Egg Binding in Female Canaries

Egg binding is a problem for some of the smaller breeds of birds---lovebirds, finches, cockatiels and canaries are commonly affected.

  1. Causes

    • Among the causes of egg binding in a female canary are infections, a nesting area that isn't large enough or even laying too many eggs in a short period of time.

    Symptoms

    • Some of the symptoms of egg binding in a female canary are straining, a swollen abdomen or a lack of droppings. The bird might also stay on the bottom of the cage and be fluffed up in appearance.

    Diagnosis

    • X-rays are the most common method of diagnosing egg binding in a canary, although eggs that do not have a lot of calcium may not be evident on an X-ray.

    Treatment

    • Since egg-bound birds are very ill, they require emergency care. The first thing to do is to keep the bird warm, since egg binding causes hypothermia. After that, take the bird to an avian vet, where it will probably receive intravenous fluids and then have the egg removed.

    Prevention

    • The best forms of prevention are good nutrition and a clean cage for your female canary and keeping your bird from becoming obese.