Eggbound? Not sure...

[bugaboo5]

That will work perfectly fine, Jackie. Best of luck to you and if you have any questions, ask away. Prayers, hopeful vibes, and thoughts are with you and yours.

Side note: You can provide food, water, and maybe a snack like spray millet, in an accessible place in the bottom. You can line the bottom of the grate with a towel or something soft. You can wrap the sides of the cage with a moist towel and have a heat source at the top for warmth. You want to monitor a bit to make sure you are not over-heating the bird as well. Liquid calcium if you got it would be splendid. Otherwise, powdered cuttlebone can be added to the food or soft food (like mashed boiled egg) if you hen eats it. Good luck!

[6finchfriends]

Looks great to me!

[jackie]

Okay, now the REAL question. What's the best way to catch her?
Like I said, this morning she didn't flinch when I had my hand in the cage, but any tips would be appreciated!

[6finchfriends]

another thing you can give is electrolytes in pedia light, gatoraid, or Bounce Back. I found Bounce Back for small animals at the feed store and just put a pinch in the water. It said poultry so I figured it was good for birds of all kinds. Just a tiny dose. I really think it helped a lot. Millet too. Actually I gave him anything he wanted to eat because I was so afraid he was going to die. But he didn't! Good luck with your little guy! Sending good thoughts for a quick recovery!

[bugaboo5]

Okay, now the REAL question. What's the best way to catch her?
Like I said, this morning she didn't flinch when I had my hand in the cage, but any tips would be appreciated!

If she is indeed egg bound, she will not fight back or struggle too much. The best way to catch her is being gentle but swift. To have to chase her around due to being slow will actually stress her out a bit. Make sure you have the hospital cage up and ready for her prior to attempting to capture her. Good luck. My heart is with you.

[6finchfriends]

I used a bird net but you can use a towel. Sometimes I can catch them with my hand if they're on the floor but I don't think any way is easy. They are so fast!
I read you can sometimes feel the egg if you feel around her bottom. You might want to try while you have her caught. I've never had an egg bound hen so I can't say from experience. Just what I read. I hope you could find some liquid calcium for her!
to your little girl and you for a swift recovery!

[jackie]

Thanks everyone. Yes, I picked up some liquid calcium today too when I got the cage.

I will keep you all posted once I get home from work! I want to leave now to go check on her, but I can't!

[jackie]

Well, I texted my son who just got home from school to check on her, and she's apparently sitting on a perch eating. So I guess that's good news. If she still seems "off" should I still move her?

[L in Ontario]

Check on her as soon as you get home and then move her, yes. That cage will be fine as a hosp cage. I would get a small branch and insert it between the bars 'kitty corner' so it rests on the plastic base. That way it will only be about an inch above the floor.

Do let us know how it goes. You'll need a dropper to get a drop of liquid calcium from the bottle to her beak.

[jackie]

Hey ladies...well, I got her into the smaller cage, no problem at all. She fluttered a bit but admitted defeat pretty quick. She's now in the small cage, resting, with a heating pad underneath the cage. I've also put a wet towel over 3 sides of the cage as suggested.

She seems to be okay She is eating a bit of the seed. I put calcium in the water dish as I didn't have an eye dropper to put it right in her beak.

[L in Ontario]

How much liquid calcium did you mix into how much water? The dosage would be on the container, I believe. You could also give you eggfood (hardboiled egg) mashed including the shell.

Best wishes!

[jackie]

I put 2 drops in the water. The instructions said 1 drop per 1 oz of water and I measured it out.

She seems rather calm right now. Just got back from a birthday party and she was all nuzzled up and warm. I just did a 1/2 hour of steam shower (ran the tub for the hot water), and so I'm just letting her soak it all up right now

Did a clean of the bigger cage too, and noticed there was bird droppings all over the wall.....never had that before. Could that be from her?

[L in Ontario]

I put 2 drops in the water. The instructions said 1 drop per 1 oz of water and I measured it out.

She seems rather calm right now. Just got back from a birthday party and she was all nuzzled up and warm. I just did a 1/2 hour of steam shower (ran the tub for the hot water), and so I'm just letting her soak it all up right now

Did a clean of the bigger cage too, and noticed there was bird droppings all over the wall.....never had that before. Could that be from her?

Sounds good. How is she this morning? Re the dirty walls - I've had to line all my walls in the birdroom with clear vinyl/plastic to protect them from the flying birdy poops!

[jackie]

She seems "okay". She's very calm, and IS eating and drinking. I measured out the water, and she is drinking it. There was spent seed in the cage, so she must be eating some. I put some crushed egg in there last night and she was picking at it, so I guess that's a good sign?

Soooo cute last night, she was communicating back and forth with her mate inside the big cage.....super cute.

How long should I keep her in there?

[L in Ontario]

I would leave her in the hospital cage for 3 days. If she appears to be eating and acting normal, then I would consider moving her back to the large cage with her mate. It would be nice if you do see she passes an egg within that time so you know for sure that she was eggbound.

Good to hear she is doing okay now.