Why is my female lovebird spreading wings and straining her vent?

Check her vent for redness or swelling. Monitor for loose droppings. Submit a sample to your veterinarian to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. If she is of egg laying age, have her physically examined by your vet or an experienced avian vet to diagnose or rule out being egg bound.

Thanks for reaching out about Sunshine and including photos. The abdomen appears swollen, could be egg binding, a mass (tumor) or accumulation of fluid (ascites). A veterinary visit is recommended the sooner the better, as this can develop into something serious quickly. Monitor appetite and water intake. Clean the vent area with warm water if feces accumulates. Good luck.

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.

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.

It's possible there could be another egg ready to lay, or Peach could have an egg that is stuck and causing the swelling. Egg binding is a serious issue that should be seen by a vet ASAP to have it treated. If you cannot get to a vet right away, you can check for a stuck egg and gently lubricate the vent to try and get it to come out, however you run the risk of the egg breaking and causing more problems for Peach. In the future, feeding her extra calcium supplements can help as well, however if the swelling continues and she doesn't lay the egg, veterinary care is needed.

Thanks for reaching out about Tweety. Could she be trying to pass an egg and is egg-bound? Otherwise, a gastrointestinal foreign body, cloacal prolapse or other condition is possible. A veterinary visit is highly recommended, as soon as possible. Providing heat support can help, in the range of 80-85 F but is not a cure. Good luck.

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.