lovemyGreys Posted April 19, 2008 Share Posted April 19, 2008 One of our members had a very close call today with a feeding tube coming off & getting caught in his baby's greys crop .Therefore i feel it's necessary that you are aware of the potential risks / dangers that may occur when hand feeding your grey. Crop Punctures... Crop punctures are normally caused by either carelessness or inexperience in tube feeding. Tube feeding is a method of feeding, in which, the food is pumped into the crop through a tube that has been put down the esophagus and into the crop. If the tube is pushed too far, or if the baby jumps, the tube may be pushed through through the crop membrane and the outer skin to cause a puncture. If this happens, food put into the crop will leak out of the puncture. The only way to correct this problem is to suture the inner and outer layers of the crop and skin. Antibiotics must be administered to prevent infection. If left uncorrected, infection will set in, and the baby will starve to death because the crop will no longer hold food. Crop Burn... Crop burn is one of the most preventable of all of the maladies. It is caused by feeding food that is so hot it literally burns the inside to the crop. Crop burn is most easily recognized in babies that do not yet have their crops covered with feathers. A day or so after the incident, you will see a white patch through the skin of the crop. This is a blister that has been caused by the burn. If the food was hot enough, it can actually burn a hole through the crop and the outer layer of skin. Depending on the severity of the burn, digestion of food will become slow and infection can set in. A hole, burned through the crop, will have to be sutured. Most often crop burn occurs when food has been warmed in a microwave oven, and was not checked for hot spots. Here again, using common sense will prevent this tragic accident from ever happening.If it is too hot for your finger, it is certainly too hot for the baby. This is another condition that it is necessary to empty the crop of any undigested food, at least once every 24 hour, to prevent souring and bacterial infection, until the crop is able to function properly.If you suspect that your baby's crop has been burned, he should have immediate medical attention. Unattended, crop burn can, and usually will, be fatal. Sour Crop and Slow Crop... These conditions will be observed only in a parrot baby that is still handfeeding. Each may be the cause of the other. A baby's crop must empty completely at least once in a 24 hour period. If the crop is slow to empty, the soft food in the crop will begin to grow bacteria, and sour. A sour crop will cause digestion to be slow, and, therefore, cause a slow crop. Although, a slow crop may be caused by a number of different problems, which will be described in the following topics, in every case, the condition will elevate bacterial growth, and possibly 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. 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted April 20, 2008 Share Posted April 20, 2008 This is a wonderful piece you have writen Tracy and so needed, just how many babies you will have helped today with this information we will never know:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconeer Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 I think we have a "Must Read" Sticky here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyGreys Posted April 22, 2008 Author Share Posted April 22, 2008 It is a sticky Fal already done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dblhelix Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Very useful. Hopefully most will not embark on hand feeding but will instead buy babies completely weaned. However, this information is very good for anyone that is handfeeding babies for whatever the reason! Obviously breeders and some prospective owners need or want to tube feed, so its super important it be done correctly!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyGreys Posted April 22, 2008 Author Share Posted April 22, 2008 I agree Mark, personally & my opinion only, id be far happier if breeders,petshops etc.. were only permitted to sell fully weaned babies,but at least there is some information available here for when the need arises,& we will try to help as much as we can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nims Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 Some really good information and advice LMG. I agree with you also on buying a baby grey and would suggest to anyone buying one that they buy a baby which is fully weaned and fledged. I would also like to add that there are reputable breeders who will not sell their babies until they are fully weaned. Not sure that if this is the right place to post this but anyone thinking about getting a baby should do a lot of research on the species make sure that they have the space, time and effort to care for one. Make sure your breeder is reputable do some research on them and their background to ensure your baby is being cared for well before it comes home. Cheers Nims Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyGreys Posted August 25, 2008 Author Share Posted August 25, 2008 Thanks for your input nims. Here in the UK it is illegal to sell unweaned babies,just a shame that law isn't enforced globally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennisandholly Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 OMG !!! i did just buy a baby grey and no she's not weaned. I am having trouble feeding. they told him she should get 2 droppers full 2x a day and it takes me and 1/2 hour to do it. the first day i did okey but since then it's harder. the ladie said her food is too thick and she doesn't like it but i have tried thinning it and it doesn't help. I did heat her food but i know it has to be well mixed and tested I checked it on my pinky and arm. having 3 children i know of the danger ... but after reading this i'm scared Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casper Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Welcome dennisandholly, How old is your baby? Is she eating anything else other than her formula? Below is a link on handfeeding for you to read which I hope will help, if you read through it will tell you of the consistency and temperature the formula should be which is very important when feeding your baby. http://www.greyforums.net/forums/the-nursery/73409-handfeeding-a-baby-grey.html Please post with any questions you may have, there are lots of members who would be able to help if you give a little more information about your greys age and diet. Welcome to the forum, hope