Chubby Amazon

[ParkersMom]

so I think that Parker is getting a little chubby...when he came home he weighed 350 grams he is now at 450 grams, he is very active, clipped for his safety, we have 3 dogs and 4 cats in the house...he likes to climb,he has a boing attached to the ceiling above his cage, and swing and I try to exercise his wings by holding his feet and letting him flap them and he gets at least 3 hours minimum out of cage time each day...he gets food twice a day, Harrisons high potency course, and 2-3 almonds and a mix of veggies and some fruit...aside from letting him fly what can I do to manage his weight?
His chest seems squishy...lol...not sure if that makes sense

 

[goalerjones]

His chest is "squishy" due to underdeveloped flight muscles. What weight does your vet want him at?

 

[wenz2712]

450g is a good weight for him. I wouldn't say he is overweight at all.

Codie weighs 500g and he is in no way chubby

 

[goalerjones]

Here is a useful tool

http://www.scottemcdonald.com/pdfs/Average Weights.pdf

 

[ParkersMom]

the first vet I took him to said she goes by body condition not weight, but said he was good condition then at around 360 grams
I have since switched vets( she wanted to anesthetize to do a beak and nail trim) but have not taken Parker yet as he is not due for his annual exam

 

[Kiwibird]

He average BFA can weigh between 275-510 grams, with the average being between 400-430 grams (Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot or Turquoise-fronted Amazon). It sounds like Parker is in a perfectly normal weight range. Kiwi weighed 420 grams at his last vet appointment, and was given a clean bill of health. Kiwi is a little smaller than most BFAs Ive seen though (just his overall size). My moms DYH weighs about 500 grams. She is an extremely healthy bird, just big boned. Her "mate", a green cheek zon weighs in at about 350 grams and has always been a smaller bird, but still eats the same diet as his much bigger girlfriend (she dwarfs him, she's a huge bird!). Just like people, parrots can have different "body types", which is why there is a range of healthy weights. A longer or more muscular bird will weigh more than a shorter, less muscular one, and both can still be perfectly healthy. Nothing about your description of diet and exercise sounds unhealthy.

I agree that Parker may be squishy because he isn't flighted. Have you considered "flapping" him around to build those chest muscles up? The vet actually recommended we try that with Kiwi (also clipped) and he LOVES it! You just hold their feet, and gently "pull" them along so they can flap their wings, simulating flight. Kiwi actually knows his "flap" time (before my hubby leaves for work) and gets super excited when he sees him putting on his uniform because he knows he's going to get to "fly". It's cute, and it keeps him in good shape, working up the muscles he would naturally build flying.

 

[ParkersMom]

that is what I do with Parker...he wants to fly and when the other pets pass i plan on letting him and Keiko fly then...but we are talking between 10 and 15 years ...right now it is just safer to have them both clipped...i do exercise Parker and he really likes it...yet he is chubby...Keiko could care less but seems more fit

 

[ann]

He sounds so cute, I love how chubby Amazon's look lol. As the other members have said, he seems to be a normal weight, but here are some exercise tips anyway. They're fun too
If he is safe from other pets, a good source of exercise is to have him walk up and down the stairs or play ball with him. I supervise black jack while he throws around a toy ball and he loves it. Foraging toys are a good way to entertain him while making him work for his food. Good luck :0)

 

[goalerjones]

the first vet I took him to said she goes by body condition not weight, but said he was good condition then at around 360 grams
I have since switched vets( she wanted to anesthetize to do a beak and nail trim) but have not taken Parker yet as he is not due for his annual exam

each visit to my vet office for even a grooming session, which is not an actual vet visit yields a weight which they chronicle.

 

[henpecked]

350 to 450 is a bit much IMO. Assuming, say age 12-14 weeks, he had just weaned when you got him. Yes zons will gain some weight after weaning but 25% seems a bit much. You really need someone to feel his breast who knows what healthy feels like , don't go by average weight. My second advice is to lose the HiPro pellets. He doesn't need Hi Pro diets, needs high fresh,low fat diet,daily maintenance pellets. No more than 6% crude fat and cut back on the daily nuts.( use hemp or milk thistle seeds). Climbing around doesn't burn that many calories, nothing like wing flapping or flying. You can still practice short recall fights even with a lightly clipped bird. Have him "jump " to your hand and slowly increase the distance to a couple of feet away. Assuming he's a year old bird, now is the time to get him started on the right track, for a longer healthier life. Keeping the extra fat off is so important to avoiding liver issues later in their long life.

 

[Greenwing]

Both my amazons..DYH and Nape weight in at 487gr and 498gr .... I weigh them every few days.. Never seen it fluctuate more than a few grams..

 

[Jtbirds]

Well my double yellow head who is in his teens weighs about 540g and stays right about there for as long as I've had him. He is. It overweight and does feel healthy soo I'm not sure how concerned I'd be. At first when I weighed babe I said wow you chub them I realized that he s just a overall big amazon after feeling around and doing a vet exam and so on.

 

[ParkersMom]

Henpecked... he will take small flights/glides off the cage to the floor but when I try to get him to jump/fly to me he acts like he really wants too but never does....also If I start doing that is there any way that I can keep him from doing it to my husband who is still very unsure of Parker...

 

[henpecked]

Henpecked... he will take small flights/glides off the cage to the floor but when I try to get him to jump/fly to me he acts like he really wants too but never does....also If I start doing that is there any way that I can keep him from doing it to my husband who is still very unsure of Parker...

Start with "baby steps" keep moving your hand further away. Go from him having to reach for your finger to him having to "jump" to it. Day by day increase the distance alittle after starting out with a relative comfortable range. This needs to be something you do "on demand" , like "stepping up". Remember to praise and reward him very quickly. Your husband needs to find his "confidence" and become a leader. Only then will he gain the parrot's trust. You need to say "out of the picture " some when your husband is interacting with him. When he jumps off the cage and needs a friend to rescue him, that's when your hubby needs to save him. just put him back on his perch/cage and ask nothing more of him than a "free" ride,no petting,no carrying him around, etc. Just a free ride, no strings attached. Stepping up only means that, there's no "punishment" for stepping up.gain his trust. Good luck and read some of the older threads on these type of things. Ask question and we'll be glad to help.