Weight And Yawning

Liza

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Hi everyone.
Thought I would ask this question here and hoping some more experienced owners can put my mind at rest.
My Irn is about five months old now..and I'm a little concerned he is getting a bit chunky. I can feel the bone down the middle of his chest, the Keel I think it's called but I weighed him and he is 120g? Is that a bit heavy? He does seem quite big, about 12 inches at the moment.
Also he seems to yawn a lot or like open his beak a lot.
I feed him a mix of seed and pellets, which is in all day for him to nibble on, and then twice a day he has a bowl of fresh fruit and veggies. When training he will usually have some millet.
I try and let him out twice a day as well more at weekends but I'm just worried I'm overfeeding or something.
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Hello, wow he/she a stunner! love the colour. looks wise he doesnt look tooo big. i suppose it can happen but when they start to become more active and fly...they do tend to lose some weight.

michael might be able to give a better understanding but he looks in good shape to me.

only thing...dont really feed him too many sunflower seeds as that causes them health issues and weight gain.

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Hi Liza, your IRN is gorgeous!

I'd go by how the keelbone feels rather than weight, maybe he's a little bigger than normal, I'm not familiar with IRN weights. I do check the weight daily to make sure it's stable.
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Here's a little guide of what it should feel like. If you are not convinced you could do worse than paying a visit to your vet :)

The yawning could be the bird adjusting his crop after eating, or being sleepy. Some birds also get a yawn reflex when they scratch near their ears.
 
Hi Liza, your IRN is gorgeous!

I'd go by how the keelbone feels rather than weight, maybe he's a little bigger than normal, I'm not familiar with IRN weights. I do check the weight daily to make sure it's stable.
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Here's a little guide of what it should feel like. If you are not convinced you could do worse than paying a visit to your vet :)

The yawning could be the bird adjusting his crop after eating, or being sleepy. Some birds also get a yawn reflex when they scratch near their ears.
Thanks...next time he is out I'll feel either side.
 
Totally stunning bird you have there :)
Well looking at that chest I'm with Wakizashi dosen't look too plump looks just about right.

Weight is relevant to the size of bird I have three african greys two are sisters from different nestings. Tuppy is HUGE but not over weight, Denarii is a slightly smaller build and slightly lighter and Henni is a tiny african grey so going by a weight chart rather than taking in the information as a whole it would mean only Denarii is correct but that isn't the case.
 
I think the weight is about average but he certainly looks healthy and looks like he gets exercise he's gorgeous
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This is Nimbus he's around the same weight but sometimes he looks chunkier


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Hi Lisa welcome...unfortunately I am unable to weigh Pinky our IRN as he isn't tame however at a recent visit to the vets I was told his weight is fine and looking at your IRN he is only slightly bigger than pinky. When you say he comes out twice a day how long for as IRN are very active birds and need a lot if free cage time, which if isn't possible I would consider whether it is feasible to build an outdoor flight aviary to give ypur IRN more flight time as it will definitely help with overall health and happiness.
 
Aww thanks everyone, all your birdies look gorgeous too...and nimbus looks similar shape to Kai. I work full time so he comes out for about half hour before work..then when I get home he has training time for ten mins or so....back to cage for dinner and then out again for an hour or so before settling down for bedtime. Weekends he is pretty much in and out all day.. But I have a dog and so have to put her out of the room...Otherwise I'd leave him out all the time when I'm about. We have just started flight recall so hopefully that will help him..I forgot to say he is full flighted.. I think he had been clipped when I got him.
 
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i was told that if you can see the faint line down the centre of his belly like that then they're about an ideal weight.. the yawning will probably be him clearing his crop x


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What a little beaut. weight is fine you should always be able to fill the breast bone what is making him look fat is the way his feathers lay. he is still young and with each moult his feathers will improve as far as yawn it is normal for a young IRN to do this often and practice from 4 months to a year and a half quite regularly and this is normal. this is also the best age for getting your bird talking by repeating two joined words often for four to five days
 
Awesome thanks....we talk to him all the time...and he is trying I think...makes some pretty funny noises, as long as he is happy and healthy though I don't really care if he talks, he is such a cheeky monkey already.
 
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