Radish / Weight Questions

[katie_fleming]

Hello

I picked up a bag of baby radishes at the grocery store today. I assume these are safe for Jasper? Can he have them raw? And, do I peel them, or just cut them up as is?

Another question is about his weight. He's been consistently in the 310 gram range since I got him. Is it normal he's not gaining weight by now? He's 9 months old. He eats like a pig and has plenty of exercise through the day playing around his cage. He also gets a few slivers of almond/couple small sunflower seeds each night when we do his training, and a tablespoon of seed mix at night.

Thanks!

 

[labell]

Radish is great, just washed well and chopped.

Eclectus can range quite different in weight again because there was so much cross breeding within the species though that does seem to be less than ideal. You don't keep him hungry to train do you? Mine are provided food at all times fresh or Volkman seed or my own dried blend that I make in the dehydrator. I know you are having lots of fun with training him to do different things but do you feel you are keeping lighter on the food to keep him food motivated to train? If so this is unnecessary imo eclectus will always eat their favorite foods. In the first year to year and a half eclectus eat constantly it seems. Is Jasper fully flighted? Is he allowed to fly around and exercise in the house?

 

[katie_fleming]

Thanks! I'll give him some tomorrow.

No, he never goes hungry and I'd never go light on the food. He has a full cup of food while I'm gone for work and as soon as I get home (before his dinner) we do the training then. And right after he gets dinner.

Jasper has a baby clip but flies once a day usually to see me in the kitchen.

 

[labell]

I would just continue to monitor it. 310 seems small even for a Solomon but if his parents were on the smaller end, who knows. Jolly is 351 and Jillie is 364 both Solomon, Jillie is older..and she flies less her Highness, thinks she should be carted around from place to place by yours truly!

 

[drlisaort]

Seems a bit light to me too. Oliver at that age was 370...

 

[katie_fleming]

Haha yeah Jasper likes to be carried around too, but he's also getting more independent which is cute. He'll climb down his cage, and down a ladder I have from the seed guard to the floor, run across the room to my desk and give me these cute puppy eyes wanting up haha.

I can try doubling up on his seed mix at night to 2 tbsp and see. He seems healthy, eats well, gets a lot of exercise, but if he's too light should I be worried?

 

[labell]

Do you know how to check the feel of the keel bone and the flesh on either side? He should weigh more than that even for a Solomon but his parents could be on the smaller side as I said and that would factor in.

Is he completely cleaning his bowl each day of both chop and night seed? I would increase what you give him as well as adding in some higher calorie options.

Boys are lighter than girls as they should be. Boys are made for long distance flying and foraging to bring back food to mom and babies. Females are built for egg laying and brooding. People are always shocked at the weight feel difference from picking up one of the girls as compared to the boys.

 

[katie_fleming]

No I don't know how to check....

He was clearing his bowl through the day so I doubled that up about a month ago. Now about 10% remaining each night.

He seems to eat better through the day than at dinner. I'd say he eats about 6 heaping tablespoons through the day, and 2 or 3 at night.

Yes, he finishes his seeds, but sometimes saves the rest until the morning before breakfast.