Calcium Experiment

[casportpony]

I know this forum is for peafowl, but I thought some of you might be interested in this experiment.

Last night I noticed one of my OEGB hens was acting off, so I did a real quick cloacal exam and felt an egg. Brought her inside, but no progress since last night. Gave about 250mg of calcium mixed with water via a feeding tube at 8:40 am.

Will post updates when/if they happen.

-Kathy

 

[zazouse]

It is not just calcium there are other vitamins and minerals that come into play, I believe if your bird is lacking in one thing it only makes sense that it would be lacking in others that are just as important as calcium
http://www.avianweb.com/calciumforbirds.html

 

[casportpony]

I agree, but from what I have read, one of the things that helps them push the egg out is calcium, maybe it's like oxytocin in mammals?

Not sure, but it looks like she's looking for a place to lay...

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Just found this:
Source:http://avianmedicine.net/content/uploads/2013/03/05_calcium.pdf

Calcium plays two important physiological roles in the
avian subject. First, it provides the structural strength of
the avian skeleton by the formation of calcium salts.
Second, it plays vital roles in many of the biochemical
reactions within the body via its concentration in the
extracellular fluid.


3 The control of calcium metabolism in
birds has developed into a highly efficient homeostatic
system, able to quickly respond to increased demands
for calcium required for both their ability to produce
megalecithal eggs and their rapid growth rate when
young.


2,3 Parathyroid hormone (PTH), metabolites of
vitamin D


3 and calcitonin, regulate calcium as in mammals,
acting on the main target organs of liver, kidney,
gastrointestinal tract and bone.


2,3,11,24 Estrogen and
prostaglandins also appear to have an important role in
calcium regulation in the bird.


2,3
There are distinct differences between the mammalian
and avian systemic regulations of calcium. The most dramatic
difference between the two phyletic groups is in
the rate of skeletal metabolism at times of demand. The
domestic chicken will respond to hypocalcemic challenges
within minutes compared with response to similar
challenges in mammals that can take over 24 hours.


11
This is best demonstrated by an egg-laying bird where
10% of the total body calcium reserves can be required
for egg production in a 24-hour period.


10 This calcium
required for eggshell production is mainly obtained
from increased intestinal absorption and a highly labile
reservoir found in the medullary bone, normally visible
radiographically in female birds. The homeostatic control
of the medullary bone involves estrogen activity.


2
Due to the rapid metabolic responses in the avian skeleton,
it has become a common model for skeletal studies​

concerning the regulation of calcium.

Abnormalities of calcium metabolism are common in the
poultry industry, leading to poor production and growth
defects, in particular, tibial dyschondroplasia in broiler
chickens kept indoors. Due to the economic status of
the poultry industry, calcium metabolism has been well
researched in production birds, including the assessment
of the importance of dietary calcium, vitamin D


3
and their interaction with ultraviolet light, especially in
the UV-B spectrum (315-280 nm).


1,4,14,24
In captive pet birds, disorders of calcium metabolism
also are common, ranging from osteodystrophy in young
birds (due in part to the greater calcium requirement in
young growing birds) to hypocalcemic seizures and egg
binding in adults.


5,6,7,16 Although African grey parrots
(


Psittacus erithacus) are considered to be especially susceptible
to disorders of calcium metabolism, problems
have been reported in a variety of captive species. The
husbandry requirements with respect to calcium have
been poorly researched in pet birds in the past, and
much of our present knowledge is extrapolated from​

work with poultry.

 

[casportpony]

The link in the above post has some very intersting information, a tuff read for me, but I'm trying, lol.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Here's another:
http://avianmedicine.net/content/uploads/2013/03/calcium.pdf

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

She laid her egg, but I got distracted, so I don't know when.

-Kathy