Worried about new baby lovie's weight

[savagem13]

With all the talk on the other thread about PDD, and now my friend mentioned it to me too--I'm kinda freaked out about my new baby lovie's weight. His little keel really sticks out, even though he seems to have a voracious appetite. When I took him to the vet he weighed only 39 grams, which I know is low for a fledged lovie. He is only 8 weeks old and fully flighted--could this be the reason for his skinniness? The breeder would let him fly around for hours at a time, from what I understand--so he was getting lots of exercise. And I know that birds tend to lose some weight when they fledge. He's not vomiting and his poops look normal. No signs of neurological problems. He's just so, so thin despite eating like a piggie. Could he possibly have PDD, or am I just being paranoid? I tend to be a worrier.

[4HAND]

Could you describe what your lovebird is eating.What you are offering,as well as what is actually being consumed.
Tena

[savagem13]

The breeder gave me a variety of seed mixes to give him, which I am providing him as well. I am also giving him mixed veggies (corn, peas, beans, carrots, and lima beans) as well as a weaning mix which I cook up for him. He appears to be eating all day long--mostly from the seed dish. But there are little bits of the fresh food all over the wall by his cage, so it looks like he's eating lots of that too. I have mixed in some pellets (zupreem) with his seeds, but I'm not pushing him on those too much yet because he wouldn't eat them for the breeder and I want him to settle in first (only picked him up on Sunday).

Just spoke with my vet and he has reassured me somewhat. Says that if the little guy contracted a serious disease as a baby he would most likely not have survived to this point. Also spoke with the breeder via email and she says the babies were allowed lots of free flying time at her house (he doesn't have his wings clipped yet). Also, daddy bird is a tiny guy. So, maybe a combination of genetics, natural slimming down at fledging, stress of a new home, and lots of exercise are at work?

[birdlady49]

I just looked at my weight charts from the lovebirds I raised. And, yes, your little guy is underweight. He should weigh closer to 50 grams on the assumption that we're talking about a peachface lovebird.

The free flight would keep his weight down, as you have correctly assumed. Also, when a lovebird first fledges, he will lose some weight. So you could be in that transition period.

I'd continue to have him weighed on a weekly basis so you can see the weight gains as he adjusts to post-fledging life. I agree that if your bird had a virus, it would be a LOT more visible in behavior etc.

[savagem13]

Should have mentioned that he's a black masked baby. Does this make a difference? Are they smaller than peachfaced?

[birdlady49]

Originally Posted by savagem13

Should have mentioned that he's a black masked baby. Does this make a difference? Are they smaller than peachfaced?

Yes! I raised bluemask lovebirds and they are smaller. Average weaning weight was 42-45 grams. So your baby is still thin, about 10-15% below what he should be, according to my weight charts.

[ROYJOY]

my babies are peach, and they have weighed 54g since before they had feathers. they fly all the time. their cage is big enough to fly from perch to perch horizontal and vertical, and they fly all around the house for 3 hrs. when they are out in the evening. i've never seen a masked in person so i dont know if they are a diff. size, but i suggest raw peanuts. EDIT: oh i was writting this during the last post by bird lady49, so they are smaller but as she says still under weight. peanuts should do the trick.

[CrazyBirdLady]

Masked lovebirds generally range from 38-42 grams. His weight is fine. My masks weight 38 and 39 grams respectively and are in great health.

[savagem13]

Oh good--so they are smaller. But his keel is still very prominent. I do feel some muscle on either side, but the keel sticks out. But I bet it's just because he's fledging and stressed from a new home--all at the same time. Raw peanuts, huh? I'll see if I can find 'em. He seems to like the safflower seeds pretty well. They're not as high-fat as sunflower, are they?

[ROYJOY]

im not sure of the fat diff. between sunflowers and peanuts, but i've heard. somewhere on this board that peanuts are better for them that sunflower seeds, i dont remember if that was based on fat content.

you can still fell the keel bone on a heavy bird.