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Gavage Feeding

By Alyson Burgess, About.com

Definition: Gavage feeding is a technique that is sometimes used to hand feed baby birds, or birds that are ill or injured. Gavage feeding employs the use of a long, thin tube made of metal or plastic that is inserted into the bird's beak and down the esophagus, into the crop. There it deposits food for the bird to digest.
Pronunciation: guh-vahge
Examples: Most bird breeders have been straying away from gavage feeding, instead opting for syringes when hand feeding.

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