Does This Parrot Look Under Weight?

Question

I'm just a little concerned if he is... he is a turquoise parrot. I'm not sure if he is underweight or normal.

In the photo, he is standing up straight because he is alert to a dog barking, so he may be stretching himself slightly.

Photo: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/ChocoboDragon/turk.jpg

Thanks everyone for your answers, it's quite reassuring.

@ humor4fms: Thanks for the info about birdie 'boobs', I didn't know about that.
Note though, he is a turquoise parrot ('turk' for short). They are in the same family as the scarlet chested.
Scarlet chested photo: http://www.birds.org.au/articles/images/ScarletChestedParrot.jpg
Turquoise photo: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/208/442305378_b9bce4bb1a_m.jpg
And he does have a nice, full tail, you just can't see it from that angle of the camera. :)

Answer 1

He looks really good, bright eyes and beautiful shiny feathers. If your worried have a vet check his weight. I make egg shell omelets for my parrot. I clean the egg still in it's shell and then crack the egg into a bowl and put part of the shell in with the egg. Then mix I cook it either on the stove or in the microwave until cooked. Then chop it it up let it cool and then feed. This will help with weight as well as good for the beak. Also that is a beautiful bird! Have a good one;^)

Answer 2

You are to see a breast bone!! If a bird is sitting and you see "boobs" on a bird the bird is then considered to be over weight. That means fat is sitting on the muscles on the breast muscles which then indent on the lung capicity of the birds which then cut down on the breathing space of which the bird can take in air for the oxygen to put it in laymen terms. All that comes from a high fat diet which humans feed in the seed diet.

Remember these birds are kept in controlled temps in your houses where they do not get the exercise they would naturally get in the wild where they fly miles upon miles a day to forage for food.

Plus that is NOT a turquiosine parrot, It's a scarlet chested parakeet, and where are his tail feathers?

Good Luck!

Answer 3

He looks fine, although it's hard to say from a picture if he is underweight, although he looks great to me! If u can handle him, pick him up gently and feel along the breast bone. If it feels like the edge of a butter knife, then u need to worry. Have you wormed him? I noticed that it looks like a dirt floor he is on, sometimes these floors can harbour worms. Enjoy your little friend, he looks alert and happy to me, if u are worried, pop him down to the vet.

Answer 4

Thats a very pretty bird.!!He looks young to me,if you are that concerned i would go get him weighed at the vet!I give my birdies hard boiled egg once a week to maintain weight.My bird looks just like that when he does that!!!Stop worrying i think he looks fine and healthy!!!Good work!!Rowan

Answer 5

He does not look the least bit over weight. He looks like a very healthy and beautiful bird.

Answer 6

Pritty Bird Hes not under weight hes looks young hes not under weight!!! stop worrying..when u start seeing his ribs then take him to the vets!

Answer 7

He looks just fine to me.
His eyes are bright, feathers are shiny and well groomed.
No snot around his nasal area.
Toes look ok too.

Answer 8

No. When birds are alarmed or stressed they tend to pull their feathers close to their bodies. He looks ok...

Answer 9

BEAUTIFUL PARROT...DOESN'T LOOK UNDERWEIGHT TO ME...LOOKS VERY NORMAL...I USED TO RAISE BIRDS...AND YES HE'S SHOWING BEING ALERT AND STRETCHING TO SEE WHERE THE NOISE IS COMING FROM...LOL

Answer 10

He looks fine to me.Does he feel fat enough? If you can easily feel his breast bone,then he is too thin.He should feel solid and warm in your hand,and be well- fleshed,but he looks wonderful!