When you own a female budgie, she would most probably lay its eggs at a particular stage during its lifetime. Your budgie would still lay unfertilized eggs since it is a regular part of their reproduction process for female birds to perform this task even if they have not paired with a male budgie.
It is a sad fact that many females have a hard time to carry a baby, and eventually, a budgie egg-bound carries their eggs that are ill-shaped and also have weak coatings, which cause them to go and get trapped in the reproductive tract.
Because of their diminutive dimensions, budgies are much more susceptible to egg binding. Egg binding could also be brought on by elevated stress situations, overweight, or poor nutrition, notably one deficient in vitamin D and calcium.
Budgie Egg Bound: What Is It?
The budgie’s body will get ready to lay an egg when spring and summer arrive, and she is accustomed to even more daylight from the sun. She will then search for a new partner to mate to fertilize the eggs. Budgies will release the eggs from the cloaca regardless of whether they have matured. One egg will be released every two days once the budgie is able to lay her eggs.
When a female budgie prepares to lay an egg but is not able to release it from her body, this condition is referred to as egg binding (dystocia). The egg, therefore, will remain to be imprisoned and proceed to do damage in multiple ways.
How Dangerous Is Egg Binding?
Dystocia is an extremely serious medical condition, particularly in a bird of its small proportions. Egg binding has been considered a potentially deadly condition by the International Journal of Avian Wildlife Biology.
A budgie that is egg-bound will have a difficult time effectively eating or drinking. It will also be hard for the budgie to discharge excrement due to the blockage the egg has formed. The vital organs of a budgie can be affected by egg binding.
Moreover, the kidneys may undergo unnecessary burdens as a consequence of the egg, which would compromise their efficiency. Egg binding may prohibit a budgie from laying an egg in the long term or trigger the cloaca to rupture.
Egg Binding In Budgies: What Causes It?
Considering how little budgies are, there is always a possibility that an egg might well be problematic for them to release.
The following are the most common causes of bird egg-boundness in budgies:
- Inbreeding
It’s conceivable that a budgie has a genetic impairment that was not even detected until it attempted to produce an egg. If the bird is a result of interbreeding between two siblings or even other close family members, then this is likely the case.
- Bad Nutrition
The most frequent cause of dystocia is an inadequate diet. If your bird only takes seeds, it won’t receive sufficient calcium and vitamin D, two elements necessary for normal egg laying. In the process of making eggs, calcium is essential in the formation of thick shells. For budgies to absorb calcium into their circulation, vitamin D is also necessary.
- Overweight
Another negative consequence of a poor diet is weight gain. Your budgie will undoubtedly increase its weight if you feed it too many treats made of sugary fruits and fatty seeds. Your budgie is more likely to be suffering from a calcium deficit if it is overweight.
Is My Bird Egg Bound?
The warning signs that a budgie egg-bound must be acknowledged by the homeowner, which include:
- The feathers are being fluffed.
- Experiencing audible or visible discomfort when striving to lay an egg.
- The abdominal area swells up noticeably and prominently.
- The head and tail are constantly bobbing.
- Due to the egg’s stress on the neurons regulating the limbs, there may be immobility in one or both legs.
- Because of the same reason, having difficulty balancing on a platform.
- Atypical defensiveness and aggressiveness.
- Incapacity or refusal to consume food or liquids.
- Difficulty urinating, leaving behind little to no excrement comparable to usual.
- Resting at the bottom of the cages and showing resistance to flight or ascent.
How Can Egg Binding Be Treated In Budgies?
If you have reason to suspect your budgie is egg-bound, don’t ignore it. Suppose there are any immediate changes you can make to enhance your budgie’s wellbeing, such as changing, increasing the temperature, or providing multivitamins. In that case, a doctor will guide you on all these.
It would help if you took your birdie to the clinic. The budgie will initially be offered medication to aid the bird in delivering the egg normally. Surgery could be done if it is essential.
Conclusion:
So your budgie egg bound can be treated on time if you know your budgie and examine its activities. Always keep an eye on your birds to examine unacceptable conditions and take them to the vet at the right time to prevent severe damage.