Puffed up Star Finch

[lyn2233]

Hi, Red faced star hen very puffed up, I thought she might be egg bound. She has had 2 clutches in the last 6 months and has a nest again and I think she is laying eggs. I have caught her and put her on a heating pad inside for the night. There looked like there was lump up near her neck. Could anybody give me advice on what I should be feeding them in winter to stop egg binding. I am going away in the caravan for 3 months and want to have the right seed for them.Thanks.

[jusdeb]

Might pay to leave instructions for whoever is looking after them to add some liquid calcium to the water a couple of times a week while your gone .

That and the usual grit / calcium mix for them to pick at .

All I can think of but I'm sure there's other things that might help ...Good luck

[BENSONSAN]

Lynn dont worry so much about calcium like make sure they have it but more then anything give her some kinda vitamin D3 supplemeant. Or some cod liver oil in her seed but be sure to take it out after a day so the seed doesnt go rancid. Has helped me with many a gouldian hen and the odd painted finch that just cant be stopped from breeding.

As deb said tho most of those calcium liquid supps have d3 in them so she is very rite in what she said.

Ben

[jusdeb]

OOOps yes I just assume all calciums have D3 because mine does ..sorry should have been more on the ball .

[lyn2233]

Thanks everyone,
My red faced finch I put back in the aviary for the day but looked puffed really bad. I caught her again and have brought the male in with her and her two babies that have fledged but still feeding. She has a really huge lump on her breast do you think it is a tumor?

[Diane]

Ive noticed that sometimes when hens are feeding young their crops seem to stand out more, cant see the crop itself just a bigger bump there. Hopefully thats what the lump is on your bird.