Baby losing weight.

[Grash0perC]

Bad news Davy (my three month old african grey) started losing weight. He eats a lot of food so I don't know why. I completely unrestricted his intake, pellets are available 24-7. He gets lots of fresh fruit every day that he eats all of it. When I am training him, he gets plenty of pine nuts and sun flower seeds. He is a growing baby so why would he be losing weight

He didn't lose a lot (470 grams to 440 grams in the past two weeks) but I took him to the vet and they said we could do a battery of tests. Is there any other high calorie food (that's nutritious) I can give him first? I don't want him to only eat seeds and nuts because I know that that is bad. He started refusing formula two weeks ago when I weaned him, maybe I should try mixing some up and giving it to him in a dish?

He is REALLY active. I'm not clipping him and he flies around like a wild animal all day.. so maybe he is just burning calories faster than he is growing? He has gotten bigger but he is pretty lean. Did he just lose baby weight after he started flying? Absolutely no other signs that he is unwell.

I'm also really annoyed. My scale was totally inaccurate and I found that out when I took him to the vet so I ordered a different one, but it never came in the mail. So I didn't know he was losing weight until I took him for a checkup yesterday.

 

[Laurasea]

Hi, I hope things are ok. . I'm not an expert in babes, but I know they do drop weight when weaning, so I hope that is what you have going on. Scrambled eggs or boiled egg, and oatmeal are some things you can offer. I also think probiotics are great, and I learned about them here in the forum! Since weaning is kinda a diet change maybe they would help. I myself prefer to offer a bit of live culture yogurt you have to check because not all yogurt hasive culture, and use the kind with no artificial sweeteners. For a healthy bird I think one to three times a week is good. I'd give more veggies than fruit as well sometimes they liked cooked veggies better, like cooked carrots or sweet potato. Also hot chili peppers are a favorite of many.

 

[SailBoat]

Assure that you are checking weight at the same time(s) everyday. The best is to check first thing each morning after the first moment and before food is provided.

If this trend does not change soon! It's a mad rush to your Avian Professional! Honesty, calling the Clinic to get their input is something that is worth doing Monday morning, first thing.

 

[texsize]

Before young birds fledge they can loose weight.
I know this happened with the 2 clutches of Cockatiels I raised.
I don’t know that this is true for African Grey parrots or at what age it might happen.

 

[itzjbean]

This is normal for when babies fledge and wean. Be sure to buy a proper gram scale (They are relatively cheap at any supermarket, used for weighing food. They're only like $15.) Definitely something you want to get and start doing every single day at the same time to ensure he is on track with his weight!

With how active you describe him as being, I'm not surprised he's losing weight like this because he's learning how to bird, and it's some pretty important stuff! Sounds like you are doing everything right so just continue to offer him plenty of new foods to try and as long as he's eating and drinking a bunch he should be growing like a weed soon.

 

[wrench13]

When you say you took him to your vet, is that vet a Certified Avian Vet? It makes worlds of difference, parrots being radically different the medical practice for dogs and cats ( and guinea pigs, horses or other mammals ). If not, seek out one and have Davy in for them to do a thorough physical. I would be waiting on their doorstep for them to open this Monday morning. For us, anything that is more than +/- 10% of the weight of the parrot is cause for immediate investigation. 470gr - 440gr = 30gr , so not quite 10%, yet.
Monitor his weight as advised above. I hope its as advised- dropping weight when weaning and fledging.

 

[Grash0perC]

This is normal for when babies fledge and wean. Be sure to buy a proper gram scale (They are relatively cheap at any supermarket, used for weighing food. They're only like $15.) Definitely something you want to get and start doing every single day at the same time to ensure he is on track with his weight!

With how active you describe him as being, I'm not surprised he's losing weight like this because he's learning how to bird, and it's some pretty important stuff! Sounds like you are doing everything right so just continue to offer him plenty of new foods to try and as long as he's eating and drinking a bunch he should be growing like a weed soon.

The new scale came yesterday after I made this post. Now I'll be keeping track of it again! I have searched Las Vegas for an avian vet and there doesn't appear to be one in town I'm more worried about my vet now that he didn't know they drop weight while they fledge.

 

[charmedbyekkie]

This is normal for when babies fledge and wean. Be sure to buy a proper gram scale (They are relatively cheap at any supermarket, used for weighing food. They're only like $15.) Definitely something you want to get and start doing every single day at the same time to ensure he is on track with his weight!

With how active you describe him as being, I'm not surprised he's losing weight like this because he's learning how to bird, and it's some pretty important stuff! Sounds like you are doing everything right so just continue to offer him plenty of new foods to try and as long as he's eating and drinking a bunch he should be growing like a weed soon.

The new scale came yesterday after I made this post. Now I'll be keeping track of it again! I have searched Las Vegas for an avian vet and there doesn't appear to be one in town I'm more worried about my vet now that he didn't know they drop weight while they fledge.

Try this site: https://www.aav.org/search/
Looks like you have 2 registered ones in Las Vegas. Only one has a clinic listed.
Dominic Cacioppo and Jamie Sulliban.

 

[wrench13]

Actually, they both have clinics in Las Vegas, just take a bit of Googling to find them.

Park Animal Hosp. Dr Cacioppo (702) 361-5850

Aloha Animal Hosp, Dr Sullivan (702) 567-5222

 

[charmedbyekkie]

Actually, they both have clinics in Las Vegas, just take a bit of Googling to find them.

Park Animal Hosp. Dr Cacioppo (702) 361-5850

Aloha Animal Hosp, Dr Sullivan (702) 567-5222

Thanks! I was just getting ready to sleep, so didn't do my due diligence

 

[Grash0perC]

Okay he has been steadily gaining weight since I got the scale. Is there anyway to know about how many grams a Congo African Grey should be gaining a week?

 

[Grash0perC]

Also can anyone help me out with finding an avian vet in Las Vegas? I searched on the websites others mentioned but couldn't find one. I just can't believe there isn't one in a major city like ours.

 

[wrench13]

I just gav you the phone#s for 2 of them - check the first page of this thread.

Hmmmm.

 

[itzjbean]

Also can anyone help me out with finding an avian vet in Las Vegas? I searched on the websites others mentioned but couldn't find one. I just can't believe there isn't one in a major city like ours.

I'm wondering why you are having such issues finding an Avian vet in Las Vegas -- I just typed in on Google 'Las Vega NV avian vet' and 3 popped up right away.

 

[GaleriaGila]

You're getting great advice and support. Hang in there.

 

[Grash0perC]

I just gav you the phone#s for 2 of them - check the first page of this thread.

Hmmmm.

Sorry! I didn't see that. I will call them!

Also can anyone help me out with finding an avian vet in Las Vegas? I searched on the websites others mentioned but couldn't find one. I just can't believe there isn't one in a major city like ours.

I'm wondering why you are having such issues finding an Avian vet in Las Vegas -- I just typed in on Google 'Las Vega NV avian vet' and 3 popped up right away.

I called pretty much every one of the vets that pop up on google and some of them don't even see birds and others are just more exotic vets that don't specialize in avian.