Weight issues

[Billdore]

Does anyone else seem to have problems keeping the weight on? Maybe around 290 grams is the right weight for Timneh. If i slack off at all stuffing her beak with food she seems to loose weight. I spoon feed her mashed otherwise she looses interest. I think Timneh eats to live rather than lives to eat. All of a sudden pine nuts suck, and macadamia nuts and cashews are ok. Walnuts sometimes. Grapes are her favorite thing. Ordered Lafeber pellets, still looking for a pellet she will eat without grinding em up and mixing them in with the mashed. I really like Harringtons high potency so i always have those on hand and grind those. Zupreem fruit blend she will eat 1 or 2 pieces which is good for her. I feel like most of our hang out time is spent trying to get Timneh to eat healthy food. I love her and her health is number 1, but I get jealous reading about Salty and all the great tricks. Timneh hasn't been with me for very long though and compared to the first year and a half of her life; I'm pretty sure huge leaps and bounds are being made.

 

[GaleriaGila]

The Rb is skinny, too! My avian vet says it's not unusual for the species (they're lightweight birds) but the Rb is STILL THIN, even for a Patagonian. The vet advised me against using any fatty foods or extra seeds or such, of course. Rb's also on Harrison's High Potency. I'm always going over to his pellet dish and making munchy noises so that he'll come eat some! Yeah, he loves green chiles, but that's not something that seems to put any weight on him...
What are we gonna do?

 

[Billdore]

Make more lip smacking noises I guess. I pretend to eat her food too, I take some and turn my back and make a bunch of noise. I think she knows whats up though but it does seem to help with the veggies especially cause I can really steal some of those. If Timneh gets three solid square meals she does well on the scale, if she decides she doesn't feel like really eating a meal she looses a little weight. 293 grams this morning. Still up from 290, she was 296 3 days ago though. She is eating a lot today so I bet she will go back up again and then back down again.

 

[SailBoat]

Does anyone else seem to have problems keeping the weight on? Maybe around 290 grams is the right weight for Timneh. If i slack off at all stuffing her beak with food she seems to loose weight. I spoon feed her mashed otherwise she looses interest. I think Timneh eats to live rather than lives to eat. All of a sudden pine nuts suck, and macadamia nuts and cashews are ok. Walnuts sometimes. Grapes are her favorite thing. Ordered Lafeber pellets, still looking for a pellet she will eat without grinding em up and mixing them in with the mashed. I really like Harringtons high potency so i always have those on hand and grind those. Zupreem fruit blend she will eat 1 or 2 pieces which is good for her. I feel like most of our hang out time is spent trying to get Timneh to eat healthy food. I love her and her health is number 1, but I get jealous reading about Salty and all the great tricks. Timneh hasn't been with me for very long though and compared to the first year and a half of her life; I'm pretty sure huge leaps and bounds are being made.

Over the many years that we have rehomed Amazons, I have come to understand that our Amazons will never provide the level of interaction and Human based activities of other People's Parrots. What we do cherish is those warm moments when they clearly come to understand that they are in a Loving Home that is their Forever Home, and that they are safe here!

Our Amazons have always lived to Eat! Most dangerous place in most homes with Amazons is too place yourself between the Amazons and Food. So, I have not real World experience with a Eat to Live Parrot.

Please understand that our Amazons are commonly fighting some kind of illness so, we are get a full spectrum blood tests every three months to keep track of an illness, the natural variations between seasons, and anything that the diet is lacking or high in. Based on the findings, we adjust based on what we are seeing. Talk to your AV about that kind of watchful approach as it would show any issues regarding diet and weight concerns. As your understanding of the diet needs are found, you can switch to every 6 months and than to once a year.

Very long standing Amazona Rule: Love The One You're With!!! Or, said another way: Jealousy of another hides (blinds) what you already have and what will unfold just a tad bit into the future! We never know what we had until we loose it!

Enjoy the Love of Your Life that resides just in front of you! There is a profound reason we are provided what we have! If we are extremely lucky, we come to an understand before we pass...

 

[GaleriaGila]

Bill... 230-233 here. That's average for a Patagonian, but he's an inch longer (19) than average (18), so... he's skinny.

I love you, Mr. Boat. Always so affirming. Thank you!

 

[adz1984]

Sounds like your driving yourself crazy don't worry so am I lol
A few grams isn't that much, if it was a small conure maybe.. considered it could just be how full/empty her crop is that morning?
My alex ranges from 200 to 209 , 209 after a big meal, and in the morning i've monitored between 200-203

 

[GaleriaGila]

Thanks.

Alexandrines look to me like lightweight, streamlined birds, too. Yes?

Wow... 9 grams!

 

[adz1984]

Yeah they are pretty streamlined mine is just a baby too so will grow more I hope
I believe it's normal for parrots to eat about 10% of there body weight in dry food a day so that's about 20g in my case.. 6-9g in a big 1-2h long feed before bed seems normal to me I could be wrong though!

 

[GaleriaGila]

So interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DRB]

Are they a flock bird?

Maybe try eating in front of her more often. My CAG starts eating her pellets about 40% of the time she sees me eat something.

 

[adz1984]

So interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your making me worry now! lol

 

[Billdore]

I love Timneh with all my heart and I don't think we could of gotten any luckier finding each other. Building a life long bond with something so special is indeed magical. I think Timneh is wondering what all the white crap outside is.

 

[RavensGryf]

Vets say if a loss is more than 10% consistently it might be a good idea to get checked out.

From my personal experience both now and with past mid to larger birds, that amount of fluctuation mentioned on this thread is quite normal .

Raven, BW Pionus ranges from 245 to at times 260.

The 2 Poicephalus usually stay within 5 grams. Robin being 120-125 and Griffin a bit smaller.

 

[adz1984]

Bella was as low as 198 during the day today as she was more active I believe then shooted up to a record 210.5 after her afternoon feast/drink. She's weird in that she doesn't eat much during the day (just short snacks here and there) but then sticks to her bowl for an hour or two before bed.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Another thought...

If I offer "chop" or vatiations, the Rb seems to dismiss it (and decorate the walls with it), BUTTTTTT...
If I offer the components daily, indidvidually, or in smaller groups, he seems to eat more.
Fortunately, my ol' man is a health nut and athlete, so he prepares all that yucky/healthy (sorry!) stuff all the time.

Oh, and yes, I *DO* actually eat the Harisson's pellets now and then, to encourage him. They're not bad. Kinda like really bland Granola. REALLLLY BLAND...