Mintforest
Meeting neighbors
- Joined
- 1/21/21
- Messages
- 41
Hi all,
I’m worried about my conure being too underweight. Long story short he went through infection and 2 months of medications + beak deformation and overgrowth (most likely due to medications), all during his weaning age. Because of the beak deformation he wasnt able to eat pellets/nuts/seeds/anything hard, so he got used to a cooked grains + chop diet.
when I got him he was almost full grown but only 44g. Max he went to was around 52g when he was on formula, but now he’s stabilizing at 44-46g. I think he was underfed as a chick at the bird shop so he’s really tiny, the vet visits and medications took a toll too and he’s always been quite weak and skinny with keel bone sticking out.
I’m trying all kinds of weight gain food but he hates nuts/peanut butter in any form. Tried powdering, eating with him, doesnt work, he wont touch any food with the slightest bit of nuts mixed in.
what’s slightly comforting is that he is eating a small amount of pellets a day (about 1/4 teaspoon), and he loves all his healthy grains and chop (sweet potatoes, pumpkin, quinoa, carrots, cooked rice, broccoli etc). I do try to give him a range of grains/vegs/fruits to keep him interested, and he gets fed 4 times a day. Sometimes he would eat for an hour but sometimes only 20min, his crop doesnt get filled up and round often but most of the time I check his crop he’s taken at least some food in.
I am also powdering harrisons high potency pellets into his food but from the way he eats I dont think much goes in. He also gets milk thistle in his water and the weekly coconut oil in his chop.
besides for being skinny and sleeping often he is a happy bird. Any advice are very appreciated for his case. I’ve had parrots before but this is my first sick bird case and I just want to know how well his prognosis would be.
Here’s him in my dad’s garden:
I’m worried about my conure being too underweight. Long story short he went through infection and 2 months of medications + beak deformation and overgrowth (most likely due to medications), all during his weaning age. Because of the beak deformation he wasnt able to eat pellets/nuts/seeds/anything hard, so he got used to a cooked grains + chop diet.
when I got him he was almost full grown but only 44g. Max he went to was around 52g when he was on formula, but now he’s stabilizing at 44-46g. I think he was underfed as a chick at the bird shop so he’s really tiny, the vet visits and medications took a toll too and he’s always been quite weak and skinny with keel bone sticking out.
I’m trying all kinds of weight gain food but he hates nuts/peanut butter in any form. Tried powdering, eating with him, doesnt work, he wont touch any food with the slightest bit of nuts mixed in.
what’s slightly comforting is that he is eating a small amount of pellets a day (about 1/4 teaspoon), and he loves all his healthy grains and chop (sweet potatoes, pumpkin, quinoa, carrots, cooked rice, broccoli etc). I do try to give him a range of grains/vegs/fruits to keep him interested, and he gets fed 4 times a day. Sometimes he would eat for an hour but sometimes only 20min, his crop doesnt get filled up and round often but most of the time I check his crop he’s taken at least some food in.
I am also powdering harrisons high potency pellets into his food but from the way he eats I dont think much goes in. He also gets milk thistle in his water and the weekly coconut oil in his chop.
besides for being skinny and sleeping often he is a happy bird. Any advice are very appreciated for his case. I’ve had parrots before but this is my first sick bird case and I just want to know how well his prognosis would be.
Here’s him in my dad’s garden:
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