Do you routinely weigh your birds?

[The Outlaw]

Just weighed the fildren today and noticed a significant weight loss in Mai Tai, my Eclectus and my 2 BGs, Mia and Dreamer. All seemed to be about 40 grams. None seem at all ill, none seem thin by any stretch of the imagination and their poops look quite normal. All are molting and the BGs, of course, have the aviary to play in all day long. I think that Mia and Dreamer may have "played" off their extra grams. As for Mai Tai, since she started plucking about 2 months ago, I'll watch her carefully. If she continues to lose, we'll see the vet. I've gotten so paranoid about disease and avian vets, I want more proof that there is a problem before I go that route.

Anyway, here are the weights of all of my birds as of July 8, 2004:

Dreamer, male BG, 1120 grams
Margarita, female BG, 970 grams
Sailor, male BG, 1032 grams
Mia, female BG, 1090 grams
Mai Tai, female RS/G Eclectus, 406 grams
Chi Chi, male Severe macaw, 350 grams
Taco, Female YN amazon, 526 grams
Radar, female Timneh grey, 300 grams
Cleo, female Congo grey, 402 grams
Tilde, ? Quaker, 114 grams

THE OUTLAW

[SavvyMoon]

Originally Posted by The Outlaw

Just weighed the fildren today and noticed a significant weight loss in Mai Tai, my Eclectus and my 2 BGs, Mia and Dreamer. All seemed to be about 40 grams.....
THE OUTLAW

Nancy,
I sure HOPE you meant about "4OO grams", and not 40!

Them be some skinny birds!!

Savvy*

Last check, Pippin (who is now 1 yr old) weighed about
380 gms. But that was about 3.5 months ago. I have a scale, I should weigh him again just for S & Gs.

Pippin is a SI Ekkie, they are smaller than the RS's...

I'll let you know when I get home. :)

[alleaa]

Thanks for the reminder... here's my guys & gals

Savannah ~ Senegal ~ 123g
Jennie ~ Sunday Conure ~ 120g
Benny ~ Sun Conure ~ 117g
Itty Bitty ~ Caique ~ 151g
Keko ~ TAG ~ 352g
Meko ~ CAG ~ 414g
Luna ~ U2 ~ 574g
Sydney ~ M2 ~ 1037g
Leilani ~ B&G ~ 913g
Sampson ~ Ekkie ~ 534g

I normally don't weight the tiels on a set schedule they all stay about the same at 90-100g, I've had teils so long I can tell if there is a problem by looking the same goes with my lovies do not liked to be touched so I am lucky to get them on the scale...at last weigh in they were all between 50-57g.

[Monica]

I have weighed my birds before, however, that was more than 2 years ago when I had a scale. Since moving, I lost my scale and haven't seen it since... Tis possible that it could be one of the items some neighborhood kids stole, along with an owls wing (that I got from someone else who said that they got from an native american/indian), and a conch shell (that I got from my cousin).

I don't remember the weights, nor sadly to say, do I have any charts on their last weights... I had records of when my two bourke chicks were born, however, they got thrown away, unknowingly by someone else...

[The Outlaw]

Yes, that's exactly what I meant.

THE OUTLAW

[The Outlaw]

Wendy:

Seems Miss Leilani is a pip squeak too. I can't believe how much lighter the Fabulous Margarita is compared to my other BGs. Just goes to show the wide range of healthy weights for macaws. I think when people check the charts, they become alarmed for no real reason. I'm curious, did you check her weight before this last molt? Wanted to see how much weight varied before and after an especially messy molt.

THE OUTLAW

[Joel]

Nancy,

If there is ever a particular species or sex of a particular species that you would like me to weigh so you have another comparison, in a time of need, just let me know and I will go thru the trouble for ya. I just have way too many to weigh and keep track of on paper so I usually just eyeball most of them. If one does not look well or skinny then he/she gets weighed etc.......

I have only had one sick Grey over the years and he got down to 300 grams before I noticed, unfortunately. We weighed him in the Avian Vet office where he threw up a bunch of smelly soured seeds etc........After treatment he got well in a couple weeks and quickly rose back up over 400+ grams. He is my oldest male btw.

[The Outlaw]

Wow!You sure you got a bird, there? That's the largest parrot I've EVER heard of and that includes all of the Hys I've ever met. One of the things that I do when I suspect my fids are too beefy is to make them follow me around the yard. They have to walk to the aviary. I know some folks think that's unwise due to wild bird droppings, predators, etc, but I'm walking right beside them and keep them moving. Its the best exercise my Zon gets.

THE OUTLAW

[alleaa]

I just looked at my chart Lei is 931g not 913g ggeasshhhh ... Last month she was 934g and she has been going through a molt I have loads of beautiful feathers here waiting for the day I can acually think of something to do with them.

[RachelP]

Hee hee, my little Abby weighs 51 grams right now. This was found out at our first vet visit yesterday. The vet expects him to top the charts when full-grown at about 64 grams.

He did recommend getting a scale, though.