Many pet bird owners have heard the term “egg binding,” but most don't understand what it means to have an egg bound bird, or how to spot the symptoms of egg binding. Egg binding is when a female bird, or hen, has produced an egg but is unable to successfully pass the egg through her cloaca, which is the opening through which all her waste is expelled.
Signs of Egg Production
Egg binding is only a concern for birds that are reproductively active. There are several signs that an owner can look for to confirm that his bird has reached sexual maturity and has begun the reproductive cycle. Female birds will often become more protective of their cages and might even become aggressive toward their owners if they enter the cage. A hen will also begin a furious effort to create a nest, usually chewing and shredding everything that she can get her beak on. She may begin to expel waste less, leading to larger waste deposits. The bird's abdomen may look swollen and water and food consumption will increase by a noticeable amount.
Symptoms of Egg Binding
A bird that is experiencing egg binding will be very uncomfortable. An attentive owner will notice quite easily the signs of a problem. Hens that are egg bound will often stop expelling waste due to a blocked cloaca. A bound bird will usually stop eating and will usually become lethargic. Egg bound hens will often stay fluffed up on a single perch all day. Another sign of egg binding is plucking near the vent, or opening of the cloaca. The bird may also go lame in one or both legs.
Prevention of Egg Binding
Most healthy birds have nothing to worry about when it comes to egg binding, so the best prevention for egg binding is to keep a female bird healthy from the start. Since obesity and vitamin deficiencies are a leading cause of egg binding, a proper diet and exercise can go a long way in preventing any problems.
Egg binding can also be prevented by not allowing a hen to enter in to a reproductive cycle in the first place. Avoid buying pet birds a nesting box, or any type of toys that could be used as a nest. Separate female and male birds of the same species and never provide more food than a bird needs. All of these factors, availability of a nest, availability of a mate and availability of an abundant food supply, play in to the reproductive cycle of birds. Without all of these things, a female bird will usually not begin egg production.
Egg binding is very uncomfortable for a bird, and if not treated by an avian veterinarian immediately, it can also be fatal. Understanding the signs and symptoms of egg binding can help save the life of a bound hen. Whenever any pet bird, male or female, begins to act unusual, seek the attention of an avian veterinarian.
Janine Logue - Logue is a freelance writer with several years experience in the newspaper industry as both a reporter and editor.
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