Hello all,

 

 

I am a new member that joined the forum out of necessity due to a terrible occurrence from one of my daughter’s budgie. I learned a terrible lesson and wanted to gather information just incase this happens again. I am very cautious to post this for fear of retribution but I must. Please do not think badly of me, we were caught off guard and did what we thought was appropriate at the time but in retrospect we could have done much better. Also, we do not have the resources to take her to the vet.

 

 

Here is the story

 

 

We have 3 budgies, 2 adopted and one from the pet store. We have had the adopted budgies for almost 7 months when much to our surprise, Peppy began to lay an egg during the morning. It made it about 75% out but was stuck with blood around the area. My first impression was that blood had congealed and was holding the egg in place.

 

 

I contacted the vet immediately to discuss and specifically mentioned what could possibly cause this to occur, I very clearly asked a question about the possibility of a membrane holding the egg in and the vet mentioned it was common to have an egg stuck and that he could manipulate to egg out. No mention of a membrane.

 

 

After that, I referenced many articles about this issue but nothing pertinent to an egg stuck out side of the vent. At lunch time, I attempted to oil the area to encourage it to progress naturally as some articles mentioned this in egg bound hens and was hopeful it would break the blood lose or what ever else was holding it in.

 

 

This did not work, so around dinner time, I took another closer look at Peppy, and noticed that there was in fact a membrane around the egg. It appeared to be torn close to the vent. In desperation I used a scalpel to cut the bottom the membrane and released the egg.

 

 

Around bed time, Peppy was feeding and active, I was hopeful. We kept the house very warm and prayed. In the morning she did not look good and after I had made it to work she had died.

 

 

Bottom Line, we are heart broke about her passing and I need to know if this has happened before and what could have been done.

 

 

Please do not be to judgmental...some kindly advice is appreciated.

 

 

Craig

Welcome to the forums, most of the experience breeders are asleep being our daytime is their night. We have a few that come on during our day so I am sure this will be answered.

 

If you read through the FAQ's you will gain a great deal of knowledge too. It talks about different ways you can prevent egg binding, what to do when it does happen etc... you wil find most of these articles in the Breeding FAQ's but you can do a search too.

 

Here is an article you can read for information and will answer a lot of questions.

Eggbound Hen BBC Artcle CLICK TO READ

Hi, welcome to the forums

 

sorry to hear about your situation.

Elly,

 

 

Thanks for the information.

 

 

As this incident was occurring I did reference the FAQ and viewed the link you provided, although it appears that nothing quite like this was discussed. It also appears the egg bound term was reserved for the specific case of the egg not passing thru the cloaca.

 

 

Can you suggest what terminology would be helpful to find situations common to mine?

 

 

Do you know if this situation is common?

 

 

My daughters care for the birds very well...food, water, vitamins, so it is my impression that diet or calcium deficiencies were not a factor. Our home is kept at 72 degrees day and 65 degrees at night.

 

 

Thanks,

 

 

Craig

I would assume that this hen was still egg bound just in a different stage though you live and learn. I believe if you are not an avian vet cutting a membrane without having the experience is very risky. At the stage she was at she needed to be seen by a expert and even if she was it may have been too late. As you said you didn't have an avian vet in the area. I am not experience in this area just giving my thoughts. I am sure others will come on to help you out even more.

 

Even when you take care of them the best you can sometimes the unseen forces have another plan I learned that with Pretty my own budgie. Budgies are fragile they are not as hardy as they are written up to be.

Edited March 11, 200817 yr by Elly

My fear is that you cut something that was protruding from the bird in her eggbound state that was NOT what you assumed it to be. A fully stretched oviduct around an egg would look to the inexperienced to be like a membrane a puppy or kitten in covered with. It seems the bird may have had a prolapse. I know you have tried to act upon what was seen to be urgent. BUT even with my veterinary nursing background, I would not use a scalpel on a bird myself and would leave that kind of surgery to the experts. There really is no need for surgery to help an egg out. A vet gives a simple injection to help expel the egg. Indeed one of our members just yesterday had a bird to the vets for that very same reason.

Unless you have intricate knowledge of a birds anatomy and possible consequences, I would not have done what you did. I am sorry your first time on this forum meets with some negative comment, but you truly have to live and learn and learn by others experience....and perhaps this time "wear your mistake".

