cockatiel in trouble

[virginiag]

I think that my cockatiel may be egg bound. Her area below is swollen and poop keeps sticking to it. When we cleaned it, my hubby said he felt something hard in her. She is now being quiet and no more mating calls (she has been screaming for about 5 months off and on when she hears our male cockatiel). They have not been together (he got on top of her once about 2 to 3 months ago but was only on her a few seconds and he heard me and got off). so if it is a egg it is not fertile. How do I tell and if it is a egg, what do I do. I am lost here and to be honest, scared. The vets for birds in this area are over 2 hours away and very expensive (we will take her if we have to). That is not to say that we wont take her, just we don't want to if it is not necessary.
Please help us. What signs do we need to look for, if it is egg in there, how long until we know if it is egg bound and not coming out, if is coming out, what do we do to make her ok. Thanks in advance.

[Joel]

You do need to take her to a certified A.V. or find someone with similar experience (her best bet).......Where are you located, nearest city? Can you post pics and if ya don't have a camera to do so, can you borrow one from a neighbor or friend?..... Type eggbound into our search feature here and start reading. Ya can google info. also...... Some of the other members here will most likely chime in soon - I personally have to tend to other commitments right now but will get back when I can.

[Monica]

How long have you noticed the swollen bottom? If indeed she is with egg, she should lay it within a day or so... If she has the egg for more than 3-4 days, I suggest a vet trip. Try calling around and seeing if you can find anyone more local or just to see if you can speak with an avian vet to suggest if indeed a vet trip is in order or to watch her...

For the time being, here's some vet listings...

For The Birds
Fern VanSant
San Jose, CA

Blake Milam
Santa Cruz, CA

Leslie Garrow
Walnut Creek, CA

Ruth Adams
1590 Boulevard Way
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
Phone: (925) 935-9080
Fax: (925) 935-2453


Cat and Exotic Care of the Central Coast
Maxwell Conn
565 Five Cities Drive
Pismo Beach, CA 93449
Phone: 805-773-0228
Fax: 805-773-0229

Jeff Kahler
204 W Granger
Modesto, CA 95350
Phone: 209 527-5855
Fax: 209 524-1960

Liz Kestler
2260 Camino Ramon, Crow Cyn Vet Clinic
San Ramon, CA 94583
Phone: 510 866-8387

Michael Murray
2 Harris Ct., Ste A1
Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: 408 647-1147
Fax: 408 373-4482

Creekside Veterinary Hospital
Hilary Stern
2505 Main Street
Soquel, CA 95073
Phone: 831 462 8989
Fax: 831 462 8984

Medical Center for Birds
Scott Ford
PO Box 404
Oakley, CA 94561
Phone: (360)271-7000
Fax: (206)201-5251



California

Chatsworth, CA - Janet Berens - 818-225-7160 -
Citrus Heights, CA - Drury Reavill (Zoo/Exotic Pathology Svc) - 916-725-5100 http://www.zooexotic.com/
Davis, CA - Michelle Hawkins
Davis, CA - J. Gregory Massey (Wildlife Health Ctr SVM, UC Davis) - 530-752-1218
Davis, CA - Lisa Ann Tell (UC Davis)- 530-752-1363
El Dorado Hills, CA - Alan M. Fudge (Bird Doctor Housecalls & California Avian Laboratory) - 916-933-2473 or 916-933-0898 - http://www.alanfudge.com
Encinatas, CA - Brian G. Loudis - 760-634-2022
Hawthorne, CA - Walter Rosskopf, Jr. (Avian & Exotic Animal Hosp) - 310-679-0693 - http://www.netfopets.com
Merced, CA - Christine McFadden (Valley Animal Hosp) - 209-384-7387
Oakley, CA - Brian Speer (Oakley Vet & Bird Hosp) - 925-625-1878
Petaluma/Santa Rosa, CA - David Rupiper (E Petaluma Animal Hosp) - 707-765-9098 http://www.EPAH.net
Roseville, CA - Vickie Joseph (Bird & Pet Clinic of Roseville) - 916-773-6049
San Diego, CA - Jeffrey Jenkins (Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital) - 619-260-1412 - http://www.drexotic.com
San Francisco, CA - Lynn Rose Dustin (Bay Area Bird Hosp) - 415-566-4359
San Jose, CA - Timothy J. Govers (West Valley Pet Clinic) - 408-996-1155
Santa Clara, CA - Kent Littlehale (Santa Clara Pet Hosp) - 408-296-5857 - http://santaclarapethospital.com
Santa Monica, CA - Frank W. Lavac (Wilshire Animal Hosp) - 310-828-4587
Tustin, CA - Bruce S. Levine (Bird & Exotic Animal Practice) - 714-734-5922 - http://www.tustana.com
Walnut Creek - Nancy Lee Anderson (Lindsay Wildlife Museum) - 925-935-1978 X42
West Hills, CA - Amy Beth Worell (All Pets Med Ctr) - 818-883-2600 - http://www.yourpets.com

[Joel]

Now how did you figure that out Monica? She seems to be in Calif., I see?

[Monica]

Joel, actually I've seen her posting elsewhere... thus knew she was in California...

[virginiag]

thanks for all of your help. She did lay an egg on Sunday
she has been her ole happy quiet self ever since then. The egg was cracked so I went to pet store and got her some high vitamin food and calcium that the pet store recommended. She did not try and sit on the egg so after a while I threw it away. She has been great since then. She has always been a quiet and happy bird until about 5 months ago. So I am hoping for now she is back to her old sefl.

[Joel]

Originally Posted by virginiag

thanks for all of your help. She did lay an egg on Sunday
she has been her ole happy quiet self ever since then. The egg was cracked so I went to pet store and got her some high vitamin food and calcium that the pet store recommended. She did not try and sit on the egg so after a while I threw it away. She has been great since then. She has always been a quiet and happy bird until about 5 months ago. So I am hoping for now she is back to her old sefl.

I hope you do not think there is little chance of another egg not coming?

I recommend letting her flights grow out (if she is currently clipped) and allow her to then use them to get plenty of exercise (take those safety precautions though to prevent escape or gaining enough speed to hurt herself by flying into something). They say some of the same muscles etc. that are used in pushing an egg along the tract are the ones developed in upward diagonal flight etc..... Of course a proper diet and adequate outdoor daily sunshine is important also but if for some reason that is not possible, proper F.S. Lighting is said to suffice. Good luck in the future.