. And, I have been giving her calcium drops in her water, as well as egg shells and some dust from a cuttlebone in her food.

One thing I have noticed is that her poops have more of a substance to them now. They are still liquidy, but there is matter there. I made some dried eggfood mush, which is basically dried eggfood and a little water, and it went right through her, so I won't do that again. Today, I noticed a couple of more normal looking poops in the cage.

Do you think that the change in the poops might mean that the egg is coming soon?

[L in Ontario]

I haven't heard of a hen holding an egg for more than a day (2 days if eggbound). I think you should call the vet and give them an update that no egg has been passed as yet. See what else they suggest over the phone.

As some of you might remember, I posted a while ago about my female zebra not looking quite right after an egg burst while she was laying it.

For weeks, I boosted up her calcium in case she had another egg coming along. But, nothing ever came after the one that burst. She hadn't laid any eggs in a while, and I thought she was just having a stressful round this time, hence the increased calcium.

Can you paste a link to your original posting as I can't find it either. It would be good to be able to go back and read the history on this hen.

[Raleighwheels]

I haven't heard of a hen holding an egg for more than a day (2 days if eggbound). I think you should call the vet and give them an update that no egg has been passed as yet. See what else they suggest over the phone.

As some of you might remember, I posted a while ago about my female zebra not looking quite right after an egg burst while she was laying it.

For weeks, I boosted up her calcium in case she had another egg coming along. But, nothing ever came after the one that burst. She hadn't laid any eggs in a while, and I thought she was just having a stressful round this time, hence the increased calcium.

Can you paste a link to your original posting as I can't find it either. It would be good to be able to go back and read the history on this hen.

See if this link works for you guys: http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=12715

[Raleighwheels]

I've been thinking more about this and had a thought. Let's say that when things first started with her, an egg never actually burst as it was coming out. I really don't know what I saw, it just looked like a burst egg coming from the vent. If you were to through that away, and look at everything else, what could it be?

Again, as far as I can tell, she is acting fairly normal, maybe a little tired, her poops were pure liquid, now they have some substance to them. Usually the droppings have a tan color to them. She only occasionally sleeps right under the heat lamp, usually, she is about half way down the perch from it. I have noticed that she sometimes sits with her tail up in the air.

I am really starting to freak myself out by thinking it is AGY and/or coccidiosis. But, the vet told me that she saw an egg when she did the x-ray, so how can that be explained?

[monotwine]

Sorry to hear your little hen is still not well. From past experience I can only advise you don't try treat for anything you are not sure she has. Rather go back to consult the vet.
More damage can be done to her possibly ailing system by placing her on meds if her system is already not 100%.
Cocci, worms & AGY etc you would be able to see in fecal samples. Did your vet do one of these when you took her in for the possible egg binding? what were the results?

[Raleighwheels]

Sorry to hear your little hen is still not well. From past experience I can only advise you don't try treat for anything you are not sure she has. Rather go back to consult the vet.
More damage can be done to her possibly ailing system by placing her on meds if her system is already not 100%.
Cocci, worms & AGY etc you would be able to see in fecal samples. Did your vet do one of these when you took her in for the possible egg binding? what were the results?

She never did a fecal test. She just did an x-ray and said that she saw an egg inside the bird.

[Raleighwheels]

I just got back from a second appointment with the vet. The vet still claimed that she believed an egg was in there. She took Penelope into the back and did another x-ray. She said that she could tell from the x-ray that I have been feeding Penelope a lot of calcium. She was puzzled as to why the egg hasn't come out yet. The vet posted all the information, along with the x-rays on and online vet network to see what other vets have to say. Hopefully I hear from her in a day or two. She also weighed Penelope and said that she was normal, which was one of my biggest concerns.

[Raleighwheels]

The vet finally called me back today. She said that another vet commented on Penelope's x-rays, and said that there appeared to be an uncalcified egg in her. The vet commenting on the x-rays said that Penelope may have an impacted ovary. He suggested that I continue with what I am doing as far as the increased calcium and steam baths. The vet told me that he also said that Penelope may need pain medication and/or a stronger calcium supplement. The vet responded to his message, asking what type of medication we should be looking for, and what the appropriate dosage would be. She told me that she will give me a call as soon as she gets a response.

[lovemyfinch]

Oh the poor little thing

[debbie276]

Sounds like you've got a good vet there that follows up and pursues solutions.
Best of luck