Galah - harrisons hp v alc after 4 mts v 6?

[StChelle]

So I am well aware of the galah tendency towards packing on the pounds and being prone to fatty liver disease. I am paranoid about this when it comes to Valentine and am learning portions as a new parrot mom. He only gets a seed with a very low fat content in small portions like twice a month as a treat. I even limit the nutriberrriws for him because of the fat content. He gets birdie bread for breakfast with chickpeas. He is on harrisons high potency pellet during the day, and dinner is usually sweet potato or beans

The harrisons high potency is 15% fat which is higher than I like. I know they say to feed him that for 6 months. It has been 4. I wonder if it would be fine swapping him to the adult lifetime now or if I should wait?

Otherwise, any advise or thoughts on keeping tabs on his weight? I know flight is good exercise but his wings are still growing out

 

[SailBoat]

You may want to switch next time you buy Harrisons to their life time (older adult) formulation from their high potency pellet. It would be more inline with your goals.

FYI 1: Take weights first thing in the morning after the first movement and prior to providing the first meal of the day! This will provide you a more consistent base line, measurement to measurement.

FYI 2: Take a look in the Amazon Forum near the top for a Sticky Thread Titled: I Love Amazons - ... Within that very large Thread is a Segment that speaks to Re-Flighting an older Amazon (Parrot). The Segment is designed to simply insert your Parrots species for the vast majority of Segments!

 

[plumsmum2005]

HI I'd be interested to know Valentine's weight. Basically if what you feed him is good and balanced then the need for pellets lessens.

I like you do not like the HP @ 15%* * Equivalent to 1oz of almonds.

FYI I use TOPs organics for Plum. Agree to the change as 'boats says.

If you can introduce more green veggies as these are less calorific than the roots. Birdie bread maybe not so often?

Obviously the more active he is the better, he will burn those calories.

From what I have gleaned from Anansi I would say you can pretty much feed Valentine whatever the Ekkies have, but smaller portion though.

As 'boats says best to weigh first thing before breakfast if poss. RB2's love being on the floor so put him down if safe to do so (no dogs/cats) and chase him around the floor. Wicker balls make good play toys also. Invite him in for a cuddle after as this calms the adrenaline down quickly.

Place his food so he has to move to eat, Plums is on cage bottom.

 

[StChelle]

I don't have a scale and need to get one. Great idea about the wickerball. He really is pretty sedentary. I try to have him chase me and he walks more often then not. I like the idea about the food on the cage bottom. He is still young yet I'm just trying to start of on the right foot with him and stay that way. He also gets smaller portion of the birdie bread than the Ekkies do. We also use coconut flour over the flour to try to keep it less fattening.

The little stinker is not a fan of veggies so I try to stick to what he likes in terms of veggies. So far that's peas and chickpeas and kale when he's in the mood for it. He even just tolerates the sweet potato where as my ekkkies love it.

Anyway I will buy the adult lifetime and go ahead and make the change .

Thanks much!

 

[StChelle]

Picked up a kitchen scale. Just weighed the birds which is nighttime after they've been fed, so while not a true baseline I figure this is them at their heaviest. Valentine is 375g , harley 378g and petra 359g

 

[Laylatoo]

My 3 year old rose breasted cockatoo female is 320gm (she was as high as 345) as of today at her avian vet checkup and vet said she wants her closer to 300. My 5 month old is a tiny 240gm. The vet said it's all about body score and not necessarily weight. Layla feels perfect to me when I feel her keel bone but her doc said she has two small "fat pads" down by her thighs. This is why I think vet checks are so worth it. I'd never know she would need to lose more weight. I feed Tops, Zupreem natural, fresh food meals twice daily with a cooked bean mix, cooked wild rice and tons of veggies and greens. I have on hand Harrison's fine lifetime, roudybush, caitec, lafabers but neither will touch anything but the Tops and Zupreem natural.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Just for reference I found this recipe for chop opened doors so to speak. Plum really liked it. http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-food-recipes-diet/60516-chop-no-stressin.html

If you will take a tip from me who is struggling with Plums weight, don't give too much in terms of carbs/filler boy do they love those and plenty of exercise *. RB2s seem to be hardwired to go for that type of food first and then obviously the other better stuff doesn't get eaten or not so much.

