okay so Candy is getting porky and I need some help in how to slim him down. They were eating too many honey seed treats I think - so now all thats available is seed, celery, spinach, carrot and watercress - oh and 1 millet spray per week. Only thing is he shares with Bobby and I feel Im depriving him of stuff he doesnt gorge it in one go like Candy- any advice anyone?

in what way do you think candy is getting fat?

He is porky I mean he doesnt have any lumps or bumps I feel him regularly he just seems overweight especially compared to the others but he has a sweet tooth but I would hate for him to get ill because I let him eat stuff that was making him fatty.

have you weighed him?

Rocky weighed 45g and he was healthy.

I worried that he was too fat but that is quite normal apparantly.

If his wings are unclipped, does he fly much?

 

I think you're donig well by reducing the treats. If he'll eat pellets reduce his seed as well, that can lead to a fat budgie. If he won't eat pellets try giving him more healthy veggies and maybe he won't binge on seed so much.

 

Try getting him to exercise too. If he's unclipped see if you can get him to fly a bit more. If he's clipped, just try games with him or have him out of the cage and give him different things to explore.

 

One thing I might even do for my budgies (because I'm ashamed to say that I've got two that are probably overweight as well) is buy a gram scale so I can monitor their weight here at home rather than relying on the vet to weigh them. That might be an idea. Then you can see what's working.

Oh right maybe Im being paranoid then - Ive not weighed him I doubt he would stay still long enough to let me - maybe if I just hold it on the sweety treats for a few weeks just to see - I'll post a picture in the next day or so for some opinions - he is however moulting and his tummy feather are fluffy and scruffy could make him look fatter than he is.

im not saying you a paranoid Boomery. We all worry too much about our feathered buddies!!!

Try and weight him and see what he actually is.

That's probably the case. It's hard to tell just by looks. Next time you're at the vet they should be able to tell you what weight he is and if it's healthy.

 

Piper looks like a little pig in most of her pictures but she isn't as fat as she looks I'm sure. (Just check out my signature...I promise she's not that poofy all the time! (Laughing out loud).)

I will I dont think I have any scales at home but will get some off my Mum. Patty is quite big too I guess (yellow girl) gosh I hate watching their every move dont you - wish they werent so delicate sometimes hehe.

i think sometimes they look fat and other times they don't.

Oh Oh Candy looks as fat as Piper hehehe.

I had a problem with Budgy2 getting a bit porky and breathless when he was flying so I didn't give any treats or millets for a few eeks and I walked him away from the cage and made him fly back every so often.It did improve him although he's still not the best flyer in the world and much prefers to sit and eat.

Julie

(Laughing out loud)! Fat budgies. Piper eats like a hog though. It doesn't surprise me that she's gotten all poofy!

Gawd thanks guys youve put my mind at rest I was getting worried I was the only one with a little piggy fatty budgie. He doesnt fly much thats probably why - the others all get out and have exercise but Candy has always been like this prefers to play with his toys he has never been an explorer - still going to go steady on his treats maybe every other dayr or so put it on for half an hour and take it out after theyve had a bit maybe?

Now Boomery-you have got to be MUCH stricter that that!

I've got some fat budgies too. One looks like a butterball. It's very hard to get them to lose weight. I've lessened the amount of seed they get, and they are all flighted, but the heftier ones don't fly much. I also changed the Harrison's they get to the regular maintenance formula instead of high potency, and they've never had a sugary seed treat in their lives. So far I'm not having much luck. If you find a way to slim them down, please share. I worry about them carrying all that extra weight.

I got a fat budgie too! She can only fly short distances because her tum tum weighs her down. She's improved though, at one stage i had to have a perch from the floor to the wire because she would try to fly and just go plop! Try and get Candy to fly around more or even just walk around more.

Mine can fly just fine, they just choose not to more often than not. And it is only the hens that are heavy...maybe from guarding all those food dishes...