My baby Sparkles needs your help-:(

[lovemyfinch]

Not a finch but cockatiel.
We are awaiting her first egg, and I am not sure if she is fine or not
It has now been about 36 hours since I first saw the egg prodruding when she strains (like labour)
I have given her a heat lamp(she won't use it and wants to perch up high) , calcium directly into mouth, warm baths up to her belly, rubbed oil on her. She is still eating and drinking...just not as much.
She is not fluffed up, or looking lethargic.
I am attaching 2 pics that I just took. The one shows that she is not fluffed up or lethargic in any way, and the other shows what I am seeing from the egg end.
Am I just being a worry wart?
Oh yeah, at times everything seems to go all the way back in as though she is relaxing.

[dfcauley]

I hope you get some help soon. I don't know anything about them, but know I am sending prayers your way!!!

[lovemyfinch]

Thanks Donna, every little bit helps

[CandoAviary]

Sometimes if a hen is young, old, out of shape as in muscle conditioning the hen will have trouble expelling an egg. Sometimes their muscles that expell the egg is not strong enough. Sometimes with straining the uterous (can't remember what it's called in birds at the moment) becomes detached and can actually become inverted..or delivered with the egg. This is a dire situation as I have never see one that survived this. Could be an oversized egg.
Having said the worst, she may just not feel comfortable in laying. They will retain the egg for as long as they can until they get to the nest box where they are comfortable. The fact that you see her straing, trying to expell the egg makes me go with the earlier problem. I would call your vet and see what they recommend...sometimes they can break the egg within and remove it...but this is a very risky move.
because you are doing what I would do, heat, calcium, warm humidity... Prayers sent for your sweet Sparkles.
If she does get this egg passed I would keep her seperated from the male, motre eggs would probably result in the same problem until the bird is in great muscle condition.

[L in Ontario]

Sending best thoughts and prayers as I don't have personal experience with cockatiels either.

Maybe google a cockatiel forum...?

[lovemyfinch]

Egg is out.
Now I just hope that the little nucklehead didn't do herself any other damage.
As I was bringing her back to her cage after a warm soak, she decided to jump of my hand , her landing caused the egg to break
I pannicked and the only thing that went through my head was toxic shock syndrome. I held her tight and thankfully she contracted at the same time as I pulled the egg out. It appears as though all came out, thankfully the break was on the outside. I immediately put her in another warm bath the clean her off, and she is now sitting comfortably in her cage.
BTW the egg was huge

[cindy]

Janine...remember Lucy, my lovebird's story. Same thing happened. There is a way to drain the egg but first try this, use a heat lamp and add another at a lowered watt. My vet recommended extra warmth. Eventually the egg passed after about a day and a half.

There is a way to drain the egg and collapse it making removal easy. A vet should do this. This should only be done if the situation becomes serious and the bird is getting weak. I am not home and able to get to my documents to send it to you to have on hand.

Also try holding her upright and running warm water over the vent area...it may help her pass stool and make her more comfortable, then put her directly in heat.Do not let her chill. See if you can find Lucy's story about the eggbound situation. I can't do much of a search from here. Is she passing large stools?

[DanteD716]

Janine, I was worrrd until your last post. Good thing she is okay!! Pretty girl! I havd considered cockateils and budgies for a long time, just I do not want any ATM. Hopefully the next egg is not as large. Do you thik thry get bigger if they stay in too long?

[L in Ontario]

Glad it is out - how traumatic for both of you. (((hugs)))

[debbie276]

So glad things worked out for you! Maybe it was a double yolker??
Best wishes for the next one

[cindy]

I am glad she passed it.....my post prior disregard or use for the future!

[bugaboo5]

So sorry to hear of your troubles. Do you have a cuttle bone available for her? I'm sure you do. You saved her life with all your quick actions. I think perhaps the egg was too big. Maybe she got too excited -- everyone has considered her a "boy" until now. I would just keep her warm and let her body heal, for it has been through a ordeal. Good catch! You are clearly attentive towards your birds and Sparkles owes you her life. Prayers sent that her future eggs come out well. My hen usually lays one egg every other day or every two days.

[DanteD716]

Maybe it was a double yolker??

Double yolker sounds so funny. anyways, serious question: if both embryis form, can you get twins?

[lovemyfinch]

Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts((hugs))
I am hoping now that we are throught the worst of it.

And yes, we had thought that Sparkles was a boy now for over a year My first hint that she was a girl was when I caught Billy (Lilly) doing the deed
Hopefully the rest of her clutch will go much smoother for the poor little dear. I would never have let them breed had I known their true sexes earlier, but now its too late.

[debbie276]

I had a double yolker from my gouldians, the chicks formed pretty far before they expired. I'm not sure if any out there have actually hatched, they usually are DIS.