The importance of weight scales and checking droppings

[Anansi]

I just wanted to remind everyone that a gram scale is a must-have for a parrot... and that keeping an eye on their droppings is also vitally important.

A few days ago I underwent a pain-relieving medical procedure, and as such wound up in bed for much of the day. So I didn't really get a chance to look in on my ekkies until that night. Upon looking at the cages' paper linings, I noticed that there was A LOT of water with their droppings. Now, anyone with parrots on a strictly fresh diet knows that their droppings tend to be on the wetter side. But that's not what I mean. It was way beyond what should've been the norm. We're talking sodden paper and even slight puddles!

This alarmed me. So I took them out and weighed them both. And both were well under what they should've weighed after their night's meal. And, in fact, Jolly was under what he should've weighed at his morning weigh in! Something they'd eaten had given them a serious case of diarrhea!

So I scrapped their chop and my wife whipped up a quick batch of unflavored oatmeal for them... as both, fortunately, still had their appetites and were EXTREMELY hungry! After they finished off all of their oatmeal, I watched them for a few hours. Their droppings returned to normal and their weights also returned to something more resembling a normal range. *Note, they were also drinking their water and retained their normal appetites. Otherwise, I would have had to take them in to see the vet. Dehydration and weight loss can spiral downhill VERY quickly... and can also be an indication of an underlying problem if it persists.

Oh. Turns out the culprit was a rogue papaya. It was the only thing I'd added to their chop that wasn't in it the day before. I've fed papaya before, so i'm not saying that papaya as a fruit is a bad thing. (Though it is a diarrhetic and, as such, might be more prone to causing such issues if given in heavy quantities or if there is something a little off with it in the first place.) I didn't see anything obviously amiss, but I tossed the whole thing to be on the safe side.

Anyhow, the next day their droppings remained normal. But I thought I would share this experience as a reminder to all of you to be vigilant about checking your flock's droppings... and to have a gram weight scale in your home. After all, there are some things that you don't seem to need... until you do!

 

[wrench13]

A scale was like the 4th thing I bought when we got Salty. After having my Maxie pass away from out of the blue, with no obvious cause, I vowed that was NOT gonna happen with Salty. He gets weighed like every other day.

 

[Anansi]

My condolences for Maxie, Al. How long did you have him?

 

[Terry57]

Great catch, Stephen, especially since you were recuperating! Thank good ness you were able to figure out what the culprit was and that they are now back to normal.
Thank you for sharing this, being vigilant and weighing regularly are so important, as you demonstrated.

 

[Violet_Diva]

Thanks for sharing this Anansi, it's definitely a great example of how important it is to check droppings and weigh regularly. I hope all of you are OK and much better now!

May I ask how frequently you weigh your duo?
Before feeding or after feeding or both?
Morning or night or both?

wrench13 I commend your vow to Salty!

 

[Kiwibird]

Glad Maya and Jolly are ok (hope your feeling better too)! Weighing is very important indeed, one of the best indicators of your birds current health status.

Kiwi ate something that gave him a little bout of diarrhea once, only I gave him bread, bananas and some ACV in his water dish and it cleared up within 24 hrs. I was concerned I was going to have to take him to the vet. I never figured out what upset his tummy that time, but glad you were able to single out the offending papaya and get rid of anything it may have contaminated. Give those beautiful ekkies of yours a scritch for me!

 

[wrench13]

My condolences for Maxie, Al. How long did you have him?

Maxie was a Brotogeris parrot or a yellow winged parakeet, little bigger then a lovebird, all green 'cept for a tiny bit of yellow on his wing. We had him 6 years, and OMG did he love me, like fall asleep in the crook of my neck love.
Thanks for letting me remember him a bit. Here is his most famous pic, one from the band's website. He was our mascot.

 

[Anansi]

Great catch, Stephen, especially since you were recuperating! Thank good ness you were able to figure out what the culprit was and that they are now back to normal.
Thank you for sharing this, being vigilant and weighing regularly are so important, as you demonstrated.

Thanks, Terr! I'm so thankful they're both better, too. And I really wanted to get this message out there, because it's so easy to overlook the need for a scale or to regularly check droppings. My first parrot was a cockatiel I had for nearly 18 years, and he was only sick twice. One was a minor bug, and the other was the kidney disease that killed him. Thing is, I never had a scale for him. And it just so happened that the situation never came up where one was needed. But again, they never seem to be needed until they are.

Thanks for sharing this Anansi, it's definitely a great example of how important it is to check droppings and weigh regularly. I hope all of you are OK and much better now!

May I ask how frequently you weigh your duo?
Before feeding or after feeding or both?
Morning or night or both?

wrench13 I commend your vow to Salty!

Thank you! Jolly and Maya are much better now, and I'm getting there.

I weigh my Eclectic Duo nearly everyday. Sometimes every other day. And I weigh both before and after meals. When I record their weights, I make sure to note whether it was before the meal or after, and whether it was morning or night.

Glad Maya and Jolly are ok (hope your feeling better too)! Weighing is very important indeed, one of the best indicators of your birds current health status.

Kiwi ate something that gave him a little bout of diarrhea once, only I gave him bread, bananas and some ACV in his water dish and it cleared up within 24 hrs. I was concerned I was going to have to take him to the vet. I never figured out what upset his tummy that time, but glad you were able to single out the offending papaya and get rid of anything it may have contaminated. Give those beautiful ekkies of yours a scritch for me!

Thanks, April! And I wanted to mention that the ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) drops in Kiwi's water dish was an excellent idea! Had it occurred to me that night I'd have done the same.

And yes, I'll make sure to give Maya and Jolly those scritches for you.

 

[Scott]

Maxie was a Brotogeris parrot or a yellow winged parakeet, little bigger then a lovebird, all green 'cept for a tiny bit of yellow on his wing. We had him 6 years, and OMG did he love me, like fall asleep in the crook of my neck love.
Thanks for letting me remember him a bit. Here is his most famous pic, one from the band's website. He was our mascot.

I am so sorry, Al. Maxie was beautiful, the face of a great personality.

 

[Anansi]

My condolences for Maxie, Al. How long did you have him?

Maxie was a Brotogeris parrot or a yellow winged parakeet, little bigger then a lovebird, all green 'cept for a tiny bit of yellow on his wing. We had him 6 years, and OMG did he love me, like fall asleep in the crook of my neck love.
Thanks for letting me remember him a bit. Here is his most famous pic, one from the band's website. He was our mascot.

Wow, Al! Maxie was beautiful! The loss of such a closely bonded bird must have been really difficult for you. Thank you for sharing his pic and the glimpse into what he meant to you.

 

[Scott]

Thanks for some great advice, Stephen. Thanks to your diagnostic skills AND a gram scale Jolly and Maya are recovering nicely.

I have a scale, the problem is several of my birds are petrified!

 

[Anansi]

You're welcome, Scott! And thank you!

You mention that several of your birds are petrified. Does your scale have a perch? The one I got has a perch as well as a tare function so that the perch weight gets zeroed out and we see the bird's pure weight. And the perch makes it a far more comfortable situation for them.

 

[Scott]

You're welcome, Scott! And thank you!

You mention that several of your birds are petrified. Does your scale have a perch? The one I got has a perch as well as a tare function so that the perch weight gets zeroed out and we see the bird's pure weight. And the perch makes it a far more comfortable situation for them.

It has a nice perch atop a removable platform to reveal a small weighing tray. The tare function is wonderful so they can be weighed using several methods.