Why does egg binding happen

The PetCoach editorial team is comprised of veterinarians, veterinary technicians and longtime industry veterans who are dedicated to providing the highest-quality health Egg binding occurs when the egg does not pass through the reproductive system at a normal rate.

Dystocia in birds occurs when there is difficulty in laying an egg because of an obstruction. Both are common, and often preventable, problems in pet birds. Both can occur in female birds not exposed to a mate, since eggs may be formed and laid without the presence of a male. If diagnosed and treated early, the outcome is generally very good.

If either condition goes on for too long, complications and death, especially in smaller birds, may result. Egg binding is more common in smaller birds such as budgerigars parakeets, budgies , cockatiels, lovebirds, canaries, and finches.

The risk is higher in single female birds that are strongly bonded to their owner. Birds that show a strong attachment to mirrors or certain toys may also have an increased frequency of egg binding. Birds that produce repeated clutches as a result of poor breeding practices e. Hens with previous reproductive problems or those that have a history of laying malformed or soft-shelled eggs are more prone to egg binding.

Birds on seed-only diets or those with deficiencies in calcium, vitamin A, protein, vitamin E, or selenium are at higher risk. Egg binding is more common in birds with other health problems such as obesity or lack of exercise, as well as those under stress from environmental conditions such as improper temperature. An overly large or malformed egg, or one that is not positioned correctly, is broken, or joined to other eggs.

Possible prolapse of part of the reproductive tract the inner part of the reproductive tract is pushed out so that it is visible as a pink mass protruding from the cloacal opening. If the bird is very stressed or in shock, it will be necessary to stabilize her before proceeding with extensive examinations. The treatment will depend on the condition of the bird, severity of the signs, where the egg is located, and the length of time the bird has been eggbound.

This condition is more serious in smaller birds canaries and finches who may die within a few hours if not treated. Injection of oxytocin or arginine vasotocin, or application of a prostaglandin gel. These medications cause contraction of the reproductive tract and may result in the passing of the egg. They should not be used if an obstruction is present. A more severely affected bird must be treated for shock first, and then stabilized.

After stabilization, additional treatment may include:. Manual removal of the egg by the veterinarian through applying gentle pressure with the fingers. This may require anesthesia. Ovocentesis, in which the contents of the retained egg can be removed by passing a needle into the egg visible at the cloaca or through the skin of the abdomen and into the egg percutaneous ovocentesis if the egg is not visible.

This will make the egg smaller, and easier to pass. Abdominal surgery if the egg reproductive tract is ruptured, the egg has developed outside of the reproductive tract ectopic egg , or there is an obstruction. The radiographs also help to verify the number of eggs present in the oviduct The tube through which an ovum or egg passes from an ovary.

If there is a possibility that the egg could still pass on its own, medical management is recommended. Supportive measures such as fluids, calcium supplementation, pain medication and nutritional support are provided in a warmed incubator to assist the hen in laying her egg.

In some cases, surgical intervention may be necessary. Manual extraction is attempted if the egg can be visualized through the cloacal opening or if the egg is contained within prolapsed tissue. For eggs that are located further up in the oviduct, a salpingohysterectomy spay may need to be performed. To keep your hen from becoming egg-bound, it is important to provide an appropriate diet so that she is healthy and has adequate calcium stores.

Providing supplemental sources of calcium such as a cuttlebone during egg-laying season will help prevent deficiencies in calcium. Birds that are producing excessive numbers of eggs should be discouraged from laying further eggs. Along with the behavioral changes mentioned, hormone therapy injections can also be administered at the beginning of the egg-laying season to discourage egg-laying in birds.

If treated in a timely manner, most birds recover from an egg-binding episode. Many birds can lay eggs in the future without any issues. However, birds that have a damaged oviduct or have a poor health status such as continued calcium deficiency or obesity may be predisposed to further bouts of egg-binding.

Eggs shells have a high level of calcium, so depending on how well they are developed, might show up vividly on an x-ray. Some eggs are poorly calcified and do not show up well on a radiograph. This bird also has a large egg in relation to its body size. Do you see the grit in the gizzard ventriculus also? We have a detailed page if you to learn more about reading bird radiographs- click here.

Egg bound birds are very ill and require emergency care. Many are hypothermic and require immediate warming. They can be toxic from the inability to eliminate waste products and dehydrated from poor appetites and weakness, so warm fluids are also administered.

Depending on the severity of the problem, we might give the fluids subcutaneously SQ or intravenously IV. If the bird is in shock we might give these fluids via an intraosseus catheter. Calcium is also administered to aid in muscle contractions and hopefully expulsion of the egg on its own. Medications to stimulate the uterus to contract are also used.

Whether or not they help depends on the cause of the problem. In most cases, this conservative approach works, so we try this first. If medical therapy does not work we attempt to help in the removal of the stuck egg. Once the bird is more stable we can sometimes gently expel the egg with liberal lubrication and digital pressure.

If the egg is adhered to the uterus digital pressure might not work. Inserting a needle with a syringe attached directly into the egg allows us to collapse the egg and make expulsion easier. Sometimes the medical therapy works to a certain point and the egg starts coming out.

This one did, still in its reproductive membrane. This bird is traumatizing its reproductive organs, so this is treated as an emergency. After warming it up and stabilizing with warm fluids, it was immediately sedated and examine and cleanses.

Gentle manipulation, without tearing any membranes, allowed us to slowly extrude the egg. Out it came, ready to be made into an omelette! After stabilizing and anesthesia we use a speculum and high intensity light to assess the situation. These are high risk patients, and are closely monitored while under anesthesia. Anesthesia is important to us in veterinary medicine, and you can learn much more about it form our anesthesia page.

This female is being examined with a lubricated speculum to determine the exact nature of her problem. We can deflate the egg by passing the needle through the speculum. On the left you can see the high intensity cool light that allows greater visualization.