Is my parakeet egg bound? When should I take her to the vet?

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.

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.

thanks for reaching out about Rudy and including a photo. She should be seen by a veterinarian today if she hasn't laid an egg. By the time the ova leaves the ovary, it usually takes around 48 hours for place all the layers not he egg (yolk, albumen, membranes and shell). The shell is placed on the last 8 hours and the timing is so the egg is laid early in the morning. She should have laid the egg before dawn. You can try placing her in the warm steamy bathroom for 10-15 minutes to see if that helps to stimulate uteirne contractions and egg laying. If not she should really see a veterinarian today as there is a risk of the egg adhering to the uterine wall, and rising complications. 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.

If you suspect she has been pregnant 9 days ago but still did not lay an egg then she is either not pregnant or she is having a condition called egg bound, which prevents the eggs from coming out - a medical emergency.

Thanks for reaching out about your conure. The bobbing of the tail could be an indication the there is another egg or breathing difficulty. Try taking her into the steamy warm bathroom to see if that will assist in laying an egg. If not, she needs to be presented to veterinarian today. Good luck.

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.