Suggestion for the group

[The Outlaw]

Dear Flock:

As you know, I'm a firm believer in building better birds. One of the ways you do that is to feed an exemplary diet. A good way to see how well that diet is working is to take a monthly weight and keep a chart. I've been doing that faithfully for about 4 years and I can tell at a glimpse when anything unusual is happening with my birds.

I challenge the board members here to

1. Purchase a gram scale
2. Weigh your birds monthly
3. Post those weights. Please list the species (cockatiel, budgie, YNA, CAG, etc), sex, and age of the birds, please

We will have our own in-house comparison charts and get an idea of how healthy our birds are.

THE OUTLAW

[Joel]

Great idea Nancy, you are sure full of them :) !!! ....I have my gram scale already & will soon try and find the time to do as ya suggested, can't promise anything for the immediate future though but eventually you can count me in.....Btw, bought my Shark Euro Pro yesterday based on mostly your advice & suggestion and some GSE also.......... 8)

[TooLover]

I am in Nancy. When Ms. Cookie was given to me I was also given a scale; I try to weigh them once a week.
Hey Joel - way to go. I also purchased a Shark Pro II Steamer and GSE; love both of them!

[Kevin]

LOL next month we will have Bird Boards version of NBC's "The Biggest Loser"

[The Outlaw]

I know. Between the members going on diets and the birds getting weighed, this place is starting to look like Jenny Craig.

By the way, remember that genetics play a big part in bird weights. Just because someone here may have a BG that weighs 1200 grams and yours only weighs 950, that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with your bird. By keeping charts, however, you can tell at one glimpse whether YOUR bird is gaining or losing. And, that's ultimately your goal. You will also notice large differences between younger and older birds and males and females (another reason to get that DNA test done).

OK, let's all shoot for the first Friday in each month. This month, that would be January 7. Let the games begin.

THE OUTLAW

[Lungfish]

I'm in. I bought a gram scale last summer and weigh/record my birds weight several times a month.

[Stacey32]

I'm in too...but a reminder on jan 6th would be great! otherwise, i just weight randomly throughout the month. thanks!

[TooLover]

Sounds good. Of course I weighed mine this morning, all ready to post! :oops: No harm done as it gives me something to compare to.
One question Nancy - what is considered "a significant amount of weight loss" as far as grams?
Another note to all - make sure that you weigh the birds at the same time each time you weigh. I weigh mine first thing in the a.m. after they have taken care of their morning "business".

[LtlWngdAngl]

where can I get a gram scale that works with birds?

[The Outlaw]

Laurie:

Significant weight loss is weight loss in excess of 10%. So, for a 1000 gram macaw, a loss of 100 grams is excessive. A bird can, however, fluctuate quite a lot throughout any given day. That is why we keep charts: to check the averages over time. Any bird losing weight 2 months in a row should be closely monitored anyway. I would switch to weekly weighins at that point.

You are correct as to when and how to weigh a bird. In my case, I don't have a T perch for my scale.With so many long tailed birds, I have to elevate my scale on a large popcorn can filled with seed. It weighs about 10 pounds. I can then stand the bird on the scale, and the tail remains off of the table.

I also weigh early in the morning before I feed the first meal of the day. Birds weights will also fluctuate based on how much excercise they get. If you have an outdoor aviary, expect your birds' weights to be higher. Muscle weighs more than fat. During heavy molts, birds will usually lose some weight. It takes a lot of energy to grow new feathers.

Also, as baby birds start to fledge (fly) they will lose weight. That, however, should pick up once they've mastered flight.

Birds losing significant weight two months in a row should be seen by an avian vet. That can be a early indicator of bacterial infections, aspergiliosis and worse. It is often the ONLY sign seen in aspergiliosis early on.

THE OUTLAW