My BCCB female has died

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Fri May 15, 2009 9:03 am

Let the male have a fit - he'll be fine w/o her for a couple of days.

You need to make sure she is okay before returning her to him. You don't want to have to pull her again in a day or two.

Keep the hot or very warm wet towel over and around the cage with the heatsource if at all possible for a couple of days for further recovery; along with the vits, fresh eggfood if possible too.

Hope she continues to improve.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Fri May 15, 2009 11:40 am

Liz has given you excellent advice. I would not put her back in the cage with him for a few days at least. Keep her especially warm with her favorite treats.

You seem to be having a difficult time with your birds right now. I have been there and feel for you. It will get better!!

mike · Post by **mike** » Fri May 15, 2009 11:49 am

dfcauley wrote: You seem to be having a difficult time with your birds right now.

They hate me

I am following everyone's advice. I have no plans to return her just yet. I have extra cages right now so I can keep her by herself with little trouble, but if I turn that light on at night her little partner is going to drive me nuts!

Will she actually drop the egg if she's egg bound or does she absorb it?

I know why I'm having trouble. I made the mistake of buying extra cages in anticipation of the new cut-throats and some societies for new CB eggs. I jinx myself!

Post by **Sally** » Fri May 15, 2009 12:41 pm

When I had eggbound hens in the past, often I never saw an egg passed. I don't know whether they absorb it, or it was soft shell and was eaten before I saw it. I did not have any eggbound hens last year, and none this year so far.

There are many theories about why hens will become eggbound, but I feel a lot of it is that they are not utilizing the calcium they are provided. They need vitamin D3 in order to absorb the calcium into their systems. Most of the liquid calcium supplements on the market today have D3 added. Most vitamin supplements have D3.

If they have eggshell and/or oystershell, and a source of D3, they can get that calcium into their bodies--otherwise, the eggshell and/or oystershell are not doing much for them.

They can also use a source of oil, such as adding some oily seeds, or adding a supplement such as palm oil meal to their food.

I think most people just have to try out different things to see what works for them. After all, we are all feeding somewhat different diets, so what I supplement may not work for someone else. But the calcium/vitamin D3 connection is being touted for humans, too.

mike · Post by **mike** » Fri May 15, 2009 7:11 pm

She didn't make it

lovemyfinch · Post by **lovemyfinch** » Fri May 15, 2009 7:14 pm

So sorry Mike. I was rooting for her.

mike · Post by **mike** » Fri May 15, 2009 7:26 pm

lovemyfinch wrote:So sorry Mike. I was rooting for her.

Thanks.

I'm not sure what I do with her now. Do I throw her in the garbage? Do I bury her?

lovemyfinch · Post by **lovemyfinch** » Fri May 15, 2009 7:34 pm

That is going to have to be a personal choice.

My boys once buried their hamster, only to find out it had been dug up. I filled the hole back in and put the cross back up so that they wouldn't know. Their newborn puppy though stayed, we buried it 4 feet deep, in a plastic bag, surrounded by rocks.

I have to admit sadly that when my little romeo died 2 weeks ago, I disposed of him. Fearful that the same thing would happen. It was hard but personally I couldn't find another way.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Fri May 15, 2009 7:35 pm

Oh I'm so sorry Mike! It happens but it's always hard to accept.

mike · Post by **mike** » Fri May 15, 2009 7:45 pm

L in Ontario wrote:Oh I'm so sorry Mike! It happens but it's always hard to accept.

Thanks.

I'll visit Casy tomorrow and see if he has another. Otherwise, I'm moving him to a smaller stackable cage and moving the Blue-breasted pair to the big cage. I want to see them better.

I would dispose of her in the trash but garbage day was today so she'll be in the garbage all week. Maybe I should bury her but I'd be afraid I'll dig her up accidentally. See, with geckos and fishes, I just flushed them. The bird will fit but it seems wrong. I also have the house drain in the basement so I can bypass the plumbing completely. It all seems so wrong.

You buried a puppy? You must live on a farm.

lovemyfinch · Post by **lovemyfinch** » Fri May 15, 2009 7:57 pm

Not on a farm, but in the country. Our black lab (god rest her soul) had a litter of 12 but lost 1 about 10 years ago. She was ony 11 months old and accidentally hurt the poor thing.

But back to your bird, if you don't want to bury her, I know it's hard to imagine, but put her in a baggy in a back corner of the freezer until you decide what to do.

mike · Post by **mike** » Fri May 15, 2009 8:02 pm

lovemyfinch wrote: But back to your bird, if you don't want to bury her, I know it's hard to imagine, but put her in a baggy in a back corner of the freezer until you decide what to do.

Smart! I will do that. Thanks!

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Fri May 15, 2009 8:08 pm

You're right - birds and plumbing just don't mix that well if you know what I mean. I used to bury them but... I couldn't dig in the frozen ground in the winter - so I don't bury them any more. I place them in a ziploc bag and put them out in the garbage (don't flame me for that!) or you can put them in the freezer if it's not close to garbage day and if it's too hot out in the bins. You don't want to attract any vermin.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Fri May 15, 2009 8:36 pm

I am so sorry she didn't make it Mike.

I have to admit that if I have a bird that doesn't make it, I make my husband do the dirty. And I don't ask.......

cartel · Post by **cartel** » Fri May 15, 2009 8:50 pm

Sorry to hear she didn't make it Mike