How much to feed my baby parrot? Is a full crop normal after eating?

A bulging crop may indicate a full crop and that you may be giving too much food at a time. If it doesn't return to normal after a few hours, reducing the amount of food, or making sure that Sailor doesn't have an impacted/obstructed crop is best. Feeding smaller meals more often may also help reduce the crop being overfull.

A full crop will feel like a giant, fat balloon just under the chin/neck, and in birds that don't have their feathers in yet may be visible. An empty crop will just be a flat, normal looking neck. Keeping a full crop in a baby bird is best as it means they always have something for nutrients and to keep them full and happy. If they constantly have empty crops they need to have their feeding throughout the day increased to keep them full. Following the guidelines on your baby bird formula can help you make sure you're feeding enough and often enough.

It's possible you could be overfilling his crop, causing him to regurgitate up some of the extra food. Checking his crop (located on the neck, it will feel like a little balloon when full, or be visible if his feathers haven't grown in) can alert you if he's full or not. If it's full, waiting a bit to feed him again or decreasing the amount fed and just feeding more often can help. If his crop is always full, or he is unable to keep any food down, having a vet take a look to rule out issues such as obstruction or illness is best.

Thanks for reaching out about Rick and including a photo. An over-sized crop can be due to over-eating or a disease. Crop infections (bacteria, fungal), ingested foreign bodies and obstructions, systemic illness are all possibilities. Check and correct husbandry, as baby birds need to be kept warm. If the crop appears firm, offering small amounts of water and massaging the crop might help. If Rick appears ill, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

It is normal for birds to store some food, seeds or whatever they are eating, in their crop. As long as the food does not become impacted and your bird is still eating regularly should have nothing to worry about. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

It's possible that the bread is caught in the crop or isn't breaking down and digesting. Birds should also not be given dairy products as it can lead to diarrhea and dehydration. It is best to stick with a formulated baby bird food until your bird is old enough to begin adding in solids (usually a balanced adult diet) to their meals. If the crop remains swollen or Marcos appears listless, doesn't want to eat, or in pain it is best to seek veterinary care immediately.

A bird's crop will naturally disyend when the bird eats or drinks, it goes down as the contents move into the proventricularis. The time to worry is if the crop stays large, this would indicate infection or impaction of the crop.