What causes egg binding in birds? Recently I have had 5 hens of different breeds with this problem,1 bird twice.
A day in the hospital box fixes it but it is a problem,does anybody have any solutions.
Jack
egg binding
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finchbreeder
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Cold weather and insufficent calcium uptake are supposed to be key factors. So crushed eggshell sprinkled through the seed could help.
LML
LML
LML
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Tony
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Hi Jack.
I find that a vitamin D supplement makes all the difference. Not sure of the technicalities, something about aiding the uptake of the calcium offered. I have use Vitastress sprinkled on the soaked seed for the last few years with good results, and this year Soluvite D Breeder was suggested by a very good breeder. He swears by it.
Hope this helps
Tony
I find that a vitamin D supplement makes all the difference. Not sure of the technicalities, something about aiding the uptake of the calcium offered. I have use Vitastress sprinkled on the soaked seed for the last few years with good results, and this year Soluvite D Breeder was suggested by a very good breeder. He swears by it.
Hope this helps
Tony
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Greg41
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- Location: Kingsley. Suburb of Perth Wa
I get a small container of seed[about an ice cream container size] crush up a Vit D tablet, same as we use, mix it into the seed along with a small amount of vegetable oil
and feed out a small amount each morning. This seems to have fixed the problem.
Cheers Greg.
and feed out a small amount each morning. This seems to have fixed the problem.
Cheers Greg.
GDG
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Myzomela
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Calcium is needed not only to form the eggshell, but also to help the muscle contractions which help to expel the egg from the reproductive tract.
Vitamin D3 is needed to maximise absorption from the gut. This can be provided through the diet (supplements) or via exposing birds to direct, unfiltered sunlight.
Other trace minerals such as magnesium, manganese, essential fatty acids (omega 3 & 6) and various other vitamins are also necessary.
A hen which is laying a clutch of eggs cannot possibly absorb enough calcium from the diet alone to provide for her needs. she also has to mobilise calcium from her bones. Therefore, the calcium needs to be provided for some time before laying commences (4-6 weeks?) to ensure that the bones are also adequately calcified. Hens which grow on marginal calcium diets can have weaker skeletons and suffer from fractured bones during the breeding season as they mobilise bone calcium for egg laying.
It is also common for hens to suffer from egg binding whilst laying the last eggs of a clutch, or whilst laying later rather than earlier clutches.
You also need a hen that is in proper breeding condition and optimum health, and is cycling properly (hormonally primed).
Birds that suffer from egg binding either aren't eating enough of the right things or are not in prime breeding condition, or are ill, too old or too young.
This is an oversimplified explanation of what happens.
Vitamin D3 is needed to maximise absorption from the gut. This can be provided through the diet (supplements) or via exposing birds to direct, unfiltered sunlight.
Other trace minerals such as magnesium, manganese, essential fatty acids (omega 3 & 6) and various other vitamins are also necessary.
A hen which is laying a clutch of eggs cannot possibly absorb enough calcium from the diet alone to provide for her needs. she also has to mobilise calcium from her bones. Therefore, the calcium needs to be provided for some time before laying commences (4-6 weeks?) to ensure that the bones are also adequately calcified. Hens which grow on marginal calcium diets can have weaker skeletons and suffer from fractured bones during the breeding season as they mobilise bone calcium for egg laying.
It is also common for hens to suffer from egg binding whilst laying the last eggs of a clutch, or whilst laying later rather than earlier clutches.
You also need a hen that is in proper breeding condition and optimum health, and is cycling properly (hormonally primed).
Birds that suffer from egg binding either aren't eating enough of the right things or are not in prime breeding condition, or are ill, too old or too young.
This is an oversimplified explanation of what happens.
Research; evaluate;observe;act
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finchbreeder
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"A hen which is laying a clutch of eggs cannot possibly absorb enough calcium from the diet alone to provide for her needs."
Not questioning your knowledge here. BUT Surely if this is so then there is something wrong with the natural order of things? Unless of course you mean this literally, not allowing for natural absorption of vitamin D from sunshine. And of course allowing for the bird to be in an environment where she would live in the wild. Maybe that is why I have not had egg binding problems here on the sunny west coast.
LML
Not questioning your knowledge here. BUT Surely if this is so then there is something wrong with the natural order of things? Unless of course you mean this literally, not allowing for natural absorption of vitamin D from sunshine. And of course allowing for the bird to be in an environment where she would live in the wild. Maybe that is why I have not had egg binding problems here on the sunny west coast.
LML
LML
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Myzomela
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No, the statement is true. What I mean is that in addition to dietary calcium a laying hen needs to mobilise calcium from her bones. If she hasn't built up her bone calcium leading up to egg laying then she is likely to get into trouble.
Unfortunately, if a hen has had insufficient calcium in her diet in the periofd leading up to egg laying, then she is likely to run into problems no matter how much calcium and vitamin D3 you give her during egg laying.
She literally cannot absorb enough calcium from her diet alone at this time to meet the demands of egg laying.
Another way of explaining it: a laying hen needs calcium from both her diet and her skeleton to meet the demands of egg laying. A deficiency in either may lead to problems.
This all relates to conditioning hens for breeding and building them up in the lead up to the breeding season.
Does this make sense Finchbreeder?
If not, ask again and I'll try to explain it differently.
Unfortunately, if a hen has had insufficient calcium in her diet in the periofd leading up to egg laying, then she is likely to run into problems no matter how much calcium and vitamin D3 you give her during egg laying.
She literally cannot absorb enough calcium from her diet alone at this time to meet the demands of egg laying.
Another way of explaining it: a laying hen needs calcium from both her diet and her skeleton to meet the demands of egg laying. A deficiency in either may lead to problems.
This all relates to conditioning hens for breeding and building them up in the lead up to the breeding season.
Does this make sense Finchbreeder?
If not, ask again and I'll try to explain it differently.
Research; evaluate;observe;act