squab feeding problem!!!*.* SOS!

[arfarf]

Hi- Below is a photo of 'Charlie', one of five rescued squabs. He was fed Kaytee, Hand Feeding Formula cut for him at 1 part formula to 2.5 parts water. He was fed 10cc at 9AM this morning. It is 6PM, nine hours since his last feeding, and his crop is still large and I believe still has food in it. He is at least a week and a half days old, and is kept comfortable with a heating lamp for his nest area.
Question -
1) Should we feed him now, even with his crop with food in it after nine hours?
2) If we do feed him, how much at this time, and do you suggest cutting the mixture with more water, say 1 part formula to 3 parts water?
3) How do we get his crop to empty other than just waiting...?

UPDATE: Thru reading the forums I placed Charlie upsidedown and gently pressed at his crop and right away hard formula came out, about a full spoon full. The crop is now mostly empty, but it is 'very loose'. I will give it food now as it has been over 9 hours. I will cut the formula 1 part formula to 3 parts water and will give him 10cc. Please advise even though I will have already fed him. Would plain yogurt be a good idea?

[TAWhatley]

The crop in this pic looks really full .. suggest you give only some water for a feeding or two and also gently massage the crop to help the contents pass. Can you get some probiotics to give to the baby .. it is probably developing sour crop and this can be deadly if not stopped quickly. If the water gets things moving again, then you can start with very thin formula.

Please keep us posted.

Terry

[arfarf]

I held Charlie upsidedown and massaged his crop. Right away about a full tablespoon of very solid (hard) formula came out. I then gave 4cc of formula cut at 1 part formula to 2.5 parts water. I think even at almost two weeks old 1 part formula to 2 parts water, Kaylee formula, is to thick. That was at 9PM. It is now almost 11PM. He is grooming, even though he has no feathers, and chirping, and his crop is empty and normal. I am going to feed him 8cc if his crop can take it at 1 part formula and 2.5 water. Any advice is most welcome. Also is plain yogurt a good substitute or mixed with formula?

[Snowbird]

If he is getting energetic and really processing food, you would like to see him getting from 60cc to 100cc per day. And since he is behind, I would use a good dry dog food--just coffee-grinder it into a powder and strain it really fine since your bird has not been moving food so well, and mix it in with the formula--this will add some fat and protein (continue to mix the meal at the consistency he can handle, but it can get a bit thicker if the youngster is getting feisty).