struggling in laying eggs

Yolly · New Member Joined: May 25, 2015 Posts: 3

Hi, I'm new to this type of site and new to kakarakis. I have a yellow three year old female. Not had her long. I 'rescued' her from a woman who didn't have the time to look after her. She lost a mate (unsure if it was a male or female tho)approx 6 months ago. She was clearly 'stressed' but for sum reason she had been laying eggs in her food dish. The cage that she was living in was I'm sorry to say was disgusting. Looked like it had never been cleaned. I on the other hand am an obsessive cleaner, especially when it comes to hygiene in my pets (of which I have several). I took 'Sparkey' to a specialist vet, Vicky who said she was 'stressed' due to the excessive loss of feathers (which was why I took her to the vets in the first place) but will be fine when settled. Vicky gave her a 'spot on' (I think) which covered mites and worms. Vicky said she would be 'hard work'. Even more reason for me to have her. She deserved a better life. I am at work rather a lot but keep her in 'my bedroom' during the day (with a radio left on). She soon started to do little 'chirps'. I love her. Anyway she then started to act in 'discomfort' my initial thought was 'egg binding'. I had lost a female quail a few years back to that and I was paranoid. I have looked online, read up about kakarakis in a book and speaking regularly to the vets. I was told it was not egg bindin because she would be really ill. Sparkey all along has been climbing round and round her cage, eating, drinking etc etc but I 'knew' sumthin wasn't right. I have tried to encourage Sparkey to come out fr a fly around if she wants to. And she has a couple of times, albeit not very well for loss of her flight feathers but she manages fine. She even did a 'sneaky' fly about one day when I was at work. When I got home, she was sat on her perch as if to say I haven't moved all day' haha I don't think so. There was 'evidence' on my bed and the window sill, it made me laugh tho:-) So basically she was showing good signs of 'happiness' but then next 'discomfort'. Then about two weeks or so ago she started to 'eat' a cardboard box. Got the feeling maybe she wanted to make a nest. yep, she did. She laid an egg (bless her). But it took two weeks. I sought advice from the vet who said it was to long. She is now on two forms of medication, one is a liquid calcium and the other is a prebiotic (she started that first in case she had a 'problem' with a type of food). She has since laid another egg and 'sits' on the nest. I am however still worried about her. Do not like 'watching' her 'struggle' to lay an egg (even though she never actually lays it in front of me, she does it 'alone') She is still taking to long to lay eggs hence me being worried. I don't think I can do much more to help her but if anyone has any suggestions (even if its to put my mind at rest) I would be very grateful, many thanks. Sparkey is on the 'move' now so going to put her 'fresh fruit/veg' dish in while i have a chance.

Steptoe · Site Admin Joined: Oct 06, 2004 Posts: 4550

Kakariki would be one of the very few birds that are not prone to loose feathers from stress, due to their nature.
Thu from your description, and add to the lack of care, mites worms etc yes could be right
We have rescued kakariki in the past in terrible condition... only having a couple body feathers only.. not due to stress extremely poor food, conditions, mites worms... in a large open aviary.

Once wormed/ de mited with invermectin, with 2 follow up doses 10 days apart....
mist sprayed with 50/50 vinegar and water and there recovery flight...
and apple cider vinegar added to veggies every 3 to 4 days for the 1st couple weeks.
Crushed calcium tablets a multi vitimum minerals and a few drops of raw palm oil also added to chopped veggies each day.

Recovery was very quick for all remaining 12

We did have to put down 5 of the birds.. just too far 'gone'

A bird in poor condition or removing and laying eggs is a worry in regards to egg binding...I mention palm oil above, if can t source, use a little olive oil in the chopped veggies....and chopped up left over cooked meat...
Calcium (also essential for needs phosphorus in the diet to be absorbed....the chopped stems of broccoli are a excellent source

There is a sticky thread "what do u feed..." read thru that

And more info on what to how to if egg binding is an issue... search egg binding in the "Quick Search " block on the left
Warning thu.. if have never pushed a egg out.. be it from a live bird or practised on a bird that has died from it... it is generally fatal, especially if the time has gone on and the egg shell hardened still inside, and breaks.. if not break, still big danger of haemorrhage.
Egg shells are soft when laid, and harden very quickly once exposed to air

It sounds like she is recovering well and the more she recovers the better her chances are egging binding becomes a non issue

The next issue will be to stop her laying
This can be very difficult in kakariki so once again make use of the "Quick Search "block on the left

Yolly · New Member Joined: May 25, 2015 Posts: 3

hi, thank u so much for replying. Sorry for not replying sooner. Been busy at work. Sparky has since laid 4 eggs in total. She has made a nest and 'sitting' on them. Believe she still wants to lay another one tho. I understand that she may continue to carry on laying like u said but I just hpe she stops by herself. I absolutely love her and don't want to lose her. But I also know she has a much better life with me compared to where she was before. I have been advised to only remove the eggs when she has 'stopped' laying so I'm hoping thats soon.

Steptoe · Site Admin Joined: Oct 06, 2004 Posts: 4550

If u remove the eggs when she has stopped laying, then the chances are she will instinctively lay and batch and another....
Leave her to abandon the batch as she realises they are infertile is your best chance.

Yolly · New Member Joined: May 25, 2015 Posts: 3

Thank u for ur message. Thats exactly what I am intending to do. Hopin that she will get fed up with nothin happening bless her. Its quite sad watchin her sittin on the nest 'knowing' the outcome. Not really seeing her much either but it will only be for a bit longer (I hope). Thanks again.