Egg binding: Turquoise Green Check Conure

[Parrot]

My 5 year old GCC has a egg shape between her abdomen and vent (practically looks to be at the vent) for 4 days now.

Her energy levels are normal, she's eating 6.5/10 of her normal diet. She's is not breathing hard nor straining. Her chirps don't hold the same volume.

I took her to the ER yesterday where I got a vet (DVM) who only started her career this year. She gave my little one a calcium shot, but no egg has been layed. The vet said I should bring her back during emergency hours today for 2 x-rays, which will need her to be sedated. After which she wants to give her a hormone shot to induce her into egg laying.

Here's the thing, is it a good idea to sedate her and soon after force her to lay the eggs? She also doesn't eat there. Should there not be a day gap as the sedation would make her weak? And because this is the ER I have to wait several hours and am not even allowed to be with my bird during the waiting hours nor check ups/procedures.

It's hard to find a Avian vet for emergency. She's so new that I have major tryst issues of her expertise, but the clock is also ticking. She also really tried selling me a user carry on cage, which I found odd.

Additional information:
I provided my bird a box with paper towels in it in her sleeping cage as that's where she likes to be these days. However, I worry if she'll lay the egg or not as she doesn't even like the idea of pooping in her sleep cage.

This is her first time with an egg. She's acting like it's not even there, with the expectation of more walking than flying.

Her regular wait is 77g and now she is 96g, the vet doesn't know how many eggs there could be.

I live in Toronto, Canada


What do I do? I don't want to lose her!

 

[April]

@Pixiebeak @Toy @webchirp @Macawnutz
I'm so sorry you and your sweetie are in this situation. Let me tag some folks that maybe able to help.

 

[Toy]

If she's been egg bound for 4 days the egg(s) need to come out ASAP. My U2 recently went thru being egg bound with 2 eggs stuck. Vet sedated, removed 2 eggs. All went well.

 

[Parrot]

If she's been egg bound for 4 days the egg(s) need to come out ASAP. My U2 recently went thru being egg bound with 2 eggs stuck. Vet sedated, removed 2 eggs. All went well.

The vet wants to sedate for xrays, not for a procedure. After the sedation she wants to give her a hormone shot which would force her into "labor". I don't know if that's smart, but I'm not sure.

 

[Pixiebeak]

Try having her stay in a warm water soak ..
If she isn't straining, poops normal size normal amount normal number no blood , eat a d drink I would probably give her another 24 hours stress free to lay it. I can feel the egg fit unknown amount of time before my quaker ksys hers.
More late I have a meeting

 

[Toy]

The sedation will only last a short while. It takes time for the hormone shot to work. Also hormone shots don't always work. The egg may need to be removed. After I suggest making sure your bird gets added calcium 5 days a week. https://www.chewy.com/morning-bird-...MIzoiJtuvEhAMVg1lHAR1klwM-EAQYASABEgKdUfD_BwE

 

[Parrot]

Try having her stay in a warm water soak ..
If she isn't straining, poops normal size normal amount normal number no blood , eat a d drink I would probably give her another 24 hours stress free to lay it. I can feel the egg fit unknown amount of time before my quaker ksys hers.
More late I have a meeting

Her poop is more liquid and a bit of solid based. Should I keep her in her sleep cage? She only goes to the ground of that one, but in her day cage she's up on her perches doing her own thing. She just doesn't poop in the sleep cage.

Do I keep her alone in a dark room or light?

How long should I keep her in warm water? Do I hold her in it even if she doesn't want it?

Also, is sedating her for xrays and than giving a hormone shot even safe? Would she not be too weak to push?

 

[Parrot]

The sedation will only last a short while. It takes time for the hormone shot to work. Also hormone shots don't always work. The egg may need to be removed. After I suggest making sure your bird gets added calcium 5 days a week. https://www.chewy.com/morning-bird-calcium-plus-bird/dp/749190?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Morning Bird&utm_campaign=20908059018&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzoiJtuvEhAMVg1lHAR1klwM-EAQYASABEgKdUfD_BwE

Should I try the hormone shot or demand the vet physically remove them?

 

[Toy]

The x-ray should show if the egg is over sized, which means she needs help getting it out. If it is then it needs to be removed by the vet. If it breaks inside then she will need to be put on antibiotics. My U2 had one egg stuck just above vent. It was hard. The upper egg was soft & it broke, so she was put on antibiotics. Liquid calcium is supposed to, according to my vet, help with egg laying, possibly prevent prolapse, etc. Making eggs takes a lot of calcium out of them & can cause issues. Egg binding info: Egg Binding in Birds | VCA Animal Hospital | VCA Animal Hospitals

 

[Parrot]

The x-ray should show if the egg is over sized, which means she needs help getting it out. If it is then it needs to be removed by the vet. If it breaks inside then she will need to be put on antibiotics. My U2 had one egg stuck just above vent. It was hard. The upper egg was soft & it broke, so she was put on antibiotics. Liquid calcium is supposed to, according to my vet, help with egg laying, possibly prevent prolapse, etc. Making eggs takes a lot of calcium out of them & can cause issues. Egg binding info: Egg Binding in Birds | VCA Animal Hospital | VCA Animal Hospitals

Thank you for replying!!! The vet said she will give her the hormone shot regardless of what the x rays show. If she doesn't lay then and only then she'll intervene. Should I take her back to the ER vet today or give her another 24 hrs? She seems like her normal self and acts like there's no egg in her. Do I leave her alone in a dark room? Does light make a difference?

 

[Toy]

I'm a bit confused. Is the ER vet the one that wants to give her the shot & do x-rays? or is this another vet? Regardless I'd get it dealt with today if possible. The longer your bird is egg bound the higher risk of you loosing her.

