Skinny conure

[jillybener]

For the past year, the groomer has told me my gcc is skinny. I’ve gotten him a more fatty diet, feed him table food and he always eats. This has gone on for a year, so it’s not an “acute” issue. Any tips on how to fatten him up? His behavior is normal and he is about 7 years old.(we adopted him when he was about 2)

 

[Laurasea]

Can you post a picture? Ho under the text box click go advanced git to manage attachment upload a picture close attachment post pic.

Also get a kitchen digital scale and weigh in grams. I out a fish if seeds zero it out out the bird on the dish works pretty good.

What is main diet?

 

[wrench13]

A inexpensive digital scale, maybe $20 on Amazon, is essential to track your parrots weight. Especially so with little ones, who can really not afford to loose a lot of weight if they are feeling sick. And thats the best way to know if your parrot is sick, thats why a daily weighing is important. its such an important tool and very reasonable. You can even get them with the suction cup T stand.

 

[Anansi]

Hello, and welcome to the Parrot Forums family!

The advice from the above two posts is excellent. You should definitely get a scale if you don't already have one. Like Wrench, I weigh my birds daily. Very helpful tool since they have such fast metabolisms.

One other thing to add, you can check for yourself if your bird is underweight or not. Feel for his keel bone. The pectoral muscles to either side of it should feel firm and nearly flush with the keel bone. If the bone feels sharp and prominent in relation to the pectoral muscles, then he is likely underweight. (And if you have trouble touching the keel bone because the pectorals to either side have grown beyond it, he's overweight. Not your issue, I know. But just so you know.)

And lastly, if it does turn out that he's underweight, you should take him in to a certified avian vet just to rule out anything else going on.

And as the others have said, it'll help if you give some idea of your bird's current diet. Otherwise, it'll be hard for anyone to give suggestions as to what you might add.

 

[wrench13]

too much fatty foods, like junk food, can casue isues. See if he will like a small chicken bone, like athigh bone. Bone marrow is great protien. We give our 'zon Salty aleg bone or wing bone once in a while, he loves them.

 

[SassiBird]

Talk with your vet. Our vet prescribed Emeraid for our black-capped conure. It's the food they use in the ICU. She eats it once a day in addition to her other food. It's high in calories but nutritionally balanced. It is supposed to be syringe fed, but our girl prefers it in a dough consistency. She LOVES the taste.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Great advice and encouragement above!!!!

The Rb has always been skinny. I've kept weight records on him for 30+ years. Our great vet says he's just apparently a skinny guy!

Good for you, for being vigilant and concerned.