Crop Feeding
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Crop Feeding
It is sometimes difficult to understand how to hold a bird for crop feeding. Here's a set of pictures to help those who've never done it before.
Firstly, straight crop needle and syringe.
The rounded end that goes into the crop:
The square end that fits over the nozzle of the standard syringe:
Connected:
If you have a helper, get him to hold the bird, making sure the legs and wings are secure and still. If you are right handed hold the syringe and needle with your right hand, and grasp the birds beak with your left. Open it and lift it up and back to create a straight line:
Your hand holds the head still, while your fingers keep the beak open and guide the crop needle down the centre. You should be able to look down and see the opening to the wind pipe. Avoid that.
You can keep the head and neck in position, and support the needle all with the left hand for a moment, to check the position of the needle end with your right hand. If it's about the middle, gently and slowly depress the syringe plunger. Then carefully lift the needle out of the bird, still holding the head and neck in position. Be ready to stop the bird jerky and injuring itself on the needle while you are lifting it out.
Firstly, straight crop needle and syringe.
The rounded end that goes into the crop:
The square end that fits over the nozzle of the standard syringe:
Connected:
If you have a helper, get him to hold the bird, making sure the legs and wings are secure and still. If you are right handed hold the syringe and needle with your right hand, and grasp the birds beak with your left. Open it and lift it up and back to create a straight line:
Your hand holds the head still, while your fingers keep the beak open and guide the crop needle down the centre. You should be able to look down and see the opening to the wind pipe. Avoid that.
You can keep the head and neck in position, and support the needle all with the left hand for a moment, to check the position of the needle end with your right hand. If it's about the middle, gently and slowly depress the syringe plunger. Then carefully lift the needle out of the bird, still holding the head and neck in position. Be ready to stop the bird jerky and injuring itself on the needle while you are lifting it out.
Re: Crop Feeding
Now if you don't have a helper, it's a bit more difficult but still possible. It's always hard to picture when people describe it, so I thought pictures may be helpful. This is just how I do it. Others may have other systems.
Wrap the bird in a towel to stop it moving. Just have it's head sticking out the top:
Sit down and hug the bird to your body. You are going to need your forearms, elbows and both hands for the job.
Use your right forearm and elbow to put firm pressure on the bird and hold it against your body. Then use your left hand to open the beak and pull the head up and back. Your right hand holds the crop needle and syringe and positions it.
You can support the needle with the left hand to allow the right to check position before you depress. Hold bird firmly in position while you lift the needle out, as they can jerk and hurt themselves. I hope this helps someone.
Wrap the bird in a towel to stop it moving. Just have it's head sticking out the top:
Sit down and hug the bird to your body. You are going to need your forearms, elbows and both hands for the job.
Use your right forearm and elbow to put firm pressure on the bird and hold it against your body. Then use your left hand to open the beak and pull the head up and back. Your right hand holds the crop needle and syringe and positions it.
You can support the needle with the left hand to allow the right to check position before you depress. Hold bird firmly in position while you lift the needle out, as they can jerk and hurt themselves. I hope this helps someone.
Re: Crop Feeding
In birds with longer necks such as geese and ducks, a crop needle does not work. You need to use a tube. A lamb tube feeder works well. Next time I'm doing that I will try to get some photos.
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