you enjoy it here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennisandholly Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Thank you i'm going there now she is 2 months old and won't eat anything eles she only plays with her food and shakes he head when i try and give her a taste of fruit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennisandholly Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 ok i think i have the right info now i will add a feeding and use a spoon man did that lady tell me all wrong. she also said pellets aren't good. i have a blue beek amazon that we found almost dead the past summer. the vet really wanted him on the pellets but he won't eat them. i later found the owners who wanted us to keep him, they got him from their father who was too old to care for him. he was in a cage for 25 years and doesn't like being touch or held. didn't play with toys and only say hello. he didn't even know how to walk ladders. he won't eat any greens... i do get him to eat fruits and some pellets but mostly seeds. the shop owner said it should be seeds and not to change him . so now i'm lost as to what i should give my new baby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennisandholly Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 just to update. the spoons was a no go lol she didn't like it tho i'm still useing it some to help her with change over. thanks to the post about the bibb i think that will help she doesn't have to get cleaned up 2x's a day that should make it better. i think the food was getting too cold for her and thats why she wasn't happy eating. so i have to warm it & thin it as we go. she is full happy and not upset. thanks all for the help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimzamora210 Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 I read the risk of hand feeding,you talk mostly about the crop,but what do you do it some of the food gets into the nare? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayd Posted August 8, 2010 Share Posted August 8, 2010 I read the risk of hand feeding,you talk mostly about the crop,but what do you do it some of the food gets into the nare? Take a damp warm cloth and dab it off, must be warm......They'll usually blow or pick it out........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onyx's mum Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 Hi all im hand rering a 3 week grey but im using the syringe method Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayd Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 Hi all im hand rering a 3 week grey but im using the syringe method 21 DAYS OLD? What are you feeding him? how much? whats your brooder temp? How many large parrots have you hand fed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onyx's mum Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 he is not in a brooder i was tld to keep him wrapped up warm i do check hes warm all the time im syring feeding him at min but its been a long time since i did this i am very careful with the temp i feed every 4 hours he will be 4 weeks old on thursday i also now and again give him a few mls of boiled cooled water he is gaining weight fast and feather are just starting to appear the only thing i have forgot is wat age do i start to put a few small pieces of fruit in for him i know its not for a while yet but is it around 8 to 9 weeks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waloos Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 It is illegal to sell an unweaned baby and what about the other birds that you have, you should be sorting out them first before taking on any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovebabygreys Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 What do you mean it is not in a brooder!! It's 3 weeks old!! They need to be in the brooder until they are fully feathered on there wings at very least, you can't keep a baby chick without a brooder dispite what the idiot that sold you it told you, It is illegal as the previous posted has said, you should be taking that baby straight back to where you got it from before it dies on you!! Without a brooder it will not digest the forumla properly either, what are you feeding it on?? It does not need any cooled boiled water either it will be getting everything from the forumla. Have you ever hand reared a baby bird before and this young??? PLEASE take this baby grey back to the low life that sold it to you and think about the bird! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovebabygreys Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 Hi all im hand rering a 3 week grey but im using the syringe method Just looking about the site and i came across a post you made yourself in the http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?189784-Brought-my-new-baby-home-on-Saturday....&p=197460#post197460 Thread!! '' Quote you '' hi and congrats on your new baby please be careful really the breeder was very Wrong letting you take this baby home so soon they should be fully weaned and between 13 and 15 weeks old have you hand fed before What ever happened to taking your own advice!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayd Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 If you intend on keeping this baby, get a ten gallon fish tank, cover the bottom with a thick layer of newspaper, place a towel on top of that, then some paper towels so his nails won't catch in the towels. Place a heating pad, 1/2 ways around the tank, OR, place a light bulb above the tank...You want the temperature inside the tank to be close to 98 degrees...you can cover 3/4 of the tank to keep the heat in. Stop giving water, earlier I asked what you were feeding? Only worry daily, not what to do in a week or two, please..Your formula temp should be no hotter then 109, and no cooler then 105.... Do a good job now...Jayd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayd Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 Hey everybody, let's worry about giving the person our help, and we have so much to give........Jayd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayd Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 mowlis mum, Why don't you start a new thread in the "Nursery", Devoted just to you and your new baby? Jayd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimzamora210 Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 Well,unfortunately it depends on where you live.Here in the US it's not illegl to sell an unweaned baby,but it should be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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