Hi there,
I apologize for missing your question earlier! I thought I had a system in place to get questions sent to my email program but it didn't work so here I am VERY late! :)
You're right. You do need a gram scale0 -- or you could stop by your vet's office and ask them to weigh her. Your vet could determine in a few minutes of examining her whether her weight is excessive or just right for her body without even weighing her.
Many publications use a general weight range which includes all the
eclectus parrot subspecies that are commonly available. There is so much
overlap in weights between subspecies that a specific range for each is
less than helpful and causes Eclectus owners to worry. In fact, the
most common "worry questions" that I hear are about whether birds are
"normal" weight.
Normal is the weight at which our birds are healthy -- not overweight nor underweight. "Average" weight is the illusive question because of the overlap between subspecies. There is so much variation within the range of each subspecies that the numbers are basically meaningless.
Large Solomon Islands' weight range overlaps the range of the Grand and small Red-sideds. Large Red sideds' weight ranges overlap the small
Vosmaeris' weight range so you can easily see the problem with weight charts.
My favorite reference book for eclectus parrots is PSITTACINE AVICULTURE by Schubott Clubb and Clubb, researched and written mostly by Dr. Susan Clubb, avian vet and staff doctor for many years at the Avicultural Breeding and Research Center in Florida. They maintained many eclectus pairs and raised hundreds of eclectus babies and kept weight charts from hatch to maturity. Finally, they lumped together all the subspecies to determine eclectus weight ranges.
Here is the general weight range of the eclectus parrot as listed in
PSITTACINE AVICULTURE. Keep in mind that it is a compilation of all the
commonly available subspecies (Solomon Island, Grand, Red sided, and Vosmaeri):
MALES:
Average -- 430 grams
Range ---- 388 to 524 grams
FEMALES:
Average -- 452 grams
Range ---- 383 to 549 grams
Note that generally the eclectus female is a little chunkier and heavier,
and the male is somewhat more streamlined and lighter weight. (She is designed to incubate eggs and brood chicks in the nest, while he flies long distances to gather food).
Weight ranges that new owners might find helpful include both sexes and all
commonly available subspecies:
7 weeks -- 318 to 477 maximum weight (before loss of baby fat at fledging)
12 weeks -- 312 to 422 grams
14 weeks -- 321 to 422 grams
These ranges are general, and even so, there are exceptions in birds that
are perfectly healthy. I consider this a realistic general range of
weights and one that does not cause new owners so much worry. New parrot owners fret about weight because they want to give their birds a diet
that encourages optimal growth without the damaging effects of making them
fat. Fat is not healthy for human babies but it is especially detrimental
to the health of birds. They are designed to be a lean, streamlined flying
machine. Birds have hollow bones and sinuses to keep down their weight for
more efficient flying. They are designed for the strenuous activities of
flying and climbing. Fat does not belong on -- or in -- their bodies. In fact,
excessive fat shortens their life span. The main reason that birds are fat
probably is a lack of sufficient exercise but another reason, I suspect, is
WORRY by the owner about the weight of their baby being "normal".
We should be more concerned about other indicators of health. If a bird is bright, alert, inquisitive about its surroundings, active, wth a good appetite and shiny eyes and feathers, more than likely they are exactly the right weight for their individual body. One can feel on either side of the keel bone (breast bone in the middle of the breast area) and if there is spongy tissue there, the weight is not likely to be too low for the size of the bird. If you feel no spongy tissue on the breast beside the keel bone, the bird might be underweight and the diet should be examined. If the diet is determined to be adequate with sufficient calories, a vet check is in order.
Remember that young, growing birds DO need calories from healthful whole foods. Some new owners feel the KEEL BONE itself and find that it protrudes slightly and feels sharp and they worry, but it is perfectly natural in a young bird. Indeed, any parrot with "deep cleavage" around the keel bone probably is overweight, but this usually happens in older birds.
If your "two year old" is overweight, remove the free choice dry foods and offer them only at the end of the day after she has eaten all the fresh foods that you have offered. She should be getting colorful veggies, fruits, and leafy greens first thing in the morning along with a quality protein three days a week. I give hard boiled egg quarters several times weekly to meet protein needs.
I hope this is helpful. Let me know when you learn your little redhead's weight. Also, her subspecies would be helpful if you know it.
Carolyn
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Originally Posted by felisdomesticus
What's a good weight for a 2-ish year old female Ekkie? I took a good long hard look at her and decided that she looks like she's gotten fatter since she's lived here! 
I feed her twice a day with fresh food--any combination of: cooked rice, birdie bread, hard boiled egg (half at night only a few times a week), cooked oatmeal, cooked kidney beans, aloe slices, fresh: lettuce, snow peas, summer squash, zucchini, jalapenos, carrots, cucumbers, spinach, red cabbage, etc. I have never worried much about her carb intake as she eats a lot but seems to love shelling and ingesting veggies while ignoring the carbs. oh yeah--sprouts too that she barely touches. I sprout chick peas, pigeon peas, red and yellow lentils, white northern beans, barley, and that may be it. I forget. But she eats like 4 sprouts and is done.
she does have a dry mix in her bowl that came with her from the rescue. It consists of sunflower and pumpkin seeds, dried fruit, peanuts, zupreem colored and uncolored pellets, etc. Many people told me to take out the colored pellets but she seems to do that herself. She throws them all out of the dish and onto the bottom of her cage. She only really chows down if she doesn't like whats in her dish for some reason. Otherwise she eats the seeds rarely.
what's a good weight for them? I'll have to go into school and "borrow" a gram scale this week.  |