Weight loss during fledging/weaning

[n1cktm]

Hey everyone,

I was wondering what the normal weight drop is when birds are learning to fly and weaning. My baby used to weight 341 but is now down to 311g (was 327 on the vets scale).

Also when you guys are weaning your amazons are you skipping the afternoon feed to get them to try and eat on their own and just feeding 2x a day or are you giving them food during the afternoon when you do not see them eating solid food and hear them crying to be fed?

I understand every bird is different but what would be an appropriate feeding schedule for a 9 week old baby?

Also what kind of weight drop should I be worried about, if the bird is now 311 how much can she drop before I must see the vet or start to get worried?

 

[JerseyWendy]

In what time period did your DYH baby lose this weight? That's a whole lot of weight he lost!

I just checked my records for Sam. He weighed 525g when he arrived here at 7 weeks. At his lowest he weighed 508g, and that was at 16 weeks, when he was flying AND weaning.

He was done weaning by 18 weeks and weighed 532g. Now, at a little over 1 year, he weighs 540g.

I didn't really do a schedule with Sam. There were days he refused his breakfast, but started begging for food around noon time, so I would feed him then. Then there were days he would have 3 feedings per day.

I ALWAYS had a variety of foods for him in his cage, and he LOVED millet.

 

[n1cktm]

Weight loss was in a 1 wk period. Bird saw the vet this Saturday and they said the weight, etc. is good and definitely doesn't look under fed or anything.

 

[henpecked]

It's great your keeping the weights, however it doesn't help much if they're taken at different times on different scales. The amount of food and water can have a big effect on "loss/gain". Take the weights in the AM before feeding. Yes 10% weight loss is not uncommon with weaning /fledgling parrots. I find when they get to this point, try to feed them after they beg for a few minutes. I usually can get more food in them when they beg first instead of the small amount they'll eat when i try to keep them to my schedule. (of when i think they should eat)