Eggbound 7 year old female

[suzyc1954]

Hi everyone - I (and my 7 year old budgie Babe) have had a traumatic time as she recently started mating with Cheeky (who I have had for about 2 years). It's the first time she has mated and she had an egg formed that dropped into the birth canal but seemed to be stuck there. I was advised to take her to a vet immediately which I did yesterday and they gave me two (risky) options - medications to help her expel the egg or an operation to drain and remove the egg. I opted for the medicine first and she was given two injections of calcium and Baytril. I woke up at 4.00 a.m. and checked on her and seen a bloody red mess hanging out of her vent. I left her for a couple of hours and the egg did not come out so I held her in some tepid water and gently teased the egg out. I forgot to ask the vet if there were any more eggs inside her and assume there was not as I think the vet would have told me if there were. Now almost seven hours later her vent still looks swollen and messy but I think the mess may be poops and I don't want to handle her any more than I have to (although she is quite tame) as I think this stresses her in an already stressful period. She is eating, drinking and preening and Cheeky is feeding her too. I have taken the covers off the front of the nesting box but she is still going in (for what I don't know). I do not want her to mate again so would taking the nesting box out of the equation stop her mating? I can't get in touch with the vet until tomorrow (02/01/13) but am still concerned about her. Should I keep giving her the Baytril and calcium? Should I try cleaning the area around her vent? Can anyone please advise me.

[annieones]

Suzy I'm really sorry to hear about babe and wish I was experienced to give you some advice. I'm sure if you keep her calm and warm it'll help. Be thinking about you both

[suzyc1954]

Hi Annie

Thanks for your kind words - it helps to know that someone understands how I feel - a lot of people at work think I am a bit nutty because I love my birds and wildlife in general - I just had a wild pigeon for five weeks in my kitchen but had to have it euthanised as it was unlikely to fly again. The vet had told me that its wing was not broken but it may have been its collarbone. I was so sad. Regards. Sue

Babe is still in the nesting box which I have just closed up (except for the little hole she goes through) as I am not sure if keeping her out of the box may be detrimental. I will have to give her some medicine later so may take the opportunity of trying to clean her and find out if there are any other eggs.

[Deleted]

Jan 1, 2013 13:02:31 GMT suzyc1954 said:

Hi everyone - I (and my 7 year old budgie Babe) have had a traumatic time as she recently started mating with Cheeky (who I have had for about 2 years). It's the first time she has mated and she had an egg formed that dropped into the birth canal but seemed to be stuck there. I was advised to take her to a vet immediately which I did yesterday and they gave me two (risky) options - medications to help her expel the egg or an operation to drain and remove the egg. I opted for the medicine first and she was given two injections of calcium and Baytril. I woke up at 4.00 a.m. and checked on her and seen a bloody red mess hanging out of her vent. I left her for a couple of hours and the egg did not come out so I held her in some tepid water and gently teased the egg out. I forgot to ask the vet if there were any more eggs inside her and assume there was not as I think the vet would have told me if there were. Now almost seven hours later her vent still looks swollen and messy but I think the mess may be poops and I don't want to handle her any more than I have to (although she is quite tame) as I think this stresses her in an already stressful period. She is eating, drinking and preening and Cheeky is feeding her too. I have taken the covers off the front of the nesting box but she is still going in (for what I don't know). I do not want her to mate again so would taking the nesting box out of the equation stop her mating? I can't get in touch with the vet until tomorrow (02/01/13) but am still concerned about her. Should I keep giving her the Baytril and calcium? Should I try cleaning the area around her vent? Can anyone please advise me.

take the nest box away now ...

keep giving her the meds......

keep her warm ...and clean ...

yes she will have other eggs ...

all hens are different as in the amount they produce ....

good luck till you see a vet again ...
regards mick....

[suzyc1954]

Thanks Mick - when she next comes out of the nesting box I will take it down and do as you advise with regard to the medication and cleaning her. Will it stress her if I take away the nesting box?

