Crop problems again :( PLEASE HELP

[Karen 210773]

Bud has lost alot of weight during over the last week due to the crop being slow. Kept him on hand rearing formula because told that by giving seeds will slow it even further. The crop was working again and going really well. That's when I decided to try with the seeds. There is no interest at all. So I mixed some up with the formula left to go soggy and fed. Really was not impressed with me at all. Felt guilty, but thought for the best as now 3 weeks old and lost lot of weight. The crop again has slowed I assume its becaue of the seeds and body adjusting, but the problem is crop not emptied overnight and now I have one very skinny baby who I am very worried about, didn't realise how skinny he was I really don't think I can afford time to leave to empty, so thought of giving just the formula little and often. What is more important? I know you shouldn't feed if problem, did try to get food out of crop but don't think was enough to do it about 2 teaspoons max, really did try. He is going to the toilet and that seems ok. How long is it before you can relax and not worry about the crop emptying is it when they are about to fledge? Please help one very sad person here who feels so helpless!!!!!!!!!

[Trees Gray]

Hi Karen,

I will seek some help on this one.

I would not give any soaked seeds to him until he is eating them on his own. Once he IS eating on his own you should not have to worry about slow crop.

After he is healed from the slow crop, and picked up the weight, offer him seeds that he can eat out of the bowl, and offer a seperate bowl of water. He will pick them up eventually, and he will know the proper ratio of water to seed, and will drink water accordingly.

Treesa

[Fred]

Karen,
Many of these young birds develop yeast infections that slow the crop. Right now, there is no way of knowing if this is the situation but it's possible. Could you get the bird to an avian vet in order to get a test done for yeast?

[Feefo]

Hi Karen,

Can you wrap a hot water bottle in a towel and lie the baby on that? This will serve a dual purpose, it will aid digestion and it will also prevent the baby from using up energy by trying to keep warm.

If you don't have a hot watert bottle try a plastic bottle... not so hot that it melts, though! and wrap that in a towel so the baby rests its crop on the warmth.

Cynthia

[Karen 210773]

Thank you all for replying, got her on a warm water bottle now in the brooder so crop resting on it. The brooder temp is at 32 degrees (90) although this is high as the baby is feathered on wings and tail (2-3 weeks old) he does not seem to be panting, and I regularly give potent brew and water to stop dehydration. But the reason for having it this high is crop works better at that temp, can you please let me know your feelings on this. I have also given water bowl in brooder too. Do you also think I should feed little and often or fill crop cause will work better? Sorry about all the questions, just value your comments/feedback and really dont' want to loose this one Thank you all - Karen

[Karen 210773]

sorry Fred don't have an avain vet local to me Closest one is about 40-50 miles and that's a rehab centre not vets. That's why so pleased to of found this site