What Is The Right Weight

[kicksnj]

What is a healthy weight for a sun conure. I built a little perch today and weighted my 2 Suns on a scale. The female was 91g and the male was 104g.

 

[Amber]

Varies depending on the bird. Alex is slimmer and slightly leaner then the 'average' jenday so he weighs a bit less usually. Lately though he has gained flight muscles from all the flying, so he is in the 115-120g range now. His body condition though is excellent, according to the vet, and that's all that matters to me. I don't really weigh, I check his breastbone for the right 'feel' of muscle and fat. I do plan to start weighing again when I get a gram accurate scale, but my old one was useless.

I'm told between 100-130g is the 'normal' weight range for a sun. What's more important though is that your birds have a steady weight, and that they don't fluctuate large amounts over short periods of time. A sudden weight drop is a cause for concern.

 

[kicksnj]

I just bought this scale from Harbor Freight. It was on sale for $16.99 and I built a little perch to sit the bird on to weight them. I think you can get the scale online from Harbor Freight too. I happen to have a Harbor Freight store that I can walk to.

 

[cockatielfan17]

ur female might be a little skinny but any way here is a vid that should help

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b451rBTKe6s&lc=xXEL3C5wK0Ktr_VEHwvqjc6xq85VvM2d0vIsoBNiyeM&context=C38d3f59ADOEgsToPDskKyACU05Mw095B_fTqaGSIt]How to weigh Red Factor Sun Conures - YouTube[/ame]
in the vid she said they should be somewhere between 100-120 grams

 

[Helitorian]

I just bought this scale from Harbor Freight. It was on sale for $16.99 and I built a little perch to sit the bird on to weight them. I think you can get the scale online from Harbor Freight too. I happen to have a Harbor Freight store that I can walk to.

Woohoo! Thanks for mentioning this! I've been looking EVERYWHERE for a gram scale that didn't cost a weeks pay! I never thought to check Harbor Freight lol

 

[roxynoodle]

I'll have to get one, too. I love Harbor Freight. I had that situation a couple weeks ago where Pete got an infection from Merlin and I had to medicate him as well. It was Sunday and my vets were in Florida for a conference. His previous vet had never told me what he weighed and I had to guess to figure out how much medicine to give him. I got very, very lucky that I guessed right, but I'm surprised I did.

For that price, it's really a good idea for any bird owner to have one.

Don't forget though if you are using a perch, to subtract the weight of the perch to get the bird's weight.

Nandays must be unusually dense like cats, lol! Rowdy weighs 139gm and I swear she is smaller than other Nandays I've seen.

 

[Pedro]

What is a healthy weight for a sun conure. I built a little perch today and weighted my 2 Suns on a scale. The female was 91g and the male was 104g.

If your two are young birds that is fine. Suns don't usually reach their average weight until adults. Say 3 years.

Remember the average weight printed in books are usually only a guide & are adult weights.

 

[kicksnj]

Don't forget though if you are using a perch, to subtract the weight of the perch to get the bird's weight.

Roxynoodle it has a TARE button on this scale. So anything you put on the scale and then press the TARE button will zero out the scale before you weight anything you are going to put on the scale. I use it to measure out
chicken cutlets for my diet ;-) I put the plate on it, zero it out and them put the chicken on the plate.

You can measure in 3 different modes, Grams, Ounces, or Pounds.

BTW the scale is on sale again for $16.99 on harborfreight.com

 

[usamimi]

I MIGHT have paid less than that for my cooking scale, any cheap one should work just find for smaller birds.

 

[kicksnj]

I MIGHT have paid less than that for my cooking scale, any cheap one should work just find for smaller birds.

The reason I got the scale was really for mailing packages. Most of the cooking scales I first looked at didn't go past 4 or 5 pounds. This scale from Harbor Freight will weigh anything up to 11 pounds. Which was perfect for my mailing needs

 

[roxynoodle]

Don't forget though if you are using a perch, to subtract the weight of the perch to get the bird's weight.

Roxynoodle it has a TARE button on this scale. So anything you put on the scale and then press the TARE button will zero out the scale before you weight anything you are going to put on the scale. I use it to measure out
chicken cutlets for my diet ;-) I put the plate on it, zero it out and them put the chicken on the plate.

You can measure in 3 different modes, Grams, Ounces, or Pounds.

BTW the scale is on sale again for $16.99 on harborfreight.com

That's really cool that you can zero it out! Yep, I have to get one!

 

[Nakiska]

This post couldn't have come at a better time...seriously! I was trying to get over the sticker shock of purchasing a scale to weigh my little guys and then I saw this post. I called up or local Harbor Freight and VOILA! They have that scale in stock...going to pick one up tonight!

WOO HOO!

Thanks so much for the "tip" you just saved me a bundle

Toni

 

[Nakiska]

Yeaaa! I got home with my new scale, just like yours...I didn't even need a perch on it, I just put Franklin on it and found out that he really IS on the small side for a green cheek at only 62 grams and he's almost 11 months old. He just stood on it soo good. Love my little guy!

Thanks again, I am pleased as punch with my purchase!

Toni

 

[Helitorian]

Yeaaa! I got home with my new scale, just like yours...I didn't even need a perch on it, I just put Franklin on it and found out that he really IS on the small side for a green cheek at only 62 grams and he's almost 11 months old. He just stood on it soo good. Love my little guy!

Thanks again, I am pleased as punch with my purchase!

Toni

Wow he is small! Cute as a button too, I bet