.Ruptured Crop: Excessive Heat, Overfeeding, and Infection

Ruptured Crop: Excessive Heat, Overfeeding, and Infection
Causes of a Ruptured Crop

Lotto, a 2-month-old hand-fed Sun Conure chick, was brought to the vet with a ruptured crop. Food was leaking out through the chest area after feeding. Upon assessment, the wound was found to be quite extensive, requiring the surgical removal of all necrotic (dead) and infected tissue. Lotto was placed under anesthesia for crop repair surgery.

The surgery went well, though more than 40% of the total crop area had to be removed. During the procedure, the vet discovered ulcerative lesions and white necrotic plaques inside the crop. Samples were collected for bacterial culture, drug sensitivity testing, and microscopic examination. The results revealed that Lotto was infected with 6 different types of drug-resistant bacteria (out of 10 tested drugs), along with a Candida albicans (yeast) infection. This made the risk of the surgical wound re-opening (dehiscence) extremely high.


Understanding the Avian Crop
The crop is an organ that develops from the esophagus, forming a pouch-like structure at the neck. The factors that can cause a crop to rupture include:

1. Hand-Feeding Formula

Temperature: The recommended temperature is 38-40°C. Food that is too hot will cause protein denaturation, leading to "Crop Burn." Conversely, food that is too cold can be difficult to digest, causing slow motility; food remains in the crop too long, leading to "Sour Crop" or "Sore Crop."
Quantity: The amount should be calculated at approximately 10-12% of the bird's body weight. For example, a 100g bird should receive 10-12 ml per feeding. The food should completely move into the proventriculus (true stomach) within 4-6 hours. Overfeeding in a single meal causes food to stagnate in the crop, leading to complications.

Note: The quantity also depends on the bird's age. For birds reaching weaning age, you may consider reducing the amount of hand-feeding formula and increasing solid food to encourage self-feeding.
2. Gastrointestinal Infections This is a factor often found in conjunction with other issues. If a GI infection is present beforehand, it affects absorption, digestion, and motility, leading to sore crop and subsequent rupture. If infection occurs after the rupture, it increases severity, delays healing, and increases the risk of the surgical wound breaking open. Common pathogens include:

Bacteria: Chlamydia psittaci (Psittacosis), Salmonellosis, and Mycobacterium avium, etc.
Protozoa: Trichomoniasis, Giardiasis.
Fungi and Yeast: Candidiasis and Macrorhabdus ornithogaster (Megabacteria).
3. Trauma Direct injury, such as accidents involving other animals, or the use of a feeding tube that is too hard or sharp, causing internal injury to the crop wall.


Lotto’s Recovery
After a 2-week course of antibiotics and antifungal medication, Lotto returned for a follow-up. The examination showed no issues with eating, and the gastrointestinal tract was free of infection. The surgical wound was dry and had healed beautifully.

Lotto still requires small, frequent feedings, with close attention paid to hygiene, quantity, and food temperature. But for now, Lotto has gone home to enjoy his meals happily!