question about crop(s)...

[Karen 210773]

I'm so glad that the crop has now managed get back to it's normal shape and both birds are happy again. The main thing was that the crop was still emptying otherwise the bird would starve to death.

Just for reference any future emergencies, I used a childs sock for a crop bra, cutting out holes for the wings, it does have to be tight enough to support the crop (lifting it slightly to the right hight for the crop muscles to pull the food through), but not overtight where it can trap the food even more. I believe that the crop doesn't have to be fully empty after each feed, but should be once every 12 hours. If the chicks crop didn't/wouldn't empty completly at least once during 12 hours (normally overnight) I would not feed the chick in the morning cause if the crop didn't empty completely it would cause the crop to empty less slowly and cause sour crop.

At that point I would keep massaging the crop at any opportunity I would get and give good amount of potent brew with a couple of drops of malt vinager, cause this does cause the food to break down. I would give Potent brew and vinager every couple of hours. I would also give Poly Aid which is a formula to stop a bird starving to death (magic stuff!) - Karen x

[Izzy]

Hi Karen and thank you for your post! First question is about Poly Aid, is that something I can find at my local Petsmart? That is where I purchased the Kaytee Exact. I'm sorry I have no clue what Poly Aid is and not sure if it's a vitamin type supplement I can get at a drug store or something specifically for birds.

Misty, the other squab that is growing by leaps and bounds doesn't usually have a completely empty crop either, when it's feeding time again. But her crop isn't saggy like Mel's either.

The sock idea is great! I ended up making a little bra from this stretchy bandage I had to wrap about my knee. It's like spandex and supports well, plus I cut the velcro smaller to accomodate Mel's size. I found that tying it around his neck/head as well as behind his wings was just so awkward for him, so it just fastens behinds his wings now and looks like a square bib. It definitely is holding the crop upwards and after feeding, even though I didn't feed him as much as I used too, the crop is pretty puffy and he's able to rest his chin on it! I did really worry about the tightness of it, I just make sure the bottom of the crop stays inside the bra. When it's too loose, the bottom of the crop can push out, which doesn't help at all. I pretty sure I've got it on correctly.

I'm will start adding the vinegar later today at his next feeding. I'm hoping he really starts to grow the next day or two.

Thank you very much again,
Izzy

[Karen 210773]

Hi Izzy, glad to hear they are doing well. I get the Poly-Aid and the Potent Brew from "The Bird Company" which is sold at my local garden centre "Golby's" The Vinager I mentioned what I used to go with the Potent Brew, I have never used it in the feed, although I know that Potent Brew you can. The Bird Company suggested that I gave a cockatiel 1-2ml every few hours should the crop not empty, although on the packaging it should only be a few drops.
Potent Brew is a unique liquid nutrition supplement for addition to food or drinking water. Helps bring adults into breeding condition. Supports healthy chick growth. Helps restore beneficial bacteria to the gut of sick or stressed birds. Increases vigour of breeding birds and improves chick survival rates.
Application: Add to fruit, soft food or soaked seed : Finches/canaries - 1 drop per bird, 1ml per 30 birds; Budgies - 2 drops per bird, 1 ml per 15 birds; Cockatiels - 4 drops per bird, 2.5 mls per 10 birds; African Greys - 15 drops per bird, 1 ml per pair. Do not use in the same drinking water as Aviclens (Saniclens). Add to water 5 ml per litre.
Poly Aid Emergency nutrition for sick and injured birds, it stop sick birds from starving to death so it is used where 'starvation' is the greatest threat. It can make up to 100% of the diet in very sick birds. In these extreme conditions it is normally given by crop itworks on the immune system and provides nutrients (energy, protein and vits/mins) that are easily absorbed even from a poorly functioning gut. Obviously if Poly-Aid(Survive) is used at low levels the quantity of these 'extra' nutrients is quite small. It is the nature of the protein and energy that will really having an impact. You can use as much Poly-Aid(Survive) as you like. If you can't find a supplier locally, you can goto "The Bird Company" via the internet and purchase direct xx

[Karen 210773]

Hi Izzy, also forgot to mention, when you do feed, and the crop becomes quiet full, you will notice two air pockets each side of the neck of the bird, when you see them well this gives you the indication that the crop is full. X

[Karen 210773]

Izzy, just wondered about the crop problem and a thought to another reason to why it might be happening. Noticed you use a heat lamp, you can alway's adjust the heat a little higher to enable the crop to work better, or if its too high the food will become very dry in the crop and very hard to pass. Make sure you have a water bowl in their area, which they can't get to, a tall beaker or something, that they can't knock over either, it stops the air becoming too humid, cause this too could cause problems with the crop. - Karen x

[Izzy]

Hi again Karen and thank you for all the info! I'll have to call around to find the Poly Aid and Potent Brew, would like to at least have that on hand.

I never thought about the red light and where it is having anything to do with the crop, but that's a good thought. This is my setup: I have the red light hanging at doorknob level about 2 feet up. I have the two boxes that Misty and Mel are in and those two boxes are on another larger box, they are about 1 1/2 feet off the ground. I never have the red lamp directly on them, I did in the beginning, because they were shivering alot, but now I drape a towel over their boxes, not completely, but halfway. The red lamp shines on the boxes and warms it up, while the towel keeps the heat in there. I keep a little square thermometer exactly at head level of the chicks to make sure it stays at 80 degrees F all the time. During the day, depending on the outside temp, I will either turn off the lamp or pull it further away from the boxes. In the evening, I put the lamp a little closer to maintain the temp.

We have a very humid climate here, so I'm sure they are getting enough humidity. But I do have humidifier that I use in the winter time here, when the air starts to dry up a bit. We usually maintain at least a 75% to 90% humidity rate here in St. Louis.

I check their crops several times a day, it's never gotten hard in their crops, very liquidy and easy to move around. I try to keep a very close eye on that.

Ok, now I'm going to see if I can find a thin box to help Mel's left leg, thank you again for your time and advice.

Izzy

[ZigZagMarquis]

Izzy,

It may be too thin... or not thin enough... or too flimsy... but a ceral box may be thin enough if you cut it down a bit? Or maybe one of those long thin boxes waxpaper or aluminum foil comes in??

[Izzy]

Ohhh, good idea about the aluminum foil box, never thought about that! I think a cereal box might be too flimsy. I was looking at the cardboard boxes I had, never thought about looking in my kitchen cupboards, great idea Zig and thank you so much!

Izzy

[ZigZagMarquis]

Oh WAIT!!

If you do the Aluminum foil box, make sure to REMOVE that SHARP metal edge thing they put on there!!!

[Izzy]

OMG, I'm not a complete moron Zig, of course, I would remove that, lmaoo!! That would be just great, I fix Mel's leg but saw him in half, ackers!!

[ZigZagMarquis]

Originally Posted by Izzy

OMG, I'm not a complete moron Zig, of course, I would remove that, lmaoo!! That would be just great, I fix Mel's leg but saw him in half, ackers!!

DOH!

[Izzy]

LOL Zig!

[Karen 210773]

LOL, sounds like a great idea Good entertainment here too Good luck and keep us posted x

[Izzy]

Sorry, didn't mean to have humor at the sake of my little Mel, but couldn't resist, cause Zig made me laugh, lol!

[ZigZagMarquis]

Well, you have to have a bit of humor about such things, otherwise you go bonkers. Anyway... glad to help...