[sarah*glittergirl2212]

Suzy I truly hope Babe is OK, she has been through a lot poor little thing. She may be stressed about the nesting box being removed but I think she definitely has to be discouraged from laying eggs as much as possible as that stress on her physically is more dangerous. I hope the vet gives you positive news tomorrow. It is very important to keep her toasty warm in the meantime.Best wishes to you and Babe...

[Deleted]

Jan 1, 2013 14:29:11 GMT suzyc1954 said:

Thanks Mick - when she next comes out of the nesting box I will take it down and do as you advise with regard to the medication and cleaning her. Will it stress her if I take away the nesting box?

it will encourage her to keep producing eggs
if it stays ..
she might lay in the cage but she will stop ...
much faster without the nest box ....
i hope she will be ok ..

but not all hens that get egg bound make it .. .
and its the most painful way a hen can die .. .

sounds to me you got to her in time ...
so fingers x this end ... .
if she passes a egg within the next 12 hrs id say shes going to be fine ....

its nothing you have done so dont feel bad you are doing all you can ......

it can happen to any hen at any age ....

its for this reason only when people ask.....

for a pet shall i get a cock or hen ...

i always say a cock bird... .

[Donna Lee]

I'm sorry she's poorly, but it sounds like she's holding up well! Definitely take the nestbox out though.

[suzyc1954]

Thanks to everyone for your contributions - I can hardly see what I'm typing for crying - for Babe and the egg I threw away, for me being stupid in hoping that she could have a baby this late in the day (at her age) and for encouraging her by putting up the nesting box. I've almost given her a death sentence. I've took the nesting box away and she seems to be OK - the only signs of this is that she is feeding and preening. One more trauma to go through today is giving her the medication and trying to clean her bottom - I do this with tepid water and a wadge of soft cotton wool. Thanks again for all your support which although it makes me cry I know you all understand how I am feeling - I am not alone!!

[sarah*glittergirl2212]

Don't feel bad. You have cared for her so well since she became poorly, and you are trying so hard for her. Keep positive- she is eating and drinking and tomorrow she can see the vet again. When you give her the medication just remind yourself that every dose is to help her. I'd bet that she knows how much you've helped her already. You are never alone on here. Please keep us all posted with her progress, as I and many others will be wishing you all the best x

[suzyc1954]

Hi Sarah - you are making me cry again!! but thanks for your kind words. I am trying to post some pictures of Babe, Cheeky and poor old Ben who was the original male in the picture but could not figure out (about five years ago) how mating goes!! I went to see a client who did not want Cheeky and before I knew it the words popped out my mouth "I'll have him" without giving it too much thought. Ben must have had French Moult before I got him and has no flight feathers but still does what comes naturally (when the others take off) but falls to the floor and looks up to be rescued - the times he has climbed onto the bars on the gas fire (which I cannot use anymore) and actually got inside the fire which I have now learned how to take off the wall to rescue him!! He really is the "bird divvy" of the avian kind but I love them all. Ben and Cheeky seem to know that something is wrong with Babe and are being very attentive to her. Kindest regards to you all. Sue

[suzyc1954]

Hi - I am not sure how to add photos although I have uploaded some to Photobox . Any clues please?
Regards Sue

[sarah*glittergirl2212]

I think most people use photobucket - there is a thread on here somewhere about how to upload pictures...

[suzyc1954]

Thanks for the photobucket info - I will try again tomorrow. I'm sure everyone will want to see Babe (by the way she weighs 57 grammes which the vet thought was a healthy weight). I've just give her the medication but am not sure how much actually goes down, cleaned her botty which is looking pretty good and had a gentle feel for more eggs which I could not detect so I will call the vet tomorrow to see if she needs checking out again. I think she's going to be oK. After cleaning her she lay in my hands with eyes closed and let me stroke her for a few minutes so I think she recognises that I am trying to help her. Her flying ability is a little diminished as I used to call her my Ace Pilot as opposed to Ben who is a Kami Kazi pilot (poor little blighter has lost all his flight feathers through French Moult - before I got him!!). Regards. Sue

[suzyc1954]

Babe when she was a baby (six months old) and very very tame and funny - like humans they grow up and lose their playfulness. I'll post another of the three - Babe, Ben and Cheeky. Regards. Sue

Attachments: