How To Use A Crop Needle

[splat 0]

I Have a young first time down she is 15 months old, she laid 6 eggs and her partner died a couple of weeks ago, so the poor little thing is left to raise the young, well the oldest is nearly 2 weeks old down to 3 days old. She is doing a good concidering. The oldest 2 are in their full grandparents nest that left her with 4. but she is feeding the remaining oldest 3 perfectly but not the youngest and I have know where else to put it so I went and purchased a crop needle and baby hand rearing food and looked on the faqs or forum and couldn't finmd anything about how to do.

So I went googling found some info but I wanted pictures, i found a couple really good sites and I did what they said and show Hey Presto everything looks good with bubie now, it is still under it' mother, but I am feeding it 3 times a day.

I have spoon fed before but they have been at least a week old and Greg made me a spoon to use it resembles the mothers beek. I believe you can pay a fair bit for them when mine is a teaspoon from the kitchen altered so I can feed them. If you like I can take a photo of it tomorrow and add it this. Because it is pretty handy and cost nothing but a bit of elbow grease.

 

I found some info on the net you might find it interesting. BUT I can not work ouit how to put the links here. One was in Bird Health and the other which had good pictures was a finch one.

 

I will try the links

http://www.birdhealth.com.au/bird/er/erformula.html

 

http://www.vetafarm.com.au/show_product.as...tem_number=0176

 

I don't know if these will work but there was a better site with heaps of pictues but I can't find it. Gee I'm always loosing things.

 

COOL IT WORKED, I will see if I can find the better link tomorrow.

[Daz 0]

Some thing everyone should know about.

[splat 0]

It was a bit scary the first Daz, but now I am a master at it.

Certainly saves lives when you have no foster parents spare.

[**KAZ** 0]

Having a crop needle on hand and knowing how to use it both saves lives and helps when medicating birds. A direct doseage to the crop works far better than meds in drinking water, where possible.

[splat 0]

Hi Kas, now that I have the confidence to use one I will be medicating like that from now on. or when needed. It is a really good thing to learn but up till now I have never needed to and was to afraid to do it but I discovered it is really quite easy once you put your mind to it and decide that " you can do this" because I decided a couple of years ago that no way would I be able to use one. I would prefer some else to do it for me. But since I have been a member of this club I am doing lots of new things by myself. I think the info you guys give members is so great. Oh well it has helped me heaps any way.

Cheers Julie:ausb:

[Guest ellulah]

Just a note, the first page you like to advises you lubricate the crop needle first. That is correct but...

 

Always lubricate the crop needle prior to use. A small amount of spit, oil or Vaseline helps the tube to slide into the fragile and often dry oesophagus.

 

I would definatley not spit on anything that is going to be put down your birds throat!

[**KAZ** 0]

Just a note, the first page you like to advises you lubricate the crop needle first. That is correct but...

 

Always lubricate the crop needle prior to use. A small amount of spit, oil or Vaseline helps the tube to slide into the fragile and often dry oesophagus.

 

I would definatley not spit on anything that is going to be put down your birds throat!

I agree with Ellulah. If you force a little of the crop feed out of the end of the syringe, you have lubricated the crop needle. Too easy :hap:

[splat 0]

Just a note, the first page you like to advises you lubricate the crop needle first. That is correct but...

 

Always lubricate the crop needle prior to use. A small amount of spit, oil or Vaseline helps the tube to slide into the fragile and often dry oesophagus.

 

I would definatley not spit on anything that is going to be put down your birds throat! :hap:

 

I didn't like that bit either, i used a bit of oil.

[Daz 0]

Can I add one thing, It is a life saver to use acrop needle but becareful, some birds react and take fits. I have one that I though died but it came back. Like any thing, there is a hazard and so long as you know this and prepare, most times things will be okay.

 

I got a nurse to show me and I found a couple of things to do better.

[splat 0]

Hi Daz, what are they, always interested in learning new things.

[**KAZ** 0]

Can I add one thing, It is a life saver to use acrop needle but becareful, some birds react and take fits. I have one that I though died but it came back. Like any thing, there is a hazard and so long as you know this and prepare, most times things will be okay.

 

I got a nurse to show me and I found a couple of things to do better.

I agree with Daz. I have experienced the same thing.

[Daz 0]

To start she placed the needle across the beak and when the bird opened his beak, she rolled it across the top of his tongue and down the left side into his crop.

I tried it and it was so simple.

 

Oh and she told me not to place my thumb or fingure on the plunger. If I acidently when down the wuind pipe I can quickly with draw. If i have the fingure on the plunger i might accidently push it and 1 dead bird.

 

You don't need to be quick in and out. The bird is not in a lot of discomfort while the needle is down and you can consintrate on what has to be done. 5 to 10 seconds is plenty of time to carefully admisiter the medication with out too much fuss.

[Guest ellulah]

I found another site. It seems good, it includes a list down the bottom of the crop capacities of various types of birds.

 

http://www.cagenbird.com/a04.htm

Edited June 13, 2007 by ellulah

[Daz 0]

Some thing everyone should know about.

 

 

I have to agree with this guy..

[Squeak_Crumble 0]

I have beenr esearching into crop needles and I find two GREAT videos on youtube:

 

The second video actually shows a demonstration on it. It is important to hold the needle itself andto twist it as it goes down. Also, just a note, a budgie should be using a 16g one as 18g could easily go down their windpipe