Egg laying behaviours

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Joined: 20 Jul 2010, 08:54
Location: Perth, WA
Location: Perth WA

Our OBs have been building a nest and mating. This morning, the OB hen was looking very fluffed up, panting and puffing and her tail was flicking up and down. Half an hour later I went back to check and she was in the nest. I am just wondering, are those behaviours normal prior to laying an egg, or would they mean that she might be egg bound? She would be the first of our birds to lay eggs (the stars are just taking us for a ride I am sure! :lol: ) so we have no idea what it looks like and what to expect.
Thanks. :)
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VR1Ton
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Location: Far Nth Coast NSW
Location: Far Nth Coast NSW

Tail bobbing is common, but all other signs are eggbound, keep a close eye on her, give her a dose of parafin oil, a couple of drop down the beak and a couple on the vent & gently blow so it sucks it up & will help lubricate the vent for passing the egg. If it still looks fluffed, give it some heat. Also adding Cod Liver or some other oil based breeding aid to the seed once a week will help to reduce the incidence of eggbinding.
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Thanks VR1. Where do I get paraffin oil? Chemist? also what are the time frames are we talking about. Due to head for work in 1 hr and other half not home till later in the afternoon. She is on nest now, worried about disturbing her (which the stars are alreazdy doing by trying to get into her nest! :roll: )
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VR1Ton
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Hard to say its more of a visual appearance thing. Might be safer to bring her in just to be on the safe side. Better to lose an egg, than lose a hen.
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Can't see her now so no idea how she is going... Maybe I could try to move her with the whole nest into our small cage... and put him in too... Hospital cage has two gouldian juveniles in it... But you are right re better to lose the egg than hen... Will go check her out now and see what happens.
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Just went in and she flew out of nest. Not looking too bad, maybe a little rapid breathing but not fluffed like before. Might leave her for now and check on her later this afternoon. Couldn't see any eggs in nest but then was trying not to get too close so she want abandon it. Will get all the oils today and if we need to treat her tonight. Thanks for the advice.
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