What to Do for Egg Binding in Birds

Egg binding is a common condition in gravid birds. When this happens, a bird's egg is not passed through the cloaca and remains lodged in its reproductive tract. This can lead to infection and damage to internal organs. Particularly common among stressed or sick birds, egg binding can also occur in otherwise healthy birds. Bird owners should carefully monitor potentially gravid birds for signs of egg binding.

  1. Egg Binding Symptoms

    • Bird owners should know the symptoms of egg binding in order to prevent long-term damage to their birds. Labored breathing is among the most common symptoms, and you should contact your vet immediately if your bird's breathing changes. Other symptoms include a swollen, red or bloody cloaca, a swollen stomach, puffed feathers and straining. Egg bound birds may begin spending all their time on the floors of their cages.

    Veterinary Care

    • Providing an egg bound bird with immediate veterinary care can save its life. Without veterinary direction, bird owners are ill-equipped to remove the bound egg. Consult with your vet to develop a treatment plan for your bird.

    Drug Treatment

    • Your vet may give your bird an I.V. with calcium or hormones in it. This can reduce muscle tension, causing the egg to be released. Birds with an infection of the reproductive tract are especially susceptible to egg binding. Egg binding can also cause reproductive tract infections, so your vet may give your bird antibiotics.

    Surgical Treatment

    • Depending upon the location of the bound egg, your vet may attempt to massage the egg out of the cloaca. This is especially common when the eggs have been partially passed. Vets often perform this treatment under anesthesia. If the egg has broken in your bird's reproductive tract, the vet will need to surgically remove the remaining pieces of the egg.

    Home Treatment

    • Home treatment is almost never sufficient to treat egg binding, and it can prove lethal. However, there are a few things you can do before leaving for the vet's office or awaiting your vet's arrival to help your bird. Give your bird water or Gatorade to keep it from becoming dehydrated. Apply a lubricant like mineral oil to the bird's cloaca, which can ease the pain associated with egg binding. Place your bird in a warm, humid incubator or nesting box. The temperature should be 80 to 85 degrees, and appropriate humidity is attained by misting a towel or washcloth at the bottom of the container. Carefully monitor the temperature and avoid allowing your bird to overheat.