* How ever little it may seem in the beginning it is still exercise and something to build on and may just avoid some serious health issues down the road.

 

[SailBoat]

Picked up a kitchen scale. Just weighed the birds which is nighttime after they've been fed, so while not a true baseline I figure this is them at their heaviest. Valentine is 375g , harley 378g and petra 359g

A weight is better than no weight and for a first trail with weighing a Parrot its a starting point. That said, unless you follow the practice that I laid-out above, you should not use this type of weighing practice as a determination of their base weight as you will see greater variation the further into the day you obtain a weight. The wide swings will drive you nuts.

The really purpose of collection weights is not so much for defining diet, but whether your Parrot fighting an illness or becoming healthier. The ability to pick-up on seasonal variation and changes based on what a specific combination of meals provided one day compared to another. A heavy meal of near all dry foods compared to a meal that is near all greens.

Long story to support obtaining your Parrots weight first thing in the Morning after the first movement of the day and prior to the first meal will provide an actionable knowledge tool of your Parrots weight, day to day, week to week, month to month, year to year.

What we have seen over the many years is an Amazon becoming healthier after fighting an illness and/or injury, the transition from a perch potato to a strong flier, the transition from an all junk seed and peanut diet to a well balance, healthy diet. All of which is trackable and definable. It has also provide a transition when one of our Amazons had a relapse.

Yes, its a pain in the bottom to do it the correct way! However, if you're truly interested in knowing what you are seeing has merit. Proper weighing practices is the only trackable means of knowing that as a fact.

 

[StChelle]

Yup I just wanted to see what he was. I weighed all theee this morning for true baseline before their breakfast. Valentine is 365. Already made the change to the less fatty harrisons at 5.5%. The birdie bread is made with coconut flour and almond flour so will keep an eye on that. Will give him the chop in the evening and his pellets available in day time. My goal will be to try to get him to closer to 330 gradually,

 

[plumsmum2005]

See if you can get Valentine to follow you around the house? Even if only walking still exercise. It also will raise his awareness of your home. Plum is so au fait that he takes his own tours now.

My AV recommends weighing weekly but admit I dont, its more frequent.

 

[StChelle]

I plan to weigh once a week to keep tabs

I bring him in my room with me and let him walk around. Am putting him in the outside aviary more than the other two. I am the only one that can handle the 2 ekkies so they have been only going outside a little due to a combo of rain and my work. Valentine is a diff story so my mom has been taking him in and out while I'm at work. I'm going to try to teach him to fly when his wings grow in. Right now he just glides to the ground. I can't let him follow me around the whole house because of one of my two dogs. I don't want to take a chance of him getting hurt. Dog is secured when he is out inside or he is locked in a room with me

 

[Puck]

My galah (who refuses to eat ANYTHING but pellets--literally, she will not take veggies, nuts, seeds, chop, fruits, even things most birds love--though she tried a Lucky Charm cereal from my bowl the other day, I think because she was amused by the way they float in milk LMAO) is in a really large cage (macaw sized) with her favorite wood toys and foraging toys spread all over it so she has to constantly climb around all day long. It's really good exercise, and if you can make something he likes to climb that he is happy to go up and down all day then that may be helpful for your cause.

 

[Puck]

My 3 year old rose breasted cockatoo female is 320gm (she was as high as 345) as of today at her avian vet checkup and vet said she wants her closer to 300.

Wow, she's a little lady! Or maybe my Lucille's a big girl--I don't really have any other female RB2s to compare her to, haha. My almost two year old girl averages around 335-340 and my vet says she's a good weight for her size. She's a very active climber--she climbs up and down things all day--and flies around some.

Do you think galah owners are the only ones who worry more about their bird's weight than their own?

