Let’s talk about parrot pounds. Well, it’s actually parrot grams. We’ve all heard that parrots are great at hiding illness because they’re prey animals and have to appear healthy or else they could be eaten in the wild. Well, that’s true, but there are ways that we can catch many health issues early if we know what to look for. The first step is observing and knowing your bird well enough to know what their normal behavior looks like. In my opinion, that is the most important thing you can do to catch on that something might be wrong. Another important thing that helps is weighing your parrot regularly. This is because one of the earliest signs that something is going on medically with your bird is a change in weight. I’ve prepared an easy to read guide that you can use to build this new habit and help keep your birds healthy. 

The Scale

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a scale. A simple kitchen scale will do the trick! You’ll need one that can measure in grams with a high amount of precision, but that should be easy to find at most stores and online retailers. It doesn’t need to be fancy or complicated so don’t feel like you need to buy something expensive. We’re not measuring ingredients, just fluffy, sassy birds.  

You will also need to find a small perch stand to fit on the scale. Some scales are now being made with perches attached. But if yours doesn't, you can find them on places like Amazon. I’ve noticed that many of them are made with wood that can be a little smooth and wide that might be hard to stand on for very small birds like Budgies. You can put a little vet wrap on the perch part to help if you run into this issue. 

Here’s how my setup looks:

To zero out the scale so that it isn’t adding the weight of the perch, for most scales, just turn it on, place the perch on the scale, and press the power button again or unit button. When it shows zero, it's ready for your bird. The process might vary by model. 

Getting Your Bird Used to the Scale

Your bird might be afraid of the scale at first. Parrots can be afraid of new objects and this is completely normal. It’s called neophobia and it’s an instinct that has kept them safe in a world where they can be an easy meal for predators if they aren’t careful. It’s an instinct that we also see in other animals and even humans, so it also serves as a way for many species to protect themselves. I won’t go into a lot of details about how to help your bird be less afraid in this post since I’ve discussed it at length in a previous post. You can find that post here if your bird is afraid of the scale and/or perch: Why Parrots Can Be Fearful of New Objects.

I’m also going to recommend that you read the following blog post by Pamela Clark. In it, she talks about neophobia and how to introduce new objects to your bird without creating distress. Parrots and Neophobic Behavior - This post is extremely helpful, and in my opinion, a must read for anyone with a parrot in their home. With some patience and careful training, your bird will be happy to jump onto the scale as a part of their routine. 

Keeping a Log of Your Bird’s Weight

Now that your bird is used to the scale, you can begin keeping a record of their weight. Choose the same time to weigh your bird each day. It’s best to do it first thing in the morning after they poop and before they eat. This way, you can get a more consistent weight. I recommend weighing your bird every day, but if you can’t, try to do it as often as possible. Consistency is what we're aiming for so that we can spot any changes early. Ask your vet what a healthy weight range is for your parrot's species to help you gauge your bird's starting weight. 

How you keep track of their weight is up to you. Some people keep a written log in a notepad next to the scale for easy tracking. Others like to create a spreadsheet so that they can visualize patterns or trends in their weight easily by creating graphs, etc. How you do it isn’t as important as doing it regularly. You’ll probably notice that your bird has a weight that they stick to pretty closely. A sudden jump or loss one time isn’t necessarily something to worry about as sometimes birds will eat very early in the morning without us noticing or they might have eaten more or less the night before. 

Even within the same species, a bird’s normal weight can vary. For example, here are my bird’s baseline weights:

* Simone (Green-cheeked conure) - 63g
* Noel (Green-cheeked conure) - 59g
* Kermit (Sun Conure) - 114g
* Vlad (Sun Conure) 97g
* Arthur (Black-capped conure) 67g
* Daisy (Black-capped conure) 63g

As you can see, one bird’s normal may be different from another. What matters is noticing any changes. What you want to look for is a pattern. If their weight is off a gram or two one day, it might be nothing. But, if it’s still off the next day, it might be time to call the vet. You will want to take your log with you so that you can show them. They may decide to run some tests and do an examination just to make sure everything is OK. Catching something serious early can GREATLY improve your bird’s chances of survival so being proactive is key. In many cases, people have caught a serious issue early through weighing their bird and it was the difference between life and death. It may sound dramatic, but it’s true. 

Recognizing Issues 

Weight is just once part of recognizing when something is off with your bird, but it’s an important one. It’s especially telling if there are other changes in your bird’s behavior such as changes in their poop, activity levels, and eating habits. As soon as you notice a distinct change in their normal behavior, you should consult with their vet. It might be nothing and all that you lose is the cost of a basic exam. Or, it could save your bird’s life and even save you money on the cost of emergency care. Most of all, it’s the right thing to do for your feathered family member.

We all want our birds to live as long and healthy as possible, and weighing them is a critical part of ensuring that they do.