A Common Problem

This is a common problem for many breeders of finches. Most experts state that the most common factors in egg-binding are:

(1) lack of calcium	(3) excessive egg laying	(5) soft shell
(2) poor husbandry	(4) temperatures, e.g. chills	(6) small bodied hen

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
My experience suggests that two nutrients are crucial in preventing egg binding, Vitamin F and Vitamin A. Vitamin F is a group of essential fatty acids found in nutritional oils. These are linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid. Linoleic acid is the most important of the three.

Hormonal Changes
There are hormonal changes that occur when a hen begins a reproductive cycle. To facilitate the passage of an egg through the cloaca, hormones are produced that cause the muscles of the pelvic floor to relax. They also are responsible for the loosening of the cloaca muscles. The ligaments holding the pelvic bones also relax. All of these changes make it possible for an egg to pass through the pelvis and cloaca.

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.

Signs of eggbinding vary.
Commonly, a hen will become depressed, stop eating and will sit all fluffed up. She may be straining occasionally. Droppings may be absent, because the egg is preventing them from passing out through the cloaca. The abdomen may appear swollen, especially around the vent area. In the final stages if the hen can not pass the egg she will go to the floor of the cage and stretch her head and wings as shown in photo. Immediate treatment is necessary to save the hen.

Excellent Sources
Excellent sources for the essential fatty acids are the oily seeds, rape, flax, hemp, niger and sunflower. Hard-boiled eggs, mealworms and insects are good sources of Vitamin A.