Dark Roll
3 posts
Oct 25, 2005
12:20 PM
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Yesterday after flying my kit and getting them in, I noticed one has a
torn crop. When it tries to drink or eat, it just spills out. Is there anything I can do?
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
212 posts
Oct 25, 2005
1:12 PM
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I assume that tear most likely came from a raptor attack. Regardless, you have two options that I know of. One is sto stitch it closed and the other is to remove some of the feathers along the tear, then superglue it closed. I've never tried the superglue method, but I have had several people who have done it say it works great.
Brian.
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Phantom1
60 posts
Oct 25, 2005
1:24 PM
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Superglue was actually invented for that purpose in the field of battle. Should be fine to do - but I would remove the feathers as well. If there's any way of securing the crop closed, coat it very well with Corona Sav (usually used for hooves and such). I had a racing homer come in from a race once that had a broken leg and about 8 holes in it from buckshot. The leg as a compound fracture. A split, a few feathers pulled, and some of the sav, and the bird was back on the trailer the following weekend and came in second. So the stuff is a quick healer. The main thing here is to watch the bird and its spirit. If it starts to give up, you might as well too.
Eric
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Ballrollers
116 posts
Oct 25, 2005
1:40 PM
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Eric, That is a great point you make about watching the spirit of the bird. I have seen young birds being weaned that just seem to sit in the corner and refuse to compete for food. Eventually the just "give up" and check out for some reason. It actually seems to exist in most all species of animals. I guess it's part of the survival of the fittest thing. Their spirit for survival is the one thing that will cure them. YITS Cliff
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