 

[StChelle]

lol I def worry more about Valentines weight than my own!!!

Val climbs all over his cage lol. I think he prefers hanging upside down! He's just not a runner or a flier. He walk and climbs and wants to be held or on my shoulder. He really likes taking peoples glasses off their heads haha

I don't think 365 is terrible but I'd prefer him closer to the average for my own peace of mind.

 

[StChelle]

I really think the change from harrisons high potency to the adult lifetime will bring his weight down. That's a 10% reduction in fat intake off the bat. I am curious to see what he weighs after a week on the change

 

[Laylatoo]

My 3 year old rose breasted cockatoo female is 320gm (she was as high as 345) as of today at her avian vet checkup and vet said she wants her closer to 300.

Wow, she's a little lady! Or maybe my Lucille's a big girl--I don't really have any other female RB2s to compare her to, haha. My almost two year old girl averages around 335-340 and my vet says she's a good weight for her size. She's a very active climber--she climbs up and down things all day--and flies around some.

Do you think galah owners are the only ones who worry more about their bird's weight than their own?

I'm almost obsessed with worry about their weight. Lol. Wish I cared as much about mine! When I first got Layla in February her vet said she was chubby at 305gm. I was shocked because to me she seemed underweight at that point. She had been on an all seed diet so I thought I'd easily get her down to the 295-300 the vet wanted with the healthy diet change. Instead she ballooned up to 345. Lol. And now she's coming back down too quickly for my liking and hasn't been totally herself which prompted the vet visit. She's in a heavy molt, plucked a couple feathers out and currently and is not eating well at all so I'm extra worried about her weight. She will go back to the vet Monday for any test the vet wants to run if she doesn't perk up and eat a little more. Vet started her on treatment for a mild yeast infection (although her fecal had a normal amount of yeast she said) just in case. Always some kind of worry for me be it kids, horses, dogs or my fids.

 

[StChelle]

Wow, I'm surprised at the weight gain, that might screw with my theory! Val doesn't look chubby and the vet didn't say anything at his last visit but you have me wondering about the 365. Course he's a male so I think they are a bit bigger.

Anyway please keep us posted on Layla!

 

[plumsmum2005]

My galah (who refuses to eat ANYTHING but pellets--literally, she will not take veggies, nuts, seeds, chop, fruits, even things most birds love--though she tried a Lucky Charm cereal from my bowl the other day, I think because she was amused by the way they float in milk LMAO) is in a really large cage (macaw sized) with her favorite wood toys and foraging toys spread all over it so she has to constantly climb around all day long. It's really good exercise, and if you can make something he likes to climb that he is happy to go up and down all day then that may be helpful for your cause.

Had a bit of a lightbulb moment tonight with Plum! He eats his chop very well if I bring his dish either to the table and sit with him or maybe if he's lucky to the covered sofa and I sit whilst he eats. Maybe try something similar with Lucille, give the chop a try even pinching bits to eat yourself. They are so dead nosey and want to know what it is. Good luck

 

[StChelle]

I had Valentine out playing with him when I got home. I as trying to get him to flap wings, he wasn't into it. Let me drop my arm several times with no flap. So then I figure I'd try turning him upside down in my hand over the bed... not only did that get frantic flapping but also prompted something that sounded a lot like "stop fooling around!!" I can see this exercise thing isn't going to be easy lol

 

[plumsmum2005]

I had Valentine out playing with him when I got home. I as trying to get him to flap wings, he wasn't into it. Let me drop my arm several times with no flap. So then I figure I'd try turning him upside down in my hand over the bed... not only did that get frantic flapping but also prompted something that sounded a lot like "stop fooling around!!" I can see this exercise thing isn't going to be easy lol

The wings seem to operate more at times of high energy/fooling about. Try jumping up and down and then raise your arms and shout something daft "yahoo" works with Plum. Obviously do not scare Valentine but they get the hang of raising and lowering their wings and it can go from there. They become sedentary and almost forget what wings are.

"stop fooling around!!" - great stuff!