Why is my bird swollen and making noises after laying an egg?

Thanks for reaching out about Cherry and including a photo. A swollen abdomen can be an indication of egg binding, fluid accumulation or an enlarged organ. Egg binding for 9 days would be very serious. Veterinary attention is extremely important and a visit needs to be examined as soon as possible. Providing supplemental heat can give some comfort but is not a treatment. Good luck.

If Katrin is egg bound she will likely be unable to pass the egg on her own. In most cases, this requires veterinary care as incorrectly trying to remove the egg can cause it to break inside the vent which can lead to infection. If you're already feeding her a proper diet, soaking her bottom in warm water, or using a little olive oil around her vent may help to pass the egg gently without breaking it.

Most birds will lay one egg every other day. The condition is more common in smaller breeds, and can be more serious as well. Ideally, she should be examined by a veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian. If one is unavailable right now, provide supplemental heat, about 90 F. Soak her for 20-30 minutes in a warm Epsom salt solution, enough to submerge her vent. Dry thoroughly then use a sterile lubricant (or vegetable oil) around the vent. Monitor for lethargy, straining or difficulty breathing. If she develops any of these symptoms, she should be seen at the nearest veterinary ER immediately. Be sure to feed a balanced diet and provide a cuttlebone or mineral block for additional calcium. Limit seeds and offer mainly a commercial pelleted diet (Harrison's, Lafeber, KayTee Exact or Pretty Bird) supplemented with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Laying so many clutches of eggs and raising that many chicks can be taxing on a bird. Ideally, a breeding hen should have no more than two clutches per calendar year. Remove the remaining chicks from the cage if they are eating on their own. Remove the nesting box as well. Separate the male and female. Drop room temperature by a few degrees and gradually limit her amount of daylight she is getting. This may get her out of "breeding mode" and stop her egg laying. She should be seen by an experienced avian veterinarian to make sure the inflammation around her vent is not infection.

She could have another egg stuck in her, it's very common in birds and it is called being egg bound, you will need to take her to an avian vet specialist urgently otherwise she is not likely to survive.

Thanks for reaching out. Providing heat support in the 80-85 F range might give some comfort. Placing her in a small cage in the steamy bathroom for no more than 10-15 minutes might help also. Bleeding for 6-7 days is serious and a veterinary visit is needed. Good luck.

If you suspect Kiwi is egg bound it would be best to bring her to a vet. While you can attempt to remove the egg yourself with gentle massage with olive oil or vaseline, you risk breaking the egg inside of her which can lead to infection and severe complications. In the future, feeding a balanced diet and additional calcium can help prevent egg binding, but in the case of a currently stuck egg or other protrusion, vet care ASAP is best.