Yesterday i had my second gouldian egg bound hen in as many weeks. Lucky for me i noticed the hen a bit off before it was too late like my last one and bought her inside.
Not having yet gotten a hospital cage with heat lamp, i wondered what to do ? i didnt want to lose another !
Then i thought - well, it works for raising bread dough ! So i turned on my oven and placed the holding box on top of the stove top elements. Worked a treat !!!
She was nice and warm in no time, and when i went to take her out to eye dropper some calcium water into her i must have either scared her or squeezed a bit tight - coz out popped an egg !!
I kept her in the box for about three hours in the warmth, with a bit of food and two small drink containers with spark in one and calcium in the other.
By lunch time she had eaten, drank from both a fair bit and was buzzing around the box all perked up.
I am happy to say that today all is still well !
But i do have a question - Will every egg she now lays get stuck, or is it just the first one ?
I assume that it was her first ever egg because she was sold to me as last seasons young ( if the pet shop can be believed ).
Improvisation !
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gomer
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- Location: Victoria Australia
Well done Jewel.Glad you saved your girl with your quick thinking and improvisation.Any photos of your improvisation ? I wonder what the others in the household thought they were having for tea when they seen that.A variation of pigeon pie 
Keeper of Australian Grass Finches
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Diane
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- Location: Northern 'burbs of Adelaide
I dont think just because one egg got stuck all the others would. You have upped her calcium so that would help her lay eggs normally, but I would be watching her. From what I have read egg laying depletes the calcium levels pretty quickly and her levels must have been low to start with.
Diane
The difference between Genius and Stupidity is, Genius has it’s limits
The difference between Genius and Stupidity is, Genius has it’s limits
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djb78
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Nice going, glad to hear that she well and fine. As BB has said that calcium depletion happens to hens when laying,maybe some with more knowledge on calcium and egg laying might be able to help more on this. Egg binding will usally happen to first timers and calcium deficient birds. Will this happen again it may it may not if its her age then next season if not next clutch may come normally with no help but if there is underlining issues she may still have eggbinding issues. Other than calcium or age, temperature can also play a role in eggbinding meaning cold snaps or prolonged cold.
Danny
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natamambo
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Calcium is part of the muscle contraction process. Egg binding is "cured" by calcium intake as it allows the muscles to contract more effectively. Thus egg binding will only continue to occur if calcium levels remain too low, unlikely if the bird has recovered. Keep up the calcium to make sure.
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mackstaa
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Great save there Jewel and well done on the diagnosis once again.
Cheers for the reminder about calcium Natamambo its easy to have the calcium offerings slip when we think all is well in the aviary with what appears to be no problems
Cheers for the reminder about calcium Natamambo its easy to have the calcium offerings slip when we think all is well in the aviary with what appears to be no problems
Mackstaa
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Tony
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Congratulations on the quick thinking Jewel.
Sometimes for one reason or another, some birds will not retain enough calcium, even if there is plenty of calcium available. Usually a lack of vitamin D will mean they cannot process and retain it. I use a vitamin supplement and have not had a problem since i started using it.
Cheers
Sometimes for one reason or another, some birds will not retain enough calcium, even if there is plenty of calcium available. Usually a lack of vitamin D will mean they cannot process and retain it. I use a vitamin supplement and have not had a problem since i started using it.
Cheers
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E Orix
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How to give your birds calcium and how much is required is a mute point.
There is no point in saturating water or other mediums with high levels of calcium if your birds aren't getting a balanced
intake of other minerals and vitamins.Infact too much calcium without other chemicals apparently will actually force the birds body
to reject calcium with dire results.
From memory I can't remember ever having a Gouldian egg bound.One thing I do is give them baked egg shell,when ever it is fed
the Gouldians will be first down in fact if they see you with the egg shell before you enter the aviary they will come and hang on the wire.
The main time I am looking out for egg binding is if there is a cold snap and its generally my Blue Faced Parrot Finches
Today many Gouldians are being cage bred, a good mineral mix is very important,it doesn't seem they are eating much but they take what they need.
Infact if you are cage breeding any specie then a balanced diet is vital.Minerals,washed sand and not too much fatty/rich food especially if they are not feeding chicks.They rely on you to supply everything they need.
There is no point in saturating water or other mediums with high levels of calcium if your birds aren't getting a balanced
intake of other minerals and vitamins.Infact too much calcium without other chemicals apparently will actually force the birds body
to reject calcium with dire results.
From memory I can't remember ever having a Gouldian egg bound.One thing I do is give them baked egg shell,when ever it is fed
the Gouldians will be first down in fact if they see you with the egg shell before you enter the aviary they will come and hang on the wire.
The main time I am looking out for egg binding is if there is a cold snap and its generally my Blue Faced Parrot Finches
Today many Gouldians are being cage bred, a good mineral mix is very important,it doesn't seem they are eating much but they take what they need.
Infact if you are cage breeding any specie then a balanced diet is vital.Minerals,washed sand and not too much fatty/rich food especially if they are not feeding chicks.They rely on you to supply everything they need.