CROP IMPACTION - CROP STASIS 
and other Crop Problems

 

Crop Impaction :
the following  was the Experience of a Club Member :

  • I would like to know if any of you have used  Corn-on-the-cob substrate base in Nestboxes or in the containers holding your Hand-reared babies? 

  • If so, have any of your young (7-12 days old) chicks ingested the hard corn bits 

  • and if so, did they come to any harm or did it get passed thru them safely?  

  • These chicks, one in particular ingested almost a full crop of hard corn pieces.

    • It wasn't a "full impaction" but enough to worry me - big-time!

    • Especially considering their young age and small size.

    • I was worried that the pieces may get stuck in the digestive tract as they were trying to pass thru!

  • It seems that they take the corn pieces into the crop, if they have their heads &/or beaks resting on the floor of their containers, (which is what they do when they are very young and resting between feeds) and they are on this Corn-on-the-cob substrate. 

  • It can trigger a "Feed Response" when they feel the hard piece of corn in their beak 

  • They must almost "suck" the pieces in as they go into a "feeding frenzy" 

  • - a bit like they can do with each other at feed times when they get hold of each others beaks!!

  • Panic over!! - Yes, they do get passed thru - eventually (over a few days) 
    - they must soften and go thru the digestive tract - they do not come out " whole" the other end, so they must be digested or semi-digested, as they go!

  • They don't seem to bother or effect the chicks in any way and if you hadn't felt the pieces in the crop you may not have been aware that they had ingested them.

  • The Feed response, general health and growth rate carried on as normal, I am pleased to say!

 

THE CROP

  • The crop, a significant part of the upper Gastro Intestinal tract.
  • It is a continuation of the oesophagus, extending from just below the lower beak
     to just above the breastbone.
  • Partially digested food moves from the crop down through the digestive tract.
  • A healthy, normal crop contains natural enzymes and beneficial bacteria, which breaks down food and slowly moves it down through the stomach,
  • into the gizzard and finally down lower GI tract.
  • It is when this system does not function normally that digestive disorders and crop dysfunction occur.

What is Crop Dysfunction?

  • Crop dysfunction can be defined as a condition in which food does not move normally from the crop down into the digestive system.
  • This condition may or may not be disease related.

  • Crop Stasis or "Slow Crop"  which is crop dysfunction,
    • is commonly referred to by several names:
    • slow crop, sour crop and/or Crop Impaction
      •  
    • is a general term used to describe a condition when the crop is extremely slow to empty
    • or in severe cases (usually when neglected and secondary infections are established) completely shuts down.
      • CROP IMPACTION is the term more used when the chick has ingested some foreign bodies i.e. substrate from the nest box floor and the crop is jammed full of it.
  • Crop stasis
    • can be the result of Impaction, sour crop, disease, trauma and/or stress.

 

  • Crop Impaction is serious
    (Avian VET treatment is nearly always required - do not delay)!
    • is a serious form of crop stasis usually caused by ingestion of foreign materials such as bedding or un-hulled seeds (seeds with husks or outer shell still on)
    •  or when hand-feeding formula liquid and solids separate.
    • Crop stasis resulting form formula separation occurs when food is poorly mixed or if formula or environmental temperature is too cold.
    • The formula's liquid will dehydrate and pass from the crop, leaving a lumpy mass of virtually dried-out formula in the bottom of the crop.
    • If undetected and left untreated crop mobility will slow, resulting in crop stasis and finally blockage and/or impaction.
    • Consequently, there will be little or no digestion or mobility taking place.
    • This condition does not always mean a bacterial or fungal problem exists in the digestive system;
      • however, when diagnosed early, is indicative of a simple digestive upset that can be easily treated with fluid and enzyme therapy.
      • Unfortunately, undigested food remaining in a crop over a extended period can "stagnate" or sour, eventually resulting in stasis and a condition often referred to as "sour crop".
      • Any form of crop stasis, including sour crop, can lead to or be a result of dangerous yeast, fungal or bacterial infection.
      • If symptoms of crop dysfunction are ignored and left untreated or improperly treated, they will progressively get worse, finally leading to secondary infections, complications and eventually death.

  • Clearly, any sign of crop abnormality should be considered a serious sign of a potentially dangerous condition.
  • Undigested food remaining in the crop over a 24 hour period provides an excellent growth medium for opportunist bacteria, and yeast or fungi.
    • Keep Nystatin on hand in the fridge
      • Nystatin is an anti-fungal treatment - used on human babies' tongues in the treatment of  "Thrush" - white spots on the tongue.
  • The secondary infections caused by these pathogens are potentially dangerous, prove more difficult to treat and often need veterinary intervention.
    • (Always go to a reputable Avian Vet if in any doubt).

  • Therefore, quick and accurate diagnosis and treatment of slow crop is the key to preventing severe and complicated secondary crop infections.

