A crop needle is something that should be in all first aid kits(if the owner/helper is able to use it, cuz if you do it wrong you will kill you bird) I have used them on barn owls and I am looking for one for my personal kit. I have found them in Aust. but it's not exactly what I want.
It is a surgical tool that is make of stainlees steel that is used for force feeding. I perfer the stainless steel needle tple over of IV tubing(less chance of hurting bird)
Post by HawkingRage on Jan 10, 2008 18:19:00 GMT -5
alot of times they look like a fat 12 gauge needle with a ball at the end so that it does not poke anything. I can see them being used for a sick animal but not for a healthy one. the only danger is asperation if you go down the trachea on accident.
Also it was knoledge given to me that owls dont have a crop so i am not sure how it would be used in that instance
We used them at the wild bird rescue, don't know why you would need one in a first aid kit, we used them for birds that was too small to eat on there on, to force feed larger birds like hawks, owls and kites we just cut up meat real small and used tweezers.
"Life is hard; it's harder if you're stupid." -John Wayne
I used the crop needle to give electrocytes to the barn owls, The little guy was too far gone for force feed but after a few days bounced back. The crop needle was used to prevent any liquids from entering the trachea and possibility killing the bird.
Last Edit: Jan 11, 2008 19:41:50 GMT -5 by duskyhawk
I hope that you are right I ddo not need it in a first aid kit. But I think that if I spend the money and have it my whole life and never use it, it is money well spent becasue oneday if I need it may save my birds life