A budgie is a cheaply bought bird, but must have some value in that it can be taken to a vet and incur vet fees when necessary. This was one of those times. I hope you have learnt by it.

 

 

PS another thing to consider is...how old are your budgies and are they breeding too young ?

Edited March 11, 200817 yr by KAZ

Hi Craig,

okay, first of all... I'm sorry for your loss....

I won't however unfortunatly say thay i think you did the right thing, Because in the world of animal care... You didn't...

When a hen is egg bound, if all other attempts to help her pass it fail a vet IS NEEDED... Even a Normal practice can somewhat help with passing the egg. As it so happens just yesterday i had an eggbound hen, She was in alot of pain, could not walk/stand and needed the egg out immediatly. We tried the oil, we tried humidity, we tried calcium, none worked. That was when it became OUR responsibilty to take her to a vet. The nearest avian vet is miles from here and she was already struggling so a vet nearby that could help was sought after. They gave her lube, an inducing drug and massaged it out. Although i feel for you on what you went through and your daughters, Cutting the membrane from the egg was not a good call. You more than likely cut her uterus, which must've come out her vent with the egg. Ultimatly even though you're inexperinced and i do not blame you for that at all, you still made the wrong call. Your hen probably has what i have heard another member Kaz call it, a prolapse. When her organs come out with the egg.

Once again i am sorry for your loss, but you needed to be made aware incase it happens again. Please don't take this in the wrong way, or as if i am attacking you or condemming you for killing a bird. It was a wrong decision made from lack of knowledge and no experience with the subject. I'm sure you'll learn from what you've been told and be better prepared next time.

sorry to hear about your plight... I'm not experienced enough to give any advice but hope others can help.

I'm sorry to have to welcome you on these terms. Sorry for your loss, but I agree with Kaz and Libby on there comments. I don't feel the need to add to what they have already written.

Sorry for your loss

 

I had an old hen who decided to lay an egg out of the blue. She got egg bound with prolapse (uterus came out of her vent) and she was immediately put to sleep by my vet. It's very sad and traumatic for all :hap:

 

This is the best place to be for any future problems

I'm so sorry for your loss My heart sank when you said you cut the 'membrane' - I fear you cut the prolapsed reproductive tract, which was probably stretched over the egg (I see now some others came to the same conclusion). It is a classical situation that an animal appears in distress when an organ is stretched, feels fine when it ruptures (because it's no longer causing pressure discomfort), and then die shortly after from peritonitis (basically stuff that shouldn't be in the body cavity will cause irritation and infection).

I strongly suggest you now find the number of an avian vet, even if there isn't one physically near you, being able to call them will help immensely. Regular vets are usually not experienced enough to know about birds. However, it is ultimately your responsibility to have medical help available when your bird is in need of it. An avian vet is best. But failing that, even a regular vet will have the drugs and equipment available to them and at the very least they can also contact an avian vet and then do what is needed.

Again, I am sorry to be negative and deeply sorry for your loss.

Edited March 11, 200817 yr by Chrysocome

All,

 

Thank you for your comments. I see very clearly now that the vet was the only way to proceed. I can not fully describe how terrible I feel about how this all turned out but will find an avian vet soonest. KAZ asked how old she was but since Peppy was found outside and then offered to our family I have no specific data on how old she was. Best guess would be an older budgie.

 

Again thank you,

 

Craig

if you need help finding an avain vet in your area, you can click on this Link from our FAQ section.

Craig, if you would like to post some pictures of your other budgies on here and any questions about them we would be happy to help. The eggbound hen incident was an unfortunate way to introduce yourself and get some negatives. But we know you have learnt much already. I am sure you will benefit from ongoing help and support here

Edited March 11, 200817 yr by KAZ
spelling

KAZ,

 

Thank you...I will see what pictures I can find. Also, I will have to do my research on how to get the right sized photo so it posts properly.

 

Craig

KAZ,

 

Thank you...I will see what pictures I can find. Also, I will have to do my research on how to get the right sized photo so it posts properly.

 

Craig

There is a link to posting pictures in my si8gnature. Also Photobucket has a great editing feature on now and you can do all kinds of great things with the photos right there on photobucket