budgie size

[Owlet]

My friend recently got a budgie and she's concerned about her size. She thinks she's too small and skinny compared to normal pet shop budgies. I don't really know lots about budgies so I'm afraid of giving incorrect information so thought it's be best to ask.

 

[YUMgrinder]

best thing would to weigh the precious bird. do it in the morning after their morning poo but before they eat breakfast if possible. Looks like the average weight should be 26-32 grams, but I have read that averages can be higher, with your concern about being underweight I think the most important number is on the low end. make sure he/she weighs in at least 26 grams.

 

[SilverSage]

The bird looks normal to me but could be on the small size. If it were tame I would suggest feeling the breast bone and/or weighing regularly but those would both just traumatize a new budgie that isn't tame. American budgies are much MUCH smaller than English budgies.


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[OutlawedSpirit]

Looks to be normal to me as well. From what I can see in the pictures, it looks like a little girl and in my experience they can tend to look leaner than the boys while still being a healthy weight.

If possible it would be best to feel her breast bone or weigh her, but for the sake of not stressing her out, as long as she is eating, alert, and active I think she looks okay from what the pictures show.

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[LordTriggs]

looks normal to me. It could be she's comparing that one to the larger English budgies who are notably bigger. Of course due to the stress of the move she could be eating less as she feels less comfortable. I'd say to try weighing her and leaving the room a bit more to see if she'll eat. I know Rio at first didn't like eating when he could see me but the second I was gone I could hear him chowing down

 

[Owlet]

so, she told me that the budgie isn't very tame. No idea how to weight it from there.

 

[SilverSage]

Yes, it's quite stressful on the bird to weigh if they aren't tame. The bird really looks fine I wouldn't stress over it. Besides, the vet will get a weight and check the body condition at the initial well bird visit.


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[itchyfeet]

Agreeing with the others, just looks like an American budgie instead of an English budgie.
I remember panicking when I was a child with my first budgie, because I didn't understand there were two types. Mine was massive and fat compared to the pet shop budgies! Turned out he was just English

 

[BeatriceC]

so, she told me that the budgie isn't very tame. No idea how to weight it from there.

It's stressful on them, but with birds that are a flight risk, my vet puts them in a clear plastic container with a sturdy lid and weighs the container both with and without the bird in it. It needs to be clear so you can see that the bird is standing on the bottom of the container and also that the bird is still safe and not doing anything to hurt herself.