She should be kept in a quiet calm place if possible now & after the egg is out.

 

[Pixiebeak]

I am not understanding this completely..
Has she shown signs of straining, is her vent swollen , has she gone off food or water , is she bright alert and active? What did emergency vet think ? Did they think the egg was stuck ?

If she is showing any signs of straining, not poops, acting off in any way I would go to vet.

If she seems fine , I would try the warm water soak , have her stand in comfort warm water so it covers vent , so just enough to reach bottom of her belly , holding a gentle hand on her back to keep her in it for 3-5 min . If she completely freaks out she doesn't tolerate that sort of thing , you can try holding a drenched in warm water paper towel to vent area gently fir as long as she tolerated. But standing in warm water is better ..
Then put her back in her regular cage with her regular routine. Don't make it dark , you don't need to do anything different, low stress. The warm water , some of it is taken in the vent a cloacal drinking, it helps rehydrate and relax things . Most birds drop the egg over night .

If you have any reason to believe it's stuck , then dealing with it quickly is best . I prefer finding an actual avain veterinarian for this.

 

[Rebel]

The sedation will only last a short while. It takes time for the hormone shot to work. Also hormone shots don't always work. The egg may need to be removed. After I suggest making sure your bird gets added calcium 5 days a week. https://www.chewy.com/morning-bird-calcium-plus-bird/dp/749190?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Morning Bird&utm_campaign=20908059018&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzoiJtuvEhAMVg1lHAR1klwM-EAQYASABEgKdUfD_BwE

This is what i use if my girl is late laying an egg. A couple of drops directly in her crop. Within a half hour, egg. The directions are on the bottle.
I told my vet that this is what i do and she looked at me like the gig was up.

 

[Toy]

This is what i use if my girl is late laying an egg. A couple of drops directly in her crop. Within a half hour, egg. The directions are on the bottle.
I told my vet that this is what i do and she looked at me like the gig was up.

It doesn't always work if the egg is too large. My U2 has been egg bound 3 times. First 2 times I used the water bath, coconut oil, calcium. Last time she had 2 eggs & they had to be removed by the vet, as all the tricks failed.

 

[Rebel]

It doesn't always work if the egg is too large. My U2 has been egg bound 3 times. First 2 times I used the water bath, coconut oil, calcium. Last time she had 2 eggs & they had to be removed by the vet, as all the tricks failed.

I understand its nor a cure all. I count my blessings every time it does work.

 

[Parrot]

This is what i use if my girl is late laying an egg. A couple of drops directly in her crop. Within a half hour, egg. The directions are on the bottle.
I told my vet that this is what i do and she looked at me like the gig was up.

It doesn't ship to Canada, Toronto.

 

[Parrot]

The sedation will only last a short while. It takes time for the hormone shot to work. Also hormone shots don't always work. The egg may need to be removed. After I suggest making sure your bird gets added calcium 5 days a week. https://www.chewy.com/morning-bird-calcium-plus-bird/dp/749190?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Morning Bird&utm_campaign=20908059018&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzoiJtuvEhAMVg1lHAR1klwM-EAQYASABEgKdUfD_BwE

The calcium doesn't ship to Toronto, Canada

 

[Pixiebeak]

If this bird has been in a good diet ? Lots of veggies, pellets? And being a green cheek , not really predisposed to low calcium if a good diet . Already had calcium ....I'm not really thinking it's a calcium issue.
Is this her first time ever to lay eggs?

 

[Parrot]

I am not understanding this completely..
Has she shown signs of straining, is her vent swollen , has she gone off food or water , is she bright alert and active? What did emergency vet think ? Did they think the egg was stuck ?

If she is showing any signs of straining, not poops, acting off in any way I would go to vet.

If she seems fine , I would try the warm water soak , have her stand in comfort warm water so it covers vent , so just enough to reach bottom of her belly , holding a gentle hand on her back to keep her in it for 3-5 min . If she completely freaks out she doesn't tolerate that sort of thing , you can try holding a drenched in warm water paper towel to vent area gently fir as long as she tolerated. But standing in warm water is better ..
Then put her back in her regular cage with her regular routine. Don't make it dark , you don't need to do anything different, low stress. The warm water , some of it is taken in the vent a cloacal drinking, it helps rehydrate and relax things . Most birds drop the egg over night .

If you have any reason to believe it's stuck , then dealing with it quickly is best . I prefer finding an actual avain veterinarian for this.

She's alert and active. The ER vet is the one who seen her. I called in the office today they said I could try leaving her another night but to come in tomorrow. She eats and poops (somewhat liquid like). She does all her normal things as if nothing has changed. Her abdomen-vent area is egg shaped. The only new thing is that today she, for the very first time, went into her nest (a box I placed to help motivate her to lay 3 days ago); she's been in it chewing parts of the paper flaps inside for about 2 hours.

I honestly feel confused. I honestly feel that she's taking her time and not straining or pushing because she knows to wait. But a lot of people are scaring me online, the internet at large says its an emergency. I don't know what's the normal length of time to allow her to do her thing before freaking out.

 

[Parrot]

If this bird has been in a good diet ? Lots of veggies, pellets? And being a green cheek , not really predisposed to low calcium if a good diet . Already had calcium ....I'm not really thinking it's a calcium issue.
Is this her first time ever to lay eggs?

To answer your questions:
It is her first time laying eggs.
She eats Harrison's fine sized pellets.
I try to always give her veggies, but she barely ever touches it.
She had a calcium shot yesterday.

I am beyond appreciative of your time, thank you for asking all these questions.