Warning: Egg Binding is a serious killer

inmemoryofrio

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Sep 3, 2016
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In memory of our beloved Bourke parakeet who died due to egg binding, I wish to try and save as many lives of small pet birds as possible by sending this message out.

We had had Rio for over five years and that tragic summer she layed her first egg without any problems. Being very attached to her, we were naturally worried and read up any advice we could find about egg laying on the internet and sadly none of them prepared us for what was to come. Almost all texts written online correctly state that egg binding is a serious problem with small birds and that they can die from it. But they also say to watch out for signs of bird being unwell in order to be able to get them to a vet immediately. Sadly, small birds are very good at hiding that they are unwell. By the time she was no longer able to fake it on that tragic day, it was about half an hour after the only vet locally specialising in treating small birds closed for the day. All emergency vet numbers I called out of hours were not able to deal with her. Two hours later she rapidly deteriorated and died.

I therefore urge all owners of small pet parakeets who are kept as single females and therefore no breeding is involved, to not repeat our mistake. As soon as the first egg is layed, take her to a specialised vet. They might give her calcium treatment as a preventative measure, they might give her hormonal treatment which will stop further egg production, and many other things. Don't wait. The single female attached to her humans will continue to lay eggs every few days and if the egg binding takes place it will probably be too late to save her. I am suggesting this course of action because the alternative is to stop the broodiness by withdrawing loving attention from them which seems too cruel. Our Rio loved us so much and we couldn't do things like walk out of the room when she starts lovingly singing to us or not pat her on the back when she wanted us to, or kiss her beak. All these have been suggested online. She obviuosly enjoyed all those expressoins of love and we could not deny her that, but perhaps a vet would have been able to prevent her premature death. If you love your parakeet, please take my advice seriously. Prevent egg production rather than wait to treat egg binding. Bourke parakeets are such lovely birds and I wish them all a very long, healthy, and happy life, filled with love and song. Rio has enriched our lives in a way we never thought was possible and we will be grateful for her friendship eternally. Heartbroken Nelson family.
 

SailBoat

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Very sorry for your loss and thank-you, for your Thread regarding the dangers of Egg Binding.

Whether small or larger, or anywhere between, Hens can become egg bound and it can cause death. It is one of the reasons that Avian Vet's recommend that owners have their Parrots DNA sex verified. When a Parrot lays an egg, most Avian Vets will recommend minor changes to the diet to help limit Egg Binding.

Although specific interaction; touching /rubbing /handling, commonly on the back or rump can result in a hormonal response. General interaction will not increase the likelihood of egg production.

Again, very sorry for your loss!
 

Terry57

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I am so sorry for your loss of Sweet Rio:(
Egg binding is a scary thing, thank you so much for your thoughtful and well written post.
 

Mariar

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I am so sorry for your loss...sissy is my first female..in many years and I worry about that..thank you for sharing your story. Sending you a big feathered hug!
 

Teddscau

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I'm so sorry for your loss. At least Rio was surrounded by those who loved her. I'm sure it would have been very comforting for her.

I've experienced egg binding firsthand (only once, thank goodness), and it isn't something to be taken lightly. My obese English budgie, Lara, had an egg scare last year. The vet ended up having to put her under anesthesia, and had to make incisions on either side of her cloaca to get the egg out.

I'm truly sorry that you couldn't get a hold of a qualified vet to help her. I couldn't imagine losing one of my babies because the avian vet was off for the day. I just lost my oldest male budgie due to inadequate veterinary care a few weeks ago, so I know what you're going through.
 

Scott

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RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
My deepest condolences for your loss of Rio. It is so heartbreaking to witness such distress and feel helpless. Thank you for helping other parronts to recognize the hazards of egg binding.
 

EllenD

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I'm so, so sorry for your loss...as a prior English budgie breeder I know what you went through, luckily I only ever lost one breeder to egg binding, and you're correct in that a small bird will hide illness and pain until the very end. I had no idea my hen was egg bound, and she died during the night.

I had one of my 7 pet female budgies, Sid, become egg bound, and I had no idea she was laying an egg at all. It was her first egg (I don't breed my pet budgies) and by the time I figured out she was carrying an egg she was in great distress. While petting your bird on the back or anywhere else won't effect egg laying, only sexual behavior, there are definitely things your vet can do to limit or stop your female from laying eggs at all. There are also things that all people that have a female bird should know to do if they suspect their hen is egg bound...the only reason Sid is still with me is because I immediately coated her vent with olive oil and sat with her in my smaller bathroom with the hot water running, door shut to create steam, and I placed her in a small container of warm to hot water, soaking her lower body to loosen up her muscles. She pushed the egg half way out, and I then rubbed more olive oil all around the egg and very, very gently, using my pinky finger only, placed light pressure on the egg from each side, until she was able to pop the rest of it out...but I've also known people to just haphazardly (and quite arrogantly in my opinion) just squeeze the egg out of their bird's abdomen, and they actually prolapsed their bird's entire reproductive tract, causing their bird horrible, excruciating pain just before it died. Knowledge is a responsibility female hen owners should take on, but with limits.

