Crop

[ziza]

My ekkie has something on his neck...i assume it's a crop? Is it supposed to be completely flat at times? I think my baby always has it rounded...It gets smaller when he pulls his neck though....is it normal?

thank you

 

[gemini84]

the crop is where the foid is stored prior to digestion. so after they eat, and depending on how much it will be larger and round. As the food is digested the crop will empty and become flatter.
This is what i have been led to believe, some one may be more knowledgable and correct me

 

[ziza]

should i maybe keep him hungry for some time to make sure it empties?

 

[gemini84]

how old is he?

 

[ziza]

7 months, almost 8

 

[gemini84]

i assume at that age he is no longer being hand fed? i dont think its a god idea to let him go hungry. just have a look at it first thing in the morning before he is given his breakfast, then again after he has finished. if what ur looking at is his crop, it will be bigger after he eats.

 

[ziza]

will do, thanks! but is it supposed to go flat at times or its supposed always be a bit kinda swollen ?

 

[sodakat]

You might be noticing his neck instead of his crop. His crop is just below his neck.

Below is a link to a post that includes a picture of another Eclectus who is plucked so you can see his neck and his crop. His crop is REALLY full. Don't expect this as not all birds fill their crop like this and it's harder to see when the bird is feathered.

Above the crop is the neck and you can see it does stick out a bit, all the time.

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/22881-crop-where-2.html

 

[gemini84]

im not 100% on that. hopefuly some one else will chime in soon. Oxy's (my 8/9 month old alex) his crop always seems more prominant then the other 2, but he is currently molting and i think having a growth spurt... he is always eating

 

[Peeker]

JMO but with a bird that age I would have food available to them all the time. He's a growing boy! If his crop is filled he is eating well and I would think that's a good thing.

 

[Greenwing]

I think it different for each individual bird... Some of my birds only fill there crop before bed.. And pick as needed throughout the day... But I have a few that keep there crops packed full and hard all day.. My two green wings always have full crops.. My B&Gs only have a full crop just before lights outs....

 

[nicki]

As my complete noobie status, I will tell you what I feel about the crop. He will have a very prominent bone structure above his crop. When you feed him, when you touch it, it will feel like a water balloon right below his prominent bone (which I assume is the keel). When it is full, it will feel like a squishy water balloon.

The only time you notice it, IMHO, is after he is well fed, then after, feel it and you can see the difference. Still, as a noobie, I can't tell when its completely empty, but I can tell when its half or full.

Look up some articles on Ekkie anatomy. It gives a clear picture of what you're working with

 

[sodakat]

... when you touch it, it will feel like a water balloon right below his prominent bone (which I assume is the keel).

I think the prominent bone(s) you are describing is the neck. The keel bone is below the crop. In this image the keel is blue.

 

[ziza]

thank you guys! i'll try to add a picture later on

 

[ziza]

here he is, enjoying his shower, I think it's easier to see when he is wet... What do you think?

 

[ziza]

One more photo...

 

[Peeker]

Oooh he is really full in the last picture! My boy Jax looked like that last night. I had given them scramboled eggs which they love and corn on the cob among other things and he ate and ate and ate!

I always feel happy when mine are well fed. I think it's a mom thing.

 

[ziza]

Oh, good! Just wanted to make sure it's not a tumor or something lol

 

[Mayden]

Pretty sure that's his crop hehe. I wouldn't suggest letting him go hungry either, I know with eckkies it's different, but we make sure our birds have access to food at all times. I know for sure Merlin can become a right grump when he's a little peckish.

Love the pictures by the way, that shower one is fab, he looks like he's REALLY enjoying it.

 

[ziza]

thank you! i will start another topic with his photos at some point

that brings me to another topic...i just don't want to start yet another topic here lol
i've read a lot about their diet etc...but i am still straggling on a day-to-day basis...
can somebdy please describe your ekkie's diet...something like "at 7 i give him this and that, at 2pm i give him that...and this and that stays in his cage 24/7"....i think it would be very useful for many...or maybe it was discussed previously...