Need some Ideas for weight gain

[Shandra]

ok this stick thin stuff has gone on long enough. Eyva ( cag hatch 3-4-09) is at 310 g and has only gained 2 grams in a week and a half. OMG I can painfully feel her spine and I have never felt that on any bird. She is still on her antibiotics and antifungal. She had basically stopped eating her pellets so I am letting her have all the seed she wants, anything that will put weight on her, good or bad. I will worry about balancing out her diet later. I know that may not be the best approach but I would rather an unheathier heavy bird than a healthy dead one. I am still offering her hand feeding formula, even adding babyfood carrots and a tad bit of sugar, anything to increase her weight.
Any suggestions for increasing weight? At least she hasnt dropped any!

[mfleming]

It can be heartbreaking to see a bird that is too thin. I had a conure once that was a rescue and was so underweight it made me cry. I didn't care if it wasn't part of a healthy seeds/pellets, etc. I fed that bird anything and everything it would eat. I bought unsalted chips and pretzels, sesame treats, safflower seeds, sunflower seeds. I made her mashed potatos, mashed sweet potatos, hanging honey treats, whatever that bird would eat, I gave it to her. She finally gained enough weight to be in the normal range. I actually let her get a little overweight then began giving her the "good for you" stuff. She is now a very healthy, happy little bird and has a great owner. Do what you have to do to get her at a healthy weight, worry about her eating habits when she is healthy and can take the change.

[tielfan]

Try some red palm oil. It has some great vitamins, and any kind of oil is 100% fat calories.

[Monica]

One of the side effects of feeding too much RPO is weight gain..... There's other options as well...

Instant Ounces
Formula One™ Quick Weight Gain Mixture
Avitech Exotic Birds - Supplies, Equipment and Nutritional Supplements for Birds!

Alfalfa and Cayenne are also supposed to be appetite stimulants.
Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Kitchen Physician V - Herbal Remedies For Parrots and Pet Birds


Have you asked your avian vet about any good ways to help a bird gain weight?