Daily weighing question

[jayb8008]

It might be a dumb question, but do you guys weigh if your bird has not yet cast a pellet from the previous day? I went out a little while ago to grab Tommy and get a weight and to start a little creance work, but no pellet has been cast. I can feel it in the crop, so it should be cast soon. I figured I would wait until the pellet is cast before I weigh. What does everyone else do?

[MarkT]

Has your bird cast a pellet yet? I have never really thought much about it but I don’t believe a pellet really sits in the crop. The pellet is formed deeper in the digestive system by items that aren’t digested and then are regurgitated as a pellet. I do not believe it makes a stop in the crop on the way back up. I would guess you are feeling food in the crop. Depending when you fed your bird last, if you are still feeling food in its crop, there may be a problem. Even when a bird gorges itself and has a softball sized crop in the evening it usually empties its crop by the early morning.

[dirthawker]

I just weigh once a day and don't worry about the pellet. they will cast it at some point. if the bird is hungry they will hunt

[jayb8008]

Do you fly and feed even if you don't see a pellet in the mews? Unless it is REALLY hidden in the pea gravel, I can't find one. She has cast a couple before, so I know what they look like. Markt, I thought it might sit in the crop before it is cast out. Maybe I am just feeling the crop itself? It feels like something about the size of a pellet right below her mouth,in her neck or throat area. Does this sound like anything is wrong? She has been acting normal and flying well. Not sure if it part of the anatomy since I have nothing to compare to.

EDIT: after looking at some of my books, it appears I am feeling the esopagus. It feels rigid like ours does. I know where the crop is, especially when I see it bulge, but I thought it began further up, starting at the mouth more or less. Will they always cast a pellet after every feeding, or are the entire crops sometimes absorbed with all the nutrients used?

[Master Yarak]

Much gets digested and broken down. Teeth, fur and feathers will be cast. I have seen my bird cast while hunting as long as the weight is good it should be fine. You will always find one if it casts up a pellet.
Yarak

[jayb8008]

So I'm ok to continue creance/lure training whether I see a pellet or not? If you feed before a casting, does that do any harm?

[Master Yarak]

Generally the bird will cast before feeding again. It takes about 24 hrs to cast.
Yarak

[Falcon Boy]

You should be able to tell by weight if she has cast or not. If your bird is strangly an ounce over weight chances are she hasn't cast.

[Wolf]

Sometimes the casting is not large enough so they dont bother casting it up.

I have sometimes found bits and pieces of the previous days feeding in pellets.

[ehh]

This is the link to what I had to say on this subject last year. In short, yes is does matter if they have a casting in them.

apfalconry.proboards19.com/index.cgi?board=Trouble&action=display&thread=1169132439

[genbuteo]

Often times if she hasn't casted, she will when she knows it's feeding time. Sometimes my bird will cast when I go to feed her. She will not eat right away and you'll know why. After a few seconds or so you'll see her cast and after that she'll be immediate to your feeding her being that there's nothing else wrong with her.