Egg Bound
Causes
- The common causes are calcium deficiency, obesity or low body temperature.
Signs
- The bird shows signs of straining, depression, abdominal distension.
Treatment
- Warm the bird for 3 hour.
- Lubricate the cloacae (the cavity from which droppings and eggs are passed) with Vaseline or some other suitable lubricant. Often the egg can be removed by manual manipulation.
- If lubrication and manual manipulation fails, drain the contents of the egg with a needle and syringe. The shell will collapse and can be removed manually with forceps or tweezers, or will be expelled in due course.
- Alternatively, your veterinarian will give the bird calcium injection. If the egg is not expelled within 2 hours after the injection, your veterinarian will remove the egg surgically.