thin macaw

[hsb_birds]

I have a 19 yo male greenwing macaw Apple he is my favorite macaw at the resort (i really shouldn't have favorites but oh well) anyway I have been here almost 4 years now and he is thin and I mean like scary THIN and i'vr tried all the thing I know how to do to try and help him gain weight. you can see his keel prominently almost everyday and its been that way for as long as i have been here. it might be a virus and we have taken him to the vet and they couldn't find anything conclusive about it so are they any foods i can give him along with his normal diet to help bulk him up to a healthy weight?? anything y'all can think of would be helpful

we have tried eggs peanut butter sunflower seeds pistachios for awhile (they are so expensive i don't even get them for me to eat) we have tried alot and nothing has changed :/ please help :red::red::red:

 

[LeaKP]

I don't know the feeding schedule - maybe try feeding him differently. If he has set times when he eats, maybe let him free-feed. Or if he's free-feeding, then put him on a schedule. Change the foods often throughout the day, see what interests him the most and offer that. Thinking of you! What a difficult situation!

 

[hsb_birds]

we usually free feed him give him a scoop in the morning (he dumps out half) and then again few hours before we call lights out

 

[JerseyWendy]

You said he has been taken to the A-vet, did this vet test for Giardia? Tests from stool samples may not be accurate if only tested once.

 

[Birdman666]

Has this bird been vet checked for macaw wasting disease? It's 100% fatal, and highly contageous...

 

[Mekaisto]

^Some good ideas up there, I will add that you need to be taking him to an avian vet rather than a small-animal vet, if you aren't already. He needs to have his stool tested, and needs blood work done.

 

[BreakinNewz]

That's sad ) = I'd try to feed the parrot some natural food that have antibiotic properties - some examples would be cabbage, coconut chips, dill, basil, pepper's, cinnamon - id also try "superfoods" like kale, spinach, brussels, beets, and sweet potatoes are very healthy. If he starts eating up on those kinds of foods he should pucker up!

 

[horsesculpter]

Were these Norman Hurds birds?

 

[RavensGryf]

Has this bird been vet checked for macaw wasting disease? It's 100% fatal, and highly contageous...

You know I'm always the paranoid one, but if a bird has wasting disease or PDD, it wouldn't be thin for FOUR YEARS! Once the clinical symptoms show, it's downhill rapidly. I know firsthand. Also thank goodness, but the virus is a fragile one, and therefore not nearly as highly contagious as some others. Hopefully what he has is not contagious at all, and I agree that the bird should be seen by an avian vet, and have all sorts of tests done to get to the root of it. Best of luck!

 

[Birdman666]

The only times I've seen them so thin that the keel bone is sticking out were in extreme neglect situations (where the owner left, and left them there without food or water for an extended period of time and they were starving) and...

"I love you, but I don't even want to touch you for fear of transmitting that to another bird I love..." I agree. Four years is a long time, I guess I missed that part.

This bird needs an ACV in my opinion. We're not qualified to diagnose anything over the internet.

 

[hsb_birds]

Were these Norman Hurds birds?

yes from what I was told he was born and raised here at the resort so I would say yes

 

[hsb_birds]

well i handle him all the time he is really clam and sweet most of the time and he is right by other birds and has been the whole time so i don't think it would be PDD
And hes not neglected by any means hes probably favored more than anything and we did go to an avian vet who has very good creds I did some research before i took him to any ole vet that's close enough for me to drive and they said it might be avian bonivirus and there's not a 100% test that will prove or disprove that he has it or not. but I will get him the food mentioned above and keep y'all posted wish me and apple luck!

 

[hsb_birds]

this is him I cant find a good pic of his keel showing but this is the best one I have

 

[goalerjones]

Malnutrition can come from mal-absorption too. There can also be anxiety-related issues, injury, etc. best bet is board certified avian vet exam and evaluation.