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|  This is a common problem for many breeders of finches. Most experts state that the most common factors in egg-binding are:
In my experience I have found that they all play a part. However, the major cause of Egg binding in cage birds, my opinion, is malnutrition, specifically the lack of fats and the fat-soluble vitamins in the diet. Teaching your finches (Teacher Birds) to eat a diet rich in the fats and fat soluble vitamins will completely eliminate the problem. Essential Fatty Acids Hormonal Changes As important as the essential fatty acids are, the most important nutrient for maintaining the flexibility and moist character of the oviduct is Vitamin A. This vitamin keeps the mucous cells in perfect health, moist, and flexible in the oviduct. This allows the egg to slide freely out of the oviduct. When an adequate amount of Vitamin A is not available, the mucous cells dry out and harden. An oviduct that has lost its moist and slippery flexibility cannot pass the egg, and egg binding is the result. If the hardening of the mucous membranes occurs in the reproductive tract, the sperm are unable to travel to the egg after mating occurs, and the result may be a clutch of infertile eggs.
Excellent Sources Calcium- Most Common Theory Calcium is used not only to form the shell of the developing egg and maintain strong bones, but is also crucial in the proper functioning of the muscles. The hen needs calcium for the muscle action needed to expel the egg. Vitamin D3 is crucial in the absorption of calcium. Without it, all the calcium we offer our birds passes right through their bodies without being adsorbed. In outdoor aviaries, our birds are able to produce D3 via a chemical reaction in sunlight. In indoor aviaries, they are unable to do this. Sunlight through a window is not sufficient. The ultraviolet light needed does not pass through window glass. See Robert Blacks article on Lighting. Full spectrum lights can help, however for inside birds, a D3 supplement is almost always necessary. Some of the greens we feed our birds can also interfere with calcium absorption. Oxalic acid found in spinach, beet greens and chard reacts with the calcium so that it can not be absorbed. It is important to feed them in small amounts and provide extra calcium when doing so. Prevention is better than cure Treatment for Eggbinding It will also help to increase the calcium intake of the hen. This may be done by placing several drops of calcium into the drinking water, or one drop to the beak. I found that Calcium Plus works great for this application. An immediate increase in calcium will do nothing to harden the shell of an already formed egg but will do wonders in improving the muscle action needed to expel the egg. Vitalize can also be administered to keep energy reserves up while the bird works at passing the egg. To assist with the passage of the egg, gently massage with a vegetable oil, the area where you feel the egg. If not laid within one hour, catch the bird again and gently try to massage the egg out. You will have little to lose by drastic measures since the egg must come out or the bird will soon die. Egg-bound hens that recover should be given antibiotics for a few days. It is dangerous to attempt to breed this hen again until the nutritional deficiencies have been addressed. Always keep in mind that egg binding is a symptom, not a disease. It is a symptom of extreme malnutrition. Breeders who feed only grains, greens, cuttlebone, eggshell and water will invariably find their birds do have egg binding problems. Article © lady gouldian finch.com 2000 |
Signs of eggbinding vary.