Egg binding

Egg binding is a condition in which a female cannot lay an egg that has already reached the end of the oviduct. It is an emergency: small birds such as budgies, cockatiels, canaries and zebra finches can die within a few hours. If you suspect egg binding, call a vet immediately.

To lay an egg, the oviduct needs strong contractions, and for that there must be enough calcium in the blood. When any of this fails, the egg gets stuck.

The most common causes:

• lack of calcium and vitamin D3 – due to a seed-only diet or too little sunlight or UVB light
• cold – in a cold room the muscles work less well
• a first egg or a young female
• obesity and too little exercise
• frequent, back-to-back laying that exhausts the body
• an egg that is too large, misshapen or soft-shelled
• stress, old age, inflammation or another disease of the oviduct

Female parrots can lay eggs even without a male, so the problem also occurs in birds living alone. Cockatiels, budgies, lovebirds, canaries and zebra finches are most often affected, but egg binding can also happen to a hen, a duck or a larger parrot. In wild birds it is rarely noticed, because people usually do not observe them up close.

• the female strains and pumps her tail but nothing comes out
• she sits fluffed up on the floor of the cage with her legs spread wide
• a swollen abdomen; sometimes the egg can be felt near the vent
• loss of appetite, apathy, drowsiness
• difficult or rapid breathing, open-beak breathing
• no droppings, or unusually large, watery droppings
• limping or weak legs, because the egg presses on the nerves
• tissue protruding from the vent (a red or pink swelling)

With long-lasting or repeated problems, the bird may lose weight, and the skin around the vent may be red, swollen or soiled.

If you suspect egg binding, go to the vet straight away, especially if:

• the female has been straining for more than a few hours without result
• she sits on the floor of the cage and cannot get onto a perch
• she is breathing heavily
• she cannot use her legs
• an egg or tissue is protruding from the vent
• she is bleeding from the vent

Call the vet ahead so they are ready when you arrive.

• Warmth: put the bird in a small box or cage in a warm place, around 30 °C. You can use a heating pad on a low setting under part of the box, so the bird can move away if it gets too hot.
• Humidity: warm, moist air helps. Place a bowl of warm water next to the box, out of the bird's reach, or keep it briefly in a warm, steamy bathroom.
• Quiet: dim light, no noise, no other birds.
• Remove the perches and put a soft towel on the floor.
• Offer water in a shallow dish, but do not pour it into the beak and do not force-feed the bird.

Never try to squeeze the egg out by pressing on the abdomen. The egg can break inside the body, and the oviduct can be injured or prolapse, which can be fatal. Do not put anything into the vent and do not pull on the egg. Do not give medication or calcium on your own initiative.

Through an examination and X-ray, the vet establishes where the egg is, how big it is and whether it has a shell. Depending on the situation, the vet prescribes calcium, fluids and drugs that stimulate contractions of the oviduct. If that does not help, the egg can be carefully removed under anaesthetic; sometimes it is first emptied with a needle and then the shell is taken out. In more severe cases surgery is needed.

For females that lay eggs constantly, the vet may suggest hormone therapy and changes in how the bird is kept.

After the procedure, the bird needs a few days of rest and warmth. Keep an eye on whether it is eating and drinking and what its droppings look like, and go back for a check-up when the vet tells you. A female that has been egg-bound once is more likely to have the problem again, so it is important to remove the cause: improve the diet, provide light and reduce the triggers for laying. If you notice the female getting ready to lay again, watch her more closely and don't wait to call the vet.

• A diet with enough calcium: pellets, dark green vegetables, cuttlefish bone or a mineral block.
• Sunlight outdoors (not through glass) or a UVB lamp for birds.
• Maintaining a healthy weight and daily exercise.
• Keep birds warm and away from draughts.
• For females prone to laying: do not leave nest boxes and nesting material, do not stroke them on the back and under the tail, avoid mirrors and overly long daylight hours, and do not remove laid eggs straight away without a vet's advice.
• Do not breed females too young or too often.

Egg binding is not a condition you wait out. Warmth, humidity and quiet can help while you travel, but only a vet can provide real help. Never squeeze the egg out; a good diet with enough calcium and light is the best protection.