Thank you for sharing, and you and your family are in my thoughts.
 

Scott

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RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Thanks Ellen for an informative post. I cringed reading your description of the ill-informed squeezing technique, but it is a necessary disclosure to reinforce the need for proper care.
 

EllenD

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Yeah, I read a post once from a young kid in his late teens or early twenties that breeds budgies in the most irresponsible and uneducated ways, and instead of taking his hen to the vet he took tweezers and tried to pull the egg out...you can guess what the end result was...I was horrified and cried for the poor bird, from everything I've read egg binding is extremely painful for the bird to begin with, so making it worse just before it's death just makes me cry for the bird...then the kid got an attitude when people got upset with him, saying that he couldn't afford a vet trip, yet he was breeding dozens and dozens of budgies. Makes absolutely no sense. But you're correct, people have to know!

"Dance Like Nobody's Watching"
 

Scott

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Aug 21, 2010
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Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Yeah, I read a post once from a young kid in his late teens or early twenties that breeds budgies in the most irresponsible and uneducated ways, and instead of taking his hen to the vet he took tweezers and tried to pull the egg out...you can guess what the end result was...I was horrified and cried for the poor bird, from everything I've read egg binding is extremely painful for the bird to begin with, so making it worse just before it's death just makes me cry for the bird...then the kid got an attitude when people got upset with him, saying that he couldn't afford a vet trip, yet he was breeding dozens and dozens of budgies. Makes absolutely no sense. But you're correct, people have to know!

"Dance Like Nobody's Watching"

Absolutely horrific. :( We can only wish such savagery would not be visited upon an innocent and defenseless creature. We can only hope this and other forums help raise the level of awareness.
 

GaleriaGila

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I MADE myself read this, just for awareness' sake...
So sad.
And even though the Rbird is a hellacious little rooster, I'm grateful not to have to cope with the vagaries of eggs.
Kudos to those of you who care for and help your darling hens.
 

EllenD

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It is scary thinking about having a female bird that may have this problem. My green cheek, Quaker, and Senegal are all males, and only 1 out of 7 of my pet budgies is a female (and no chance of breeding her or any of them at all). So the only female I have is my sweet, adorable cockatiel, Duff. She is easily the sweetest bird I have ever owned, all she wants to do is cuddle with me and play. If I walk out of the living room where she's playing on her cage top, even if I just go to the kitchen to get a drink, without fail I will hear her let out a little annoyed-sounding chirp and here she comes, waddling her fat butt across the living room and into the kitchen, and once she sees me she lets out another chirp, this one as to say "there you are Mama, I had to stop playing to come find you... don't do that!", and then she climbs up my pant leg to my shoulder to hitch a ride back to the living room. She doesn't talk, and she's just a plain gray and white cockatiel, no orange cheeks or flashy pearl spots. But when I think about how prone female cockatiels are to laying eggs and how easily I could lose her I just start crying. I started breeding English budgies when I was 16 and grew up with my mom breeding them as well as cockatiels, and I've dealt with many medical emergencies and only ever lost one breeder and one baby. Ever. But I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't scared to death of egg binding. Besides aspirating a very young baby when hand feeding, there's no other way to lose a bird so quickly, so it's very, very important for owners of any female bird to know the signs of egg binding, what they should do immediately at home, and to get the bird to an avian vet ASAP!

"Dance Like Nobody's Watching"
 

Scott

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Aug 21, 2010
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RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Thanks Ellen, you are so thoughtful! Appreciate your first-hand stories as they help educate folks across a spectrum of issues!!
 

SaraBridge

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Sara: Lovebird. Rest in peace, little one.
I am so very sorry for your loss of Rio. I also lost my dear Sara this morning to, what I believe, was egg binding. It is heartbreaking and so very unexpected. My heart breaks for you as well. I'm sorry.
 

EllenD

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I am so very sorry for your loss of Rio. I also lost my dear Sara this morning to, what I believe, was egg binding. It is heartbreaking and so very unexpected. My heart breaks for you as well. I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry, it's never easy losing a birdy...egg binding is a serious problem that we all need to learn how to prevent and treat.

"Dance Like Nobody's Watching"
 

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