I thoroughly enjoy breeding my parrots but it is work, a job I love, but work nonetheless. In the interests of sharing some of the not so fun parts just for those doing research here is a little story about how I spent my Saturday.
Rainey my little Black-headed caique was overdue to lay her egg. I was not even sure how much overdue since I did not know when the last egg was layed (this pair is destroying their eggs after they lay them). No other symptoms but the bulging belly and no egg layed. But I knew we needed to go to the vet. Of course, my awesome vet was overbooked, so it was off to the Emergency vet clinic, on a holiday weekend no less. Bird's ALWAYS need vets on a holiday weekend.
Rainey was very good, not here typical little fiesty self (I guess that is a sign something was wrong as well). She did request a hat since her mate Bandit was plucking her bald...
The x-ray revealed that she was indeed carrying a large egg which was not positioned properly. It should be pointed straight down not tilted. You can see how this is a problem. They vet gave me the results of the x-ray and we were discussing what to do next, I was outside so I got of the phone to come inside to talk in person. They put me in an exam room and a minute later, in walks Dr Foster and she hands me this...
In the two minutes it took me to come inside Rainey laid her egg. The vet did assist by rotating the egg a little and the sedation from the x-ray likely helped relax her as well. We were all very happy she laid the egg. I took the egg home and fostered it to one of my other birds to see if it will hatch.
A happy ending for everyone.
It takes dedication and a lot of time and money to raise birds right and care for them and any babies they might have. This was a $559 vet visit with six hours spent there at the vet with a 45 minute drive each way. It worked out in the best possible way but it could have taken a turn for worse.
Rainey my little Black-headed caique was overdue to lay her egg. I was not even sure how much overdue since I did not know when the last egg was layed (this pair is destroying their eggs after they lay them). No other symptoms but the bulging belly and no egg layed. But I knew we needed to go to the vet. Of course, my awesome vet was overbooked, so it was off to the Emergency vet clinic, on a holiday weekend no less. Bird's ALWAYS need vets on a holiday weekend.
Rainey was very good, not here typical little fiesty self (I guess that is a sign something was wrong as well). She did request a hat since her mate Bandit was plucking her bald...
The x-ray revealed that she was indeed carrying a large egg which was not positioned properly. It should be pointed straight down not tilted. You can see how this is a problem. They vet gave me the results of the x-ray and we were discussing what to do next, I was outside so I got of the phone to come inside to talk in person. They put me in an exam room and a minute later, in walks Dr Foster and she hands me this...
In the two minutes it took me to come inside Rainey laid her egg. The vet did assist by rotating the egg a little and the sedation from the x-ray likely helped relax her as well. We were all very happy she laid the egg. I took the egg home and fostered it to one of my other birds to see if it will hatch.
A happy ending for everyone.
It takes dedication and a lot of time and money to raise birds right and care for them and any babies they might have. This was a $559 vet visit with six hours spent there at the vet with a 45 minute drive each way. It worked out in the best possible way but it could have taken a turn for worse.
