Aussie Finch Forum

Can anybody give me some suggestion as to how to "burp" my baby gouldian which I am hand raising? The chick is healthy, alert,accepting food through a syringe but he seems to have some air in his crop. I read somewhere that you can "burp" them but no real instructions were given. It doesn't seem to be affecting it but I don't think it is normal. I am feeding Passwells hand raising mix at 2-3 hour intervals during the day. Does anyone have any ideas?

The crop is such a temperamental part of the anatomy I would be just leaving the bird alone ...air in the crop could be just that or a ruptured airsac in which you dont want to be touching it at all.

If it is just air from the syringe it will come up just be careful not to administer any more air with the feed , go with the pumping or feeding reflex and all should be good.

Sounds like a interesting one,There is a couple of finch handraisers here, Deb being one of our resident handraising experts.

The mental image of burping a little handfed is quite funny.

I've not too much good luck with handfeeding, but I have heard from other's more experienced at it that you should let the crop empty before feeding again. If nothing else is at play like a crop infection etc, this should remedy the situation.

Good luck with the rearing.

I haven't had much experience with handraising. Did it when I was a kid with sparrows and doves but that was 50 yrs ago. Up until last week it was the first time since then, the painted chick was doing well until the mini foxi thought it was a squeaky toy with flavouring. It too had the same thing, air in the crop. I ensure that there is no air in the syringe when feeding but it still is there. I got the chick off the floor yesterday and its crop was dead set empty and I think it wouldn't have lasted another hour or so in the heat here. I admit that the thought of "burping" something so small is quite daunting but it was recommended in an article I read about hand raising. I think I will err on the side of caution and just let things progress naturally and fate will be the eventual winner. Thanks for the advice. Just fed him/her and it is perky as buggery, trying the climb from the nest and recognises the syringe and I think me. Good stuff.

I'M guessing that like most babies they gulp their food and a quantity of air with it. Good luck.
LML

If you work with the bird and only syringe formula while the bird is pumping you shouldnt get air ...good idea Matcho , some things are best left alone else create real problems .
If you found the baby on the ground it may have hit the decks quite hard and ruptured an air sac again small ruptures will heal themselves without intervention however if the crop becomes engorged and feels squishy then the rupture will need fixing .
Doesnt sound like anything major since it is so active and feeding well just keep an eye on things .

Took all the advice on board and decided to let the crop empty naturally overnight, , crop was empty and he fed really well and took a heap of food. Another two more feedings so far today and there is a slight amount of air but nowhere near as before. I will just have to be super careful with the syringe and his feeding habits as it does tend to gulp during feeding. Otherwise it is looking real good for the time being. Thanks for the advice once again.

sadly handrearing is mostly learning the hard way but also very rewarding ...

I know it can be sad, I learn't from the last time I tried-keep the mini foxie away! Just fed him/her and it looks as full as a state school and as contented as a cat that got the cream. Can notice the growth even though it has only been 3-4 days. So far, so good.