How problematic is egg binding in females?

[jpresto]

Hello. I have a year old male tiel named Ollie. I got him when he was four months old. He's a sweetie, sings, says peak-a-boo, and is doing well, but we decided to get him a friend. I've been in touch with a breeder in my area, and she's got several babies who should be ready in about a month. There is one in particular that I fell in love with, a pastel faced pied, but it's too young to tell the sex. She's also got some lovely white faced pieds as well. So, at my request, she is getting two babies DNA tested. I mentioned being concerned about females due to the egg binding. I asked her about it and she told me that in 30 years of breeding and working with tiels, she's never encountered this problem. We both belong to a Facebook tiel page, and I read about someone losing a bird to egg binding about once every other week. So I'm putting this question out to you kind folks. Am I worrying for nothing about this? It really doesn't matter which sex I get, because I'm not interesting in breeding, and I've read up on how keep them from breeding (I know, not always foolproof!)

Opinions please ! Sorry about the length of this post, but I'm not known for my brevity. Lol. Thanks in advance!

 

[Jen5200]

By total fluke, I have ended up with a disproportionate number of girls in my flock. I have conures and tiels. 5 girls and 2 boys now. I have had one scare with an egg (just this past year). I think it is relatively rare, but good to be aware of. I wouldn’t let gender scare you away from the bird of your choice. My outlook is this - do what you can to discourage nesting and hormones, know the gender of your birds so that you know what the problem is if it happens, have an established relationship with an avian vet, and an emergency fund in case something happens. Then - enjoy your birds and know that everything will probably be fine because you are prepared .

 

[noodles123]

I have had an egg-bound bird. It's scary. With smaller birds like cockatiels, the risk is somewhat greater, but my cockaTOO lightened my wallet by about $1000 bucks between this year and last over 2 egg issues --the first of which, required prosteglandin (she's 14 but I've had her for many years- never laid until this year that I know of, despite having been sexually mature when I adopted her)..


It takes a toll on their bodies to make an egg, plus, the hormones impact their relationships and behavior. I would NOT take it lightly.


I would also add that any new bird should be quarantined for 45 days minimum in a room as far as you can get from your other birds (separate air-space would be ideal).


I doubt I helped much, but hope maybe I said something useful?

 

[SailBoat]

Have been very lucky to have never having experience with a hen laying, let alone being egg bound.

Note: There is never any assurance that the two Parrots will get along. Never get another Parrot in the belief that your Parrot needs a friend. Also, they may do great with each other and then both of them want nothing to do with you!

 

[Laurasea]

an excellent diet helps prevent this. I have heard if cockatiels becoming chronic egg layers, and that is a problem. Egg binding usually is low calcium, inactive birds, or fat birds It can happen but not a common thing.


But Noodles had the issue with a giant egg in her girl...

I had a female GCC for 10 years when I added a second female GCC they really bonded sbd my old girl laid 4 eggs, 1 a day for 4 days. No problem, and never did again, over the next 6 years I had her. My Girl quaker abd remaining Girl GCC have never laid eggs, and I hope it stays that way!

 

[jpresto]

Thank you for all that replied! Whenever I have an interest in something, I do a great amount of research. That being said, I had already read about making sure their diet is good and what do to discourage nesting and mating behavior, ie., increase nighttime sleep hours, change around things in cage, no happy huts or anything the female can begin to nest in. On a slightly different kind of bird, we've had egg laying hens since 2013, so I have a different kind of experience. Never had a problem with any of our hens having egg laying problems...lol. of that, I'm grateful! Thanks again!

 

[noodles123]

Thank you for all that replied! Whenever I have an interest in something, I do a great amount of research. That being said, I had already read about making sure their diet is good and what do to discourage nesting and mating behavior, ie., increase nighttime sleep hours, change around things in cage, no happy huts or anything the female can begin to nest in. On a slightly different kind of bird, we've had egg laying hens since 2013, so I have a different kind of experience. Never had a problem with any of our hens having egg laying problems...lol. of that, I'm grateful! Thanks again!

I am glad you are already taking precautions, but I want to add that you are not out of the woods just because you do. Noodles is 14 and laid 2 eggs THIS YEAR (despite me having taken all of the precautions--and they do matter, so don't slack on precautions). If I had to go back in time, I'd get a boy, as it is one less thing to worry about..Granted, I wouldn't trade Noodles for the world.

 

[jpresto]

My Ollie

Sorry, don't know how to resize this pic!

 

[jpresto]

Possible new baby!

