Tracking Your Bird's Weight
Birds in the wild have to hide any signs of weakness or they become an easy target for predators. Therefore, birds are experts at hiding illness, and the same is true for your pet bird. This seems backwards to us because we would prefer if our bird alerted us when he isn't feeling well so we could help them! Because birds hide their illnesses, it is extremely important to know your bird and his body. By the time symptoms are noticeable, it is often too late to give him effective treatment.
One way to monitor your bird's health is by tracking his weight. Weight is a good indication of overall health, and a drop in weight is often an early warning sign of illness.
Talk to your avian veterinarian about the ideal weight range for your bird. Then weigh your bird at least once or twice a week at the same time each day, keeping track of the numbers. If you notice any significant change in weight, check in with your veterinarian.
You will not be able to tell if your bird has lost weight just by looking at or holding him. However, a scale that weighs in grams is great for obtaining an accurate weight of your bird. A gram scale is often used to measure small items because of its sensitivity and accuracy. The Digital Bird/Small Animal Scale with Perch is great for weighing birds because it measures in grams, plus it comes with three different sized perches. It is easy to clean, operate and read!
Pay attention to the changes in your bird's body, so you can detect illness before it's too late. It's all about keeping your bird healthier longer!
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