Besides the stomach, the digestive system of budgies includes a
further component that is characteristic for birds: the crop. It is
a bag-like object behind the esophagus. Since budgies have no teeth,
their food arrives as a whole (grains and seeds) or in rough pieces
(fresh food such as vegetables or fruit) in the crop. The food is pre-digested and stored there.&xnbsp; It&xnbsp;is of special importance during breeding when budgies feed their chicks. In their natural habitat, budgies have to travel long distances between their nesting places and areas where they can find food. By filling their crop with seeds they manage to carry the food to their chicks.
Grains, seeds and other food components are blended with water and salivary gland secretion in there. Compared to other bird species, budgies possess a quite large crop which is also very flexible. One can see that best when budgies are only a few days old (see photo above). The inner parts of the crop are covered with a sensitive mucous membrane which could easily be hurt by swallowing foreign bodies such as plastic parts. Bacteria, viruses and yeasts comparatively often lead to sour crops or dangerous infections that have to be treated by a vet for saving the budgie's life!
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