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Post by beccilouise on Apr 30, 2017 17:04:53 GMT -5
Hello everyone. As usual, I'm having a minor meltdown about Maya. At the moment, her healthy weight is somewhere between 95g and 99g. I weighed her this evening and she was 101g. I expect I've just been giving her one too many treaties, but I'm really concerned. Do you think it's worth waiting a few days or should I contact my vet tomorrow? Is this weight gain enough to be a concern?
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Post by cnyguy on Apr 30, 2017 20:33:55 GMT -5
Are there any other concerns besides the weight gain? If not, then it's probably safe to just continue to monitor Maya's weight for another day or two. If anything else doesn't seem normal, then you might make an appointment sooner with Maya's vet to ease your mind.
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Post by beccilouise on May 1, 2017 2:43:42 GMT -5
She's eating fine, chirpy? Playful and her poops are normal. Her keel feels healthy and there isn't any change in behaviour. I'll weigh her daily and maybe email my vet just in case. Thanks cnyguy
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Post by easttex on May 1, 2017 16:33:00 GMT -5
I agree with Gary. If her weight keeps heading north, and you can't explain it by food intake, then start worrying. Some people will use a 10% change in either direction as a rule of thumb, but I doubt I could let it go on quite that long. For whatever it may be worth, Allie often gains during breeding season. Her usual 470 - 474g can top 500g. Sometimes she will lay an egg or two, but not always.
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Post by julianna on May 2, 2017 12:53:51 GMT -5
Now... if Oscar was your bird... you might be worried about his weight... lol... he is a little fatso but the vet assured me that he is very healthy. He weighs 137 grams. Wow huh... But he doesn't look fat and his keel is in good shape. Oscar does eat a lot of pellets but also a lot of veggies. I think he weighs this much because he doesn't fly. I make his exercise every day by getting him to run down the hallway to the bathroom or to flap his wings while I carry him to the bathroom.
I believe Gary and Easttex are correct.
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Post by beccilouise on May 3, 2017 10:07:09 GMT -5
Hahaha, bless little plump Oscar! Thanks everyone. I have been monitoring Maya's weight and I think it was just a particularly wide yoyo. On monday morning, she was back to a respectable 96g, yesterday she was 95g and this morning she was 96g. When I weighed her on Sunday, it was in the evening, whereas I normally weigh her in the morning. She is otherwise absolutely perky perfect, noisily beating up new toys, stuffing her wee beak and clambering all over David and I at any opportunity. She came with me to the tree festival the other day, flew about in her harness and generally had a lovely time. I bought her some new foraging toys and am introducing Harrisons lifetime into her diet, along with her usual Kaytee exact. She seems to like them! So I think all is well. Thanks again, everyone, for your help.
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Post by aaron on May 3, 2017 22:32:38 GMT -5
Cupcake has fluctuated between 101g and 108g over the past 4 years... We haven't changed much about her diet over the years, though... vet doesn't seem alarmed at all at her weight... Checks her keel every checkup and says she is in good shape. If it goes above 108, I will probably modify her diet a bit (less pumpkin seeds).. but some fluctuation definitely seems to be normal.  |
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Post by maxiesmom on May 22, 2017 11:34:17 GMT -5
Because of the damage to my Maxie's beak, he is weighed every morning before I feed him. My vet in Illinois wanted his weight to stay between 105 and 112 grams. Lower than 105, and she would consider "hospitalizing" him. He was down to 103 when I started giving him birdie bread. Since then, he has maintained 108-113 grams. I guess I am saying that, to me 95-99 grams is low. Is that the range your vet gave you?
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Post by easttex on May 22, 2017 11:42:26 GMT -5
Because of the damage to my Maxie's beak, he is weighed every morning before I feed him. My vet in Illinois wanted his weight to stay between 105 and 112 grams. Lower than 105, and she would consider "hospitalizing" him. He was down to 103 when I started giving him birdie bread. Since then, he has maintained 108-113 grams. I guess I am saying that, to me 95-99 grams is low. Is that the range your vet gave you? You'll find that the color mutations are generally smaller than the green quakers. |
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Post by maxiesmom on May 22, 2017 17:21:43 GMT -5
Thank you, easttex. I hadn't thought about that. Maxie is a green quaker. I apologize to Maya.
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Post by biteybird on May 23, 2017 4:28:41 GMT -5
Bonnie is a blue quaker and her normal weight is 98-103 grams. 105gm for her is borderline overweight (so the vet told me).
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Post by beccilouise on May 27, 2017 14:28:50 GMT -5
The vet was perfectly happy with Maya's weight at 93-96g. She weighed 96g this morning and has weighed either 95g or 96g since I last posted. I know the mutations are normally smaller than the greens, and also the typical weight for Quaker parrots is between 90g-120g, so Maya is just slightly smaller. Thanks for the input though |
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Post by pidgesmum on Aug 30, 2017 22:13:16 GMT -5
Wow! it never occurred to me to weigh Pidge. He does not eat so many pellets any more. I read I shouldn't restrict his food while he is still a juvenile. People keep saying he is getting bigger but of course I can't see it. What does everyone mean about checking "his keel"?
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Post by julianna on Aug 31, 2017 13:52:48 GMT -5
A keel or carina (plural carinae) in bird anatomy is an extension of the sternum (breastbone) which runs axially along the midline of the sternum and extends outward, perpendicular to the plane of the ribs. (I copied this from goggle... I don't know those big words... lol)
It should feel firm and not spongey or soft. If it feels soft then there is too much fat. Quakers should eat lots of vegetables, some fruit and lots of pellets. Bird seed should only make up a very small portion of his meal.
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Post by pidgesmum on Sept 13, 2017 22:25:00 GMT -5
Ha Ha Can't get him to stay on the scales long enough. I am concerned he is not eating many pellets. When I first got him he used to love them. I've had them in an airtight jar for most of the year. I'll get some fresh ones and see if they are OK. A bit of a pain as I already have a lot of them.
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