Ellemay, 45 ounces is huge for a bird. That factors out to 1275 grams. What kind is he, you didn't say. Different species have different weights as normal. I had a scarlet macaw who was much larger than the average scarlet and he weighed 1250 grams, almost as much as your bird. Is yours a greenwing macaw by any chance?

The feathers can be breaking or they may itch as they come in causing him to pick at them. If he can't make a complete turn around in his cage without bumping toys, then he need fewer, or rehang them so they aren't bopping his tail.

Annie

Elleymay what kind of bird is he? And do you yourself think he has ample room in the cage to play around in?

Did the vet recommend that you pull the blood feather or stop the bleeding when he does manage to hurt that area?

I haven't had to pull one fortunately it's been so long ago I really don't remember any of my big birds doing that......breaking a feather to where it bleeds.

 

Now either you have a very large macaw, and even larger than my large Too's at 45 ounces.... Or could that be 45 grams?

I'm going to try to track a few sites that deal with switching over from seed to pellets.. Have you tried soaking one or two in juice to see if Louie will try that?

We'll find information in links that will give you some ideas.

Too2

 

 

When it comes to switching from seed to pellets there are numerous pages on the subject and I've listed a few here..... good luck and remember put some pellets on top of the seed so Louie gets used to them.....

Too2

 

 

 

 

From: <NOBR>SeptemberSweetPea1</NOBR>  (Original Message)

Sent: 9/02/2006 3:38 AM

Sorry my mistake,  Louie is a parakeet, that must be 45 grams, is that a normal weight?.  I am going to rearrange his toys so he can make a complete turn without hitting his feathers.  I buy Louis lots of different toys for his cage, he loves to play.  Louis has a big cage so I can rearrange the furniture.  He does pick on his feathers but I thought it was a normal thing birds do.  I hope he isn't bending them and causing the blood feathers.  Thanks for the articles on pellets and feeding.  I do mix his food with pellets and seed, but I am going to start over and keep track what he is eating.  The Vet told me,  if you want your bird to live a long time, feed him pellets, with seed he will only live a few years. Well thanks for answering my questions.  Elaine

Elaine, I too am so glad you posted this.  The weight depends on the overall size of the bird. Some parakeets (budgies) are longer and larger than others. The average for them is 25 to 60 grams. See how much it can vary. If your vet said he is underweight then he probably is. They can tell by feeling the breast and keelbone to see if he seems to not be as meaty as he should.

Here's a weight chart that includes many species of birds. I plan to save it to my favorites since we ocasionally get this question and this is a very good reference page, but only for averages.

Glad you joined us. Drop by often.

Annie

Yes the Vet did press on his chest and say to me, " would you buy a bird that has no meat on it"  Ha very funny. 

So today, again I found blood on his perch and its a screw on perch that is rough like sand, so I took it off as he likes to bring his bell to this perch swing it back and forth.  I put the perch on the opposite side of the cage so he can use it but not with the bell.

I would like him to have fun, but not hurt himself in the process. 

Louie is very active and loves to come out and fly around when I am home.  He loves my dogs and flies low and teases them. 

I will post pictures when I get a chance. 

I called another Vet to see if I could get an appointment to have him looked at but she will not be in until Monday.  We are supposed to have some snow this weekend and I hope I will be able to get Louie to the Vet so we can help him out.  He's active and happy and does not look like he is uncomfortable or in any pain. 

Thanks again for everyones input.

Elaine 

Elaine, Louie sounds like a really cute bird.  I found getting my parakeets to eat pellets rather than the seed they were used to eating to be "mission impossible," so I hope you can be successful in changing him over to pellets.  Letting him tease the dogs might be a dangerous thing to allow him to do.  The other day my terrier mix dog caught and killed a wild sparrow before I could intervene.  Then a couple days later she caught another one, which was able to fly away when she dropped it on the ground.  I wouldn't let my dogs or cat in a room if my cockatiels were loose, just to be safe.  It is just in their nature to catch and kill small animals and birds.  Even if your dogs are more mellow than mine, they might be tempted to catch your Louie as he flies near them.  Kathy