question about crop(s)...

[Izzy]

Hi all, hope I can get some insight here.

The past 2-3 days, I've noticed on Mel that his crop doesn't totally empty in 6 hours, unlike Misty's. They eat the same amount and the little food that I "think" is left in Mel's crop isn't hard and at the very bottom of the crop. Another thing I've noticed about Mel is that his crop is much larger, like it's stretched out more than Mistys.

When it's feeding time, Misty's crop is close to her body and not hanging down at all. Mel's is hanging a bit, like loose skin and looks like air is in there. He's had air bubbles in the past and I've been able to massage those out, but I've tried that these past couple of days and it doesn't make it any smaller.

My question is this, is it normal for chicks to have different types of crops? I mean, not looking exactly alike? Mel seems to be fine otherwise, chirping and very active, but Misty does seem to be growing just a tad bit faster, though Mel is not far behind.

Just wondering if this was something that I need to be concerned with, thank you very for any input you might have.

Izzy

[Feefo]

Hi Izzy,

Crops do vary in size and I think that Mel's crop could have stretched through over eating (which baby pigeons can do). It can be serious and if it is a stretched crop it will need correcting .

I have copied the extract below from this site http://www.petparrot.com/Injuries.htm which also has a picture of the "crop bra" referred to.


Stretched Crop
A stretched crop is a condition seen in handfeeding baby parrots. It is caused by trying to give a baby too much food in one feed, and, thereby, overfilling and stretching the muscles of the crop. The crop skin and muscles have a natural elasticity that assist in the digestion of food and retain their shape as the food is digested. When empty, the crop should be flat. If the crop is overfilled to the point of stretching the skin and muscles, it will hang onto the breastbone, and a portion of the food will remain in the part of the crop that is overlapping onto the breastbone. It will appear very much like a deflated balloon. If left uncorrected, the food remaining in the crop will develop bacteria, which will slow the digestive process even more, causing weight loss and possibly eventual death.

If your baby's crop should become stretched, you can help correct the problem by making a "crop bra" for him. The illustration shows a picture of a crop bra. Depending on the size of the baby, it may be made with a wide gauze bandage, or a strip of towel or rag. The wide area in the middle should be long and wide enough to support his crop, the strips should be long enough too be fastened around him. The upper strips should be fastened, or tied, around the back of his neck, above his wings, and the lower strips should be under his wings and around his back.

The crop bra should remain on the baby until his crop muscles are strong enough to empty his crop. Until then, the crop should be emptied completely, and cleaned with warm water, every 24 hours.


Cynthia

[Izzy]

OMG, that sounds "exactly" like what is going on with Mel! I can't believe I overfed him, I thought I fed him exactly the same amount as I did with Misty, who's crop is fine.

I have a few questions about the crop bra, if someone can elaborate for me.

First of all, do I keep this bra on "while" I'm feeding him or is it only on him between feedings? I'm wondering how tight it needs to be. I'm guessing just tight enough to press the crop against his body. Seems like if I keep it on while feeding, it'll be kinda painful.

How do I clean his crop with warm water?? Do they mean to actually force feed warm water into him? When do I do this, before/after/inbetween feedings?

I have a wide gauze bandage and some velcro, so I can make this bra for him, that part won't be a problem. Thank you for help and advice.

Izzy

[Feefo]

Hi Izzy ,

Think bra, not Liberty Bodice!!! It should support the crop so that it doesn't fold over at the bottom and trap food in the fold, not flatten or constrict the crop. It should be kept in place even while feeding.

I don't know whether that last bit means the crop has to be emptied manually every 24 hours. I hope not as I think that can be quite dangerous. I think that this is something that Karen knows about and will e-mail her !

In the meantime you said her crop is emptying but slowly? Don't feed her again until her crop is completely empty, When it is empty give her warm water, wait until the crop has emptied, then give her warm water again and a third time after that has emptied.

Cynthia

[Feefo]

This is from the same parrot page, further down the page in the bit about sour crop:

If a baby's crop does not empty in a 24 hour period, it must be emptied in order to prevent further complications. This may be done with a piece of plastic tubing used for aquarium air line, or the baby may be held with his head lower than his body and the soured food massaged from the crop, through the esophagus, and out of the mouth. The latter method has a higher risk of aspirating the baby if he breathes food into his lungs in his panic while being turned upside down. The first method may be risky if the tubing is forced though the walls of the esophagus. If you have never emptied a baby's crop, it is best to contact an avian vet or an experienced breeder to do the task.

If the crop needs emptying manually a parrot breeder might be able to help you do it if you can't find a vet or a rehabber.

Cynthia

[Izzy]

Ok, I understand what you mean about the bra supporting the muscles of the crop now, no bodice.

His crop has been "almost" emptying, meaning, there's just a tiny bit of food at the very bottom of the crop, the part that hangs, like it was explained on that parrot site. I think because it's hanging over the breast bone, like in a little fold, like you mentioned, it's not getting out.

They get fed again at 2pm, I'm wondering if I should go ahead and put warm water into Mel's crop right now and see if that helps the little bit of food in there to empty. I have made the bra, so hopefully that'll help it what's in there...out.

I don't want to turn him upside or use a tube, I'm much too nervous to try that. I hope the warm water will do the trick and I'll let you know how it goes.

Ok, I decided to go ahead and do the warm water now. If his crop isn't 'completely' empty at his normal feeding time, do I still feed him? By completely, I mean even that tiny bit of fold in that fold area. I'd say at least 98% of what he's been eating is emptying out of there and I don't want him to go hungry.

I'll be hanging here close to my puter, to check what you say, thanks for coming to my rescue Cynthia!

Izzy