Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 3/3/2006

Question
Thank you for your quick response. I have another problem, I hope you can help. I have 3 babies I am handfeeding. The youngest is 22 days old. Since yesterday (or the day before) his crop has not emptied. It seems to be full of air. I have massaged it and it is not hard. I have not fed him, I gave him a little hot water (104). Is there anything I can do? I think he is going to die.The other two are just fine. I have never seen this before, like I said before, I have been handfeeding about 15 or more years. Thanks, I hope you get this quick enough.
Answer -
Hi, Lisa.  Thanks for posting.

I also use Kaytee Exact and I always add human baby food to the handfeeding mixture, just for the additional vitamins and nutrients it provides.  I use the strained baby food (for infants) and vary between different fruits and vegetables.  For example, in the morning I might provide fruit, noon vegetables, evening cereal mix, i.e., alternating the different types.  Be sure to have the handfeeding mix hot because once you add the baby food, it will bring the temperature of the food down some and you need to ensure you feed the handfeeding formula to the babies at 102-105 degrees F.

Thanks.

Chrys  

Answer
Hi, Lisa.

A baby's crop can fill with air during the handfeeding process (the baby breathes in air while feeding).  You can "burp" the baby's crop by gently pressing on the crop, which will allow the air to exit via the mouth.  I burp baby's every time I feed them in order to see exactly how much food is in the crop.  Often times, babies won't eat further until they are burped because they feel full with all the air.  

I've also seen cases where the crop has a hole in it, perhaps a burn hole (from inside out) from the handfeeding formula being too hot.  The crop will take on air in this case, too.  

If the crop is not emptying, this is a different problem.  When a crop doesn't empty, it's usually because the handfeeding formula is not hot enough when fed to the baby.  It can also be that the baby isn't being kept warm enough.  Babies have to be kept warm enough in order for their crop to work properly.  It could also be some type of yeast/bacterial/fungal problem.  If a water flush isn't working, you can try manually emptying the crop through the mouth (or use a gavage tube) by using your fingers to push the food up and out of the crop via the mouth.  However, if you've never done this, you may not want to try this process.  You have to ensure you don't asperate the baby in the process by blocking it's breathing and/or causing food to go down the trachea.  Then rinse the crop with a diluted disinfectent, such as Novalson (may not be spelled correctly).  Give the baby Pedialyte (for human babies) to ensure s/he doesn't dehydrate (since food isn't metabolozing).      

Instead of feeding baby parrot formula, try feeding Ensure Plus or one of these type human supplements (vanilla only).  Warm it and feed like you would water.  If/when the baby is able to digest this, then try adding formula gradually.  You can also give water (or Pedialyte) with honey in it so the baby will have some calories (to help s/he from losing too much weight, but provide some nutrition).

Another recommendation would be to get the baby to an avian vet immediately.  The bird vet can determine what's wrong and treat the baby accordingly.  

I hope your baby tiel pulls through OK.

Chrys