My love bird is pooping big and thick and weak. Is she egg-bound?

Thanks for reaching out about Candy and Tweety. Heat support in the 80-85 F range can give comfort. With both birds ill, inhaled or ingested toxins, a virulent bacterial or viral disease are probable and a veterinary visit is needed ASAP, as birds have little reserves to fall back on. Good luck.

Palpate her abdomen as she could be egg bound. Provide a warm environment in the 80-85 F range. Very dark green feces is usually anorexia but black feces is melena (digested blood) and needs veterinary attention. A dog/cat vet might be you're only choice. Try offering water and food through a syringe but make sure to do it slow to prevent aspiration. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out. Continue to keep clean with a warm compress. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostics and treatment plan. If a female, egg binding should be considered. Clumped stool in either sex could be due to liver, renal, intestinal and or infectious diseases. A veterinary visit is recommend to assist in a diagnostic/treatment plan. Providing supplemental heat in the 80-85 F range will give some comfort but is not a treatment. 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.

Thanks for reaching out about Katrin. The brown thickening of the cere is common with females who are reproductively active (ovulation). It also sounds like she is straining with difficulty defecating, possibly egg bound. A veterinary visit is recommended as this can become serious and possibly fatal. Other possibilities exist and a veterinarian should be able to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Good luck.

Unfortunately, without an in person exam, it would be hard to say what exactly is going on. Egg-binding can definitely cause an obstruction and protrusion like pictured, as can issues with the vent being clogged with stool or underlying illness. If you suspect egg binding, you can try putting her in a warm water bath to help break up any stool crusted to her vent and to help the muscles to relax some to see if she can pass the egg. Since budgie eggs are so delicate I wouldn't recommend trying to remove it on your own as it can easily break inside her. Moving her to a hospital cage that is kept warm and with low perches/easy access to food can also help, as can catching her to help keep her vent clean and free of debris. I would also bring her back to a vet ASAP if the medication given is not helping.

Thanks for reaching out about Izzy and including photos. Is there chance she is egg bound? Cloacal masses (eggs, foreign bodies, etc.), intestinal infections, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney) and other problems. Being sluggish is a general sign of illness and not anything specific. A veterinary visit is highly recommended as soon as possible, as this appears very serious. Providing supplemental heat in the 80-85 F range might give some comfort. Good luck.