Summer finally gaining weight!

[thejoie]

Summer lost a LOT of weight while she was starting the weaning process. She was transitioning to foods. That mixed with the combination of her being a picky eater, not eating in her cage, AND then hurting the foot- caused her to lose a little more weight than I'd like her to.

However- in the last two weeks.. she's back to a place where I feel she's in GREAT shape. She's 975 grams first thing in the morning. She was a 1,050 when she came home. She lost 150 grams during the tough times for her.. and now that shes a big girl and a GOOD girl! She's back where she needs to be!

How big are your macaws?

P.S. Mia weighs 147 grams

 

[Alex]

Thats awesome news Joanna!

 

[JLcribber]

Losing weight at the time of fledging is normal.

There is another component in successfully growing up: Learning to fly. Birds must learn to fly. Their sense of self-confidence and emotional well being depends on it. They must be able to maneuver and land safely. While the pure act of flying is a vital part of their development, it has been suggested that letting them learn to fly may even impact their eating habits. When a bird gets ready to fledge, it will instinctively reduce its food intake. That is to loose some of the accumulated baby fat and make it lighter. Many times loving caregivers become extremely concerned about lack of eating and weight loss. It has been suggested that our birds must fly to lose their focus on losing weight and regain their "normal appetite".

Abundance Weaning and Fledging.

 

[Bokkapooh]

Great information John, as always. And I perfectly agree.

Gra was 1025, and she was a big girl, but she had good muscle tone, and was flight trained. Any fatter than 1025, and she wouldnt be able to fly as great as she did.

Remember their weight should really be geared towards their flight. If you had a heavy macaw, just know that if it was fully flighted, and flew all the time, it wouldnt remain as big. Most macaws I know are over weight (in sense geared towards flight, which means they ARE over weight as their whole being is geared towards flight whether they are flighted or not).

 

[thejoie]

I know weight loss is normal but it shouldn't be more than 100 grams usually.. and Summer definitely dropped more than 100. Her keel bone was VERY prominent.
That's pretty much how I base whether or not she's in the "ok" range
Plus when we say the vet with the foot issue he also mentioned he'd like to see her gain a little weight.

 

[Sarin]

That's great news! She's growing up.

 

[Jacqi]

Yay Summer & Joanna!

Tiki is still a baby, but she averages around 130 right now. I know that's down from where she was at, but following her switch to Harrisons, which she readily eats throughout the day & the addition of a bunch of new toys to keep her busy, she lost a few grams. She's still got 8 months to turn into a "huge hahns" if it's in her stars.

 

[Holiday]

I know weight loss is normal but it shouldn't be more than 100 grams usually.. and Summer definitely dropped more than 100. Her keel bone was VERY prominent.
That's pretty much how I base whether or not she's in the "ok" range
Plus when we say the vet with the foot issue he also mentioned he'd like to see her gain a little weight.

Yes, Joanna, I'd definitely listen to your vet. He knows what weight that beautiful, healthy girl should be

 

[thejoie]

Yes, Joanna, I'd definitely listen to your vet. He knows what weight that beautiful, healthy girl should be

He's a smart man that vet of mine... and right now she's precisely where we were both hoping she'd be! It feels like it took her forever to get back there!
She's still on comfort feedings once a day but she's gone from taking 80cc at night to about 20-30!

 

[CeddysMum]

WTG Summer!

I know how good it feels to get them to the weight they should be, Joanna.

Ceddy was only slightly underweight with less than 190g when I got her nearly 6 months ago but I breathed a sigh of relief when she reached the weight the vet wants her to be - minimum between 200 and 210 - and she's been maintaining around 203 to 205 for about 3 months now, WooHoo