CROP BOUND 



203 



is worked out. After this treatment give the bird 

 warm water to drink, feed soft and easily digested 

 foods for a few days and add a rehable tonic to the 

 drinking water. 



If the bird does not respond to this treatment an 

 operation on the crop is necessary. To do this 

 properly it will be necessary to have some assistance. 

 One should hold the bird while the other gently 

 plucks the feathers from the breast, making a bare 

 spot about one-half of an inch wide and two inches 

 long, and covering the hard part of the crop. Take 

 a sharp knife and carefully cut only through the 

 outer skin, leaving the crop proper intact until the 

 blood stops flowing. Then cut a small hole about 

 a half an inch in length into the crop and from 

 this small opening remove the contents with a small 

 stick. To make certain no obstruction is over the 

 outlet passage insert the little finger into the open- 

 ing. Wash the wound with warm water into which 

 drop a few drops of carbolic acid or some other 

 good germicide. After which sew up the opening 

 in the crop, using a needle and white silk thread. 

 Only two single stitches are necessary, but leave 

 both ends long enough to hang out of the crop about 

 an inch. Then take three stitches in the skin, but 

 don't include the crop in the tie. Feed on light soft 

 food and keep off the grain ration for a week or 

 ten days. A tonic in the drinking water is advisable. 



