Aussie Finch Forum

It seems to me that the hen gouldians are finding laying eggs with great difficulty.
The egg shell seems to be thin, because I am getting the odd egg accidently breaking in the nest on a few occasions.
I have lost one hen this morning due to egg bound.
I give them cuttle fish bone, egg shells and Polly's calcium mix.
Is there any other suggestions I should give them to strengthen their egg shells.
Cheers Dizzy

In my opinion, you should continue with the treatment and stop breeding so the can recover from her lack of calcium.
In 2 or 3 months try again and how the hen is going.


Gustavo

There are liquid calcium which can be given directly to the beak and water which can help boost the calcium. I also add BVM to grit which my birds seem to eat which has added calcium. I would also agree to stop breeding as the hens health are at risk.

I bought Liquid Calcium & Vitamin D3 supplement and gave this in water today.
By the way Danny, what is BVM stand for as I new to all this.
Cheers Dizzy

How are your birds housed? In an outdoor aviary with plenty of sun or in cabinets in shade?

They are in an outside avairy but i realised they are not getting enough sun.
So I was thinking of pulling a couple of side sheets off where the sun hits for most of the day.
But don't know whether to put wire mesh or clear plastic to let the sun through.
What do you think?
Cheers Dizzy

Dizzy BVM is Bird Vitamin and Mineral powder, its pink in colour and has a nice smell. Instructions are to be placed on soaked seed or softfood and can be added to grit, when adding to grit a little amount of water should be added to allow powder to coat grit. I've only started to use it this season and as of this seasons results I've had only 1 egg bound hen which to me is tolerable. It cost me $40 for a kg tub and it has a large amount of vitamins and minerals and calcium is one of the main ones. Definitely the extra Sun won't hurt as this will allow better calcium absorption, and if cold wind is an issue I would cover the wire with clear plastic of some sort. By the way I picked up the BVM powder from pet stock if you shop around ou may be able to pick it up cheaper from some where else or at least pick up a equivalent product.

Dizzy you get the B.V.M from mineral energy ph 98873355
or Email [email protected] its the best product on
the market. cheers flavio

@Colouredfeathers, that is an interesting product, and some good reading, thanks for sharing. Dizzy, I would give it a go, it was developed by http://www.mewarehouse.com.au/about-us.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, which I believe leads to here, http://www.auspigeonco.com.au/contactin ... ting2.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, very good reading. Would like to do some more reading on this prouduct. Colin Walker, DVM, and his staff, are very warm, welcoming group of people.

Only thing I have used, save all eggshell, wash, let air dry, nook in microwave for 3 minutes on high, let cool, then crush, put in magic bullet, pulverise to fine powder, sprinkle over seeds.

Have sent you a pm regarding some locally sourced pink powder.