When you first get a pet, it can be hard to figure out whether they are overweight or not, especially if your pet is a budgie. While most of us know what a fat cat or dog looks like, we don’t have the same reference for our birds. So when your budgie first starts gaining weight, it can be easy to assume that they are bloated or have other health issues.
Fortunately, we are here to help you navigate this tricky situation. Today, we will teach you how to identify a fat budgie and what to do about it. So if you’ve ever had questions on this topic, you’ve come to the right place – we have all the answers here!
While many bird owners don’t talk about it, obesity is actually common among pet birds like budgies. This is commonly caused by a high-fat diet and lack of exercise. Since birds held in captivity are sometimes fed a lot of seeds and have their wings clipped, they don’t usually burn as much fat as they need to.
So as far-fetched as it may seem, budgies can be overweight. This can lead to diseases like fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis, making them susceptible to heart attacks and strokes.
If you suspect that your budgie is fat, here are a few ways that you can confirm your suspicions:
Birds usually have a bone running down their midline known as a keel. On both sides of this bone, there is a rounded muscle whose size changes depending on whether your bird has lost or gained weight. If the bird has gotten skinny, these muscles will feel bony and look curved in.
But if your bird has become fat, these muscles will be curved outward and form a “cleavage”. Visually this is one of the first signs that your bird is overweight.
Another way to know whether your bird is fat is to look for subcutaneous fat. This is particularly visible in body parts that are featherless. So if you check the side of your bird’s neck starting from their jaw’s base while parting their feathers, you can easily check for this. Generally, if you see the jugular vein there, your bird isn’t overweight.
But if it’s difficult to see and you notice a yellow tint under the skin, your bird has gained a significant amount of weight.
If your budgie’s breathless after the smallest amounts of exercise, this is a sign that they are getting fat.
If your bird’s beak keeps getting longer and longer, they could have fatty liver disease; a disease linked to obesity.
Ultimately, one of the best ways to check whether your budgie has become fat is to weigh them and compare their weight to previous figures. If you keep up with your bird’s annual vet visits, this shouldn’t be hard – your vet usually weighs your bird during every checkup and has records of this.
On average, a budgie should weigh 26 to 36 grams (0.9 to 1.3 ounces)
As much as budgies are small birds, they do grow significantly throughout their lifespan. While a fledgling can weigh a meager 2 grams and be only 2cm long, an adult budgie can weigh 40 grams and measure up to 20 cm in length. Adult budgies also have around 30 cm in wingspan. Aside from their size, you can also tell adult budgies apart by their yellow forehead and face.
While many people first start to suspect their budgies are fat when they start looking puffy/fluffy, this is not always an accurate sign. Most times, your budgie looks puffy because:
So if you notice your budgie is constantly puffy, always ensure that it isn’t caused by something serious like illness.
Once you establish that your budgie is fat, there are a few things that you can do to help them lose weight. These include:
Ultimately, all the abovementioned tips maximize diet change and increased exercise to keep your budgie within a healthy weight range. So the more of them you implement, the better!
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Hey. Well my question is different my budget won't eat vegetable at all.I try all possible ways but won't only ways lettuce which is hanged with a clip.Could you give a solution. If they continue they will get fat .Kindly reply to my message would be grateful