Firstly, I have read a few posts on here, and I wish I would of found this forum earlier - it's so imformative.

okay, my problem is that I have a male (5 years old) and hen (3 years old) in the same cage. They have always been healthy and been a source of joy for the past few years. However, the hen a month ago started to get a swollen stomach which made her bottom sag and she sat with her legs a distance apart, she also bobbed her tail more than usual but didn't seem in distress. Her swelling was match with her plucking the feathers til she was bald - they matched many pictures of egg bound birds, and with birds that had tumours. We took her to the local vets who kept her in overnight and did some xrays as they thought she was eggbound. The xrays were not at all conclusive, as it didn't really show anything that could resemble a mass or egg. Were were sent home with some medicine i.e. Metacalm (prescribed for cats) and a calcium supplement that we should giver twice a day for 10 days, as they said they could only operate to see what the problem was and that would be a great risk. This is given by holding her and using a syringe. We were prepared for the worse, but stuck with her medicine. Over a week she transformed to her old self, no lump, legs in normal position, feathers grown back etc. She ate her seeds, millet, fruit and veg with no problems. We stopped the medication and everything seemed fine. However, this week it has come back again. What could this be? She has never passsed an egg, and didn't last time. Her poops are wet and greenish but are alot in size.

We are at a loss on what it could be as is our vet. We have stared her back on the meds and hoping this will have the same result as before. We have no other avian vets in our area

 

Please help

 

 

well to tell truth if a avian vet does not know what it is then i doubt i will

some one may but a picture would really help

as we can not see the bird

may not pay to comment can you get a few pics of her in different angles

Are you sure you saw an actual AVIAN vet or a vet who just said he sees birds a lot ?

The hen could be an internal egglayer and have had an egg yolk she has since absorbed back into her body. Internal egglayers are at risk of egg peritonitis. Possibility.

Thanks for the help. Will post some pics this weekend. She seems happy in herself and is pretty alert. Her wide stance is a cause for concern though as her foot keeps slipping of the perch.

The vet isn't avian specialist, but someone who sees birds regulary.