My macaw laid an egg. Why is she acting sick and possibly egg bound?

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.

You can soak her in a warm bath deep enough to submerge her vent for 15-20 minutes. Then use a bit of olive oil around the vent to help her lay. If this is not successful, have her seen by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian.

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.

There is nothing you can feed to induce egg laying. If Kiwi is presently egg bound, an exam with your veterinarian or an experienced avian vet would be strongly recommended. If this is not possible, soak her in a warm bath for about 30 minutes deep enough to cover her vent. A dab of olive oil around the vent may facilitate passing of the egg.

Hello! I’m glad Jasmine found a new home with you! Don’t worry about the broken egg. If Jasmine seems to be looking for the egg or is still broody, you can give her a dummy egg to sit on (wooden egg or golf ball). Make sure Jasmine is eating a balanced diet of about 75% pellets and the rest nuts, seeds, fresh vegetables and fruit. If she only eats seeds, this is a very deficient diet and she should have a multivitamin and calcium supplement until she can be transitioned into pellets. She may also lay more eggs. The frequency of egg laying can be hard to predict in some birds, and others are very routine. If you don’t want her to lay - here are risks associated with eggs getting stuck, calcium imbalances, etc - your veterinarian can give her an injection to help down regulate her reproductive activity. This is a very common and complex issue in captive female birds, and ode be happy to discuss it more as a consult. Good luck.

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 Lola. How do you know she is egg bound and not abdominal (coelomic) fluid? Is she has been egg bound for 5 days, that is serious and a veterinary visit is recommended ASAP. Try placing her cage in a steamy bathroom for 10-15 minutes. Most egg binding could be associated with a calcium deficiency so offering dark greens is important. The environment should be warm, 80-85 F range, 24/7. If she does not lay by tomorrow morning, you should see a veterinarian. Good luck.