Force-feeding and candidiasis in pigeons.

Crop impaction and candidiasis was encountered in young, meat-type pigeons (hybrid line). Prominent lesions were epithelial hyperplasia, severe hydropic degeneration and microvesicular formation in the crop. There was tissue invasion by candida blastospores and pseudohyphae. The cause was attributed to hand-feeding too much unsuitable feed at too early an age. Similar lesions were induced in an experimental study.