Could someone please enlighten me as to what a chicks "crop" is. I have seen it mentioned but don't really understand.

The crop is a sack where the birds food is stored before it is processed by the gizzard.

All birds have a crop and its above the brestbone, just below the neck

 

 

ADDED to the FAQ, and I also used your photo and uploaded to BBC

Edited November 8, 200816 yr by Elly

No more answers needed as Liv has handled this beautifully

great pictorial explanation Liv. Do you have a picture of a chic with nothing in its crop just for comparison?

:party0011: YAY LIV ...... heheheh :hap:

Yes i do JB

 

Here is a picture of a baby with nothing in its crop - sadly this chick had splayed legs and was rejected by the parents and has since perished :party0011:

An empty crop is not all that common as normally a parent will feed very soon after the crop empties.

 

 

You can see the crop is like a deflated balloon of skin on the neck.

 

Added to FAQ - Baby Budgie Crop and What it Should Look Like, Under Breeding along with the Picture above too

loaded to BBC files

Edited November 8, 200816 yr by Elly

Fantastic and very informative Liv. Will be of great benifit to alot of first time breeders. Sorry about the little one.