 

Primary Causes of Crop Stasis

  • · Trauma ­ crop burn or injury
  • · Infection of the crop lining
  • · Over-stretching of the crop
  • · Incorrect brooder temperature or humidity levels
  • · Foreign bodies (ingesting bedding/substrate or seed hulls etc.)
  • · Food impaction

CROP BURN

  • This is where the formula/food has been fed much too hot.
  • If you find it "hot" on your wrist when you test it - then it's too HOT!
  • It should feel just warmer than blood heat, when you test it.
    • the food should be fed at 106deg F    -   Human Blood is 98.4degF
  • Sometimes the burn is so bad it can "burn" a hole in the crop
    • - this is an EMERGENCY you must call your Avian Vet IMMEDIATELY to get URGENT treatment!

  • If the Formula has been too hot it will burn the crop lining from the inside and you will get a nasty burn, which eventually forms a nasty scab
    • Once again - it goes without saying, you must seek IMMEDIATE VET's  ATTENTION
    • This is why you must test each spoonful or syringe of feed BEFORE you feed it - just in case
      • You cannot reverse things once you have fed the formula and you would never forgive yourself.
         

Treatments

  • In order to arrive at a successful treatment plan of treatment it must be decided what caused the problem in the first place.
  • If it's an infection then  antibiotic therapy will be prescribed after appropriate lab tests are performed by your Avian Vet.

  • Too low a Brooder temperature can cause crop stasis.
    • By raising the brooder temperature and providing supportive therapy, normal crop function should return.
    • Supportive Therapy includes :
      • -  stop feeding Hand-rearing formula and orally - administer small amounts of electrolyte, pro-biotic or saline solution, to help re-hydrate the chick until crop returns to normal.
    • Surgery is often necessary in cases of crop burn. (Seek Vet's advice urgently)

 

  • Some digestive disorders require actively treating the disease with antibiotics.
  • The use of antibiotics can often mean the difference between life and death.
  • Birds with advanced symptoms of crop stasis are particularly susceptible to bacterial infections because of their weakened state.
  • These secondary infections, often found in the intestines, multiply and eventually gain entrance into the bloodstream.
  • This is a life threatening condition.
  • If a bacterial infection is suspect it is important to see your Avian Vet immediately, as improper diagnosis and treatment can be dangerous.
  • It is extremely important to be sure a bacterial infection is present before treating with antibiotics.

 

The Crop

  • A healthy crop extends slightly backwards to the right side of the neck,
  • parallel to the trachea.
  • The crop "should reveal a rounded structure dependent in size on the volume of food present.
  • The tone should always be firm and never droopy" - If it looks "loose" and droopy
  • it's a sign that the chick has been over fed and the crop has distended and lost some of it's elasticity. 
  • This in turn makes it more difficult for the crop to fully empty after feeds.
  • Babies have very large crops compared to older birds.
  • A chick's crop will hold about twice as much food as the crop of an adult of the same species.
  • Crop shapes and capacities differ between species and sometimes between individuals of the same species.
  • Capacity also is dependent on age and stage of development.
  • Be aware of these differences and become familiar with the norms of each species.
  • For example:  Macaw crops are typically more pendulous than tighter Eclectus and Lovebird crops.

 

Below is a list of approximate Maximum Crop Capacity for some popular species.

  • These figures are a rough guide only.
  •  Remember all babies are individuals, so there may be some variations.
  • These figures are valid only for babies over two weeks old
    • Therefore remember these figures are maximum quantities not average
    • and you must feed to the age and size of your chick.
  • Maximum crop capacity of selected species
    • Macaws 100 to 140cc
    • Cockatoos 75 to 120cc
    • Mini Macaws 40 to 60cc
    • Smaller Cockatoos 50 to 75cc
    • Amazons 50 to 70cc
    • Smaller Amazons 35 to 50cc
    • Eclectus 35 to 50cc
    • Pionus 25 to 40cc
    • African Grey 25 to 60cc
    • Large Conures 35 to 60cc
    • Smaller Conures 15 to 30cc
    • Alexandrines 25 to 35cc
    • Caique 25 to 35cc
    • Indian Ring-necks 12 to 25cc
    • Quaker Parakeets 12 to 20cc
    • Cockatiels 10 to 15cc
    • Brotogeris Parakeets 8 to 12cc
    • Lovebirds 5 to 10cc
    • Parakeets 4 to 10cc

       

 A HEALTHY CROP

  • A healthy crop will show subtle signs of contractions.
  • These contractions are a normal part of the digestion process.
  • The smooth muscle in the crop wall periodically contracts, causing waves of movement that can be seen from the crop's exterior.
  • Most species' crops will contract downward from the throat toward the crop helping the food move down the digestive tract.
  • Either crop hyper- or hypo-motility (movements too rapid or slow) can occur.
  • Definite rates have not been established for each species but 1 to 2 contractions should be seen per minute in a partially filled crop.
  • Changes in movement rates, can indicate digestive difficulties.
  • Unusual rates and force of these contractions are often present in cases of crop dysfunction.
  • Always note any unusual physical changes.
  • Any deviation from the norm as in size, volume, movement rates or condition of the crop should warrant a closer look and further interpretation.

                                                                                                           

 

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