 

[fiddlejen]

Hello. I have a year old male tiel named Ollie. I got him when he was four months old. He's a sweetie, sings, says peak-a-boo, and is doing well, but we decided to get him a friend. I've been in touch with a breeder in my area, and she's got several babies who should be ready in about a month. There is one in particular that I fell in love with, a pastel faced pied, but it's too young to tell the sex. She's also got some lovely white faced pieds as well. So, at my request, she is getting two babies DNA tested. I mentioned being concerned about females due to the egg binding. I asked her about it and she told me that in 30 years of breeding and working with tiels, she's never encountered this problem. We both belong to a Facebook tiel page, and I read about someone losing a bird to egg binding about once every other week. So I'm putting this question out to you kind folks. Am I worrying for nothing about this? It really doesn't matter which sex I get, because I'm not interesting in breeding, and I've read up on how keep them from breeding (I know, not always foolproof!)

Opinions please ! Sorry about the length of this post, but I'm not known for my brevity. Lol. Thanks in advance!

I think you should get the bird You Love.

Egg Binding - IF it happens then it is highly problematic, dangerous, expensive. But there are all sorts of problems / issues that can happen to any pet. People whose bird it happens to are gonna research & then probably talk about it online. So the amount you hear about it is likely to be higher than the percentage of birds wiht problems.

Yes, it can only happen to females. BUT many females birds (1) don't lay, and (2) lay without problems if they do.

And (3) a Lot of folks get their birds and do Not do much research. Or, their research shows them other folks in photos with own birds. Plenty Plenty of folks do Not learn the basics to avoid hormonal stimulation, and will pet the birds below the neck, allow them to have little tents or other nest-like spaces, allow them access to "nesting" materials (such tissues to shred, etc).
Also people will allow birds to "do their thing" toward their human, rather than simply pulling away or distracting when the bird goes into wiggle-wiggle-waggle-wiggle mode.

Now obviously as mentioned, yes, any female bird can lay, or attempt to lay, despite their owner's best hormonal-reduction attempts. BUT I truly believe if you are reading about egg-binding birds Frequently, probably Lack of hormonal-avoidance must likely be a contributing issue.

TLDR: Get the bird you love. Nothing is ever guaranteed, but, Avoid hormonal triggers, and egg binding probably won't occur.

Beautiful baby by the way! Both are beautiful birdies!

 

[jpresto]

Hello. I have a year old male tiel named Ollie. I got him when he was four months old. He's a sweetie, sings, says peak-a-boo, and is doing well, but we decided to get him a friend. I've been in touch with a breeder in my area, and she's got several babies who should be ready in about a month. There is one in particular that I fell in love with, a pastel faced pied, but it's too young to tell the sex. She's also got some lovely white faced pieds as well. So, at my request, she is getting two babies DNA tested. I mentioned being concerned about females due to the egg binding. I asked her about it and she told me that in 30 years of breeding and working with tiels, she's never encountered this problem. We both belong to a Facebook tiel page, and I read about someone losing a bird to egg binding about once every other week. So I'm putting this question out to you kind folks. Am I worrying for nothing about this? It really doesn't matter which sex I get, because I'm not interesting in breeding, and I've read up on how keep them from breeding (I know, not always foolproof!)

Opinions please ! Sorry about the length of this post, but I'm not known for my brevity. Lol. Thanks in advance!

I think you should get the bird You Love.

Egg Binding - IF it happens then it is highly problematic, dangerous, expensive. But there are all sorts of problems / issues that can happen to any pet. People whose bird it happens to are gonna research & then probably talk about it online. So the amount you hear about it is likely to be higher than the percentage of birds wiht problems.

Yes, it can only happen to females. BUT many females birds (1) don't lay, and (2) lay without problems if they do.

And (3) a Lot of folks get their birds and do Not do much research. Or, their research shows them other folks in photos with own birds. Plenty Plenty of folks do Not learn the basics to avoid hormonal stimulation, and will pet the birds below the neck, allow them to have little tents or other nest-like spaces, allow them access to "nesting" materials (such tissues to shred, etc).
Also people will allow birds to "do their thing" toward their human, rather than simply pulling away or distracting when the bird goes into wiggle-wiggle-waggle-wiggle mode.

Now obviously as mentioned, yes, any female bird can lay, or attempt to lay, despite their owner's best hormonal-reduction attempts. BUT I truly believe if you are reading about egg-binding birds Frequently, probably Lack of hormonal-avoidance must likely be a contributing issue.

TLDR: Get the bird you love. Nothing is ever guaranteed, but, Avoid hormonal triggers, and egg binding probably won't occur.

Beautiful baby by the way! Both are beautiful birdies!

Thank you for that advice. I really have my heart set on this cutie and, although the breeder is having this bird and a baby white face pied DNA tested, I'm starting to think that I am leaning towards getting this one regardless. At least I'll know for sure what sex it really is.