Budgie weight gain and weight loss

[Loz]

This is not an issue that is worrying me (perhaps it should?) but rather it's a puzzle.

I have two boys that have gone through a similar sort of weight change arc, Herman and Finrod. Herman is a year old, Finrod six months.

Herman went from 42g six or so months ago and gained weight quite rapidly, going up to 56g in nearly two months. He has wobbled a bit since then, peaked at 57g and down to 47g in just under two months.
Finrod started at 37g and climbed to 57g in just over a month! He then plummeted to 48g in a few weeks.

The only change in feeding routines that I have made in the past two-three months is I have added iodine, ACV, AviPro and Milk Thistle to their diets. They have always had Zolcal and occasional Guardian Angel given to them.

Whilst the weight changes are slightly alarming(?), both boys exhibit excellent health and energy. If I wasn't weighing them, I'd have no reason to believe there was anything at all going on. The only behavioural observation I've made - both boys were superb fliers when they were younger. At their heaviest, they were less impressive but each having lost about ten grammes from their peak weights, they are once again excellent fliers.

Am I right not to worry?

[Hezz]

I would be concerned about the seesawing weight changes so suddenly. I’m also wondering why so many supplements? If they eat a good variety of veg and show no signs of illness I would leave out the Avipro, milk thistle and guardian angel. These should be reserved for sick, stressed or injured birds. A drop of iodine once a week shouldn’t make any difference, and the ACV simply helps keep the crop healthy, not problem there. Which Zolcal do they get? Additional D3 is good for birds that can’t get any sunlight directly, but adding too many supportive supplements only makes the bird’s immune system lazy, as adding milk thistle does to the liver if there is no sign of fatty liver disease or enlarged liver.

[tweetiepiesmom]

Good info for us all Hezz, thanks!

[Loz]

Thank you, Hezz

It's Zolcal F they get.

The Flock doesn't get every supplement every day, they are alternated snd the GA is only added when I feel that Squeak is struggling. Iodine is once per week

Would you say that AviPro, ACV, Zolcal F and MT three times a week is excessive? I take your meaning to be that they don't need any of these as long as they are eating the varied diet you mention and appear healthy.

A revised plan might therefore be iodine once a week, ACV/Zolcal F three times a week and GA when Squeak is showing her symptoms. Would that be optimal?

[Hezz]

Avipro, Zolcal and MT three times a week over the top? In my opinion, yes.

If you haven’t got any liver issues, don’t use the milk thistle at all. It is not going to hurt short-term but isn’t helping long-term.

I would be careful using the Zolcal too much - too much calcium given to budgies can damage their kidneys. I don’t know what might be too much, it is not a product I know. 10 minutes of sunshine per week is enough to give budgies their needed Vit D3. That is the minimum recommendation. More is not going to hurt them.

I’d save the Avipro and/or GA for when they are sick, stressed or injured. They seem to me to almost be a double up for the same situations.

A drop or two of ACV in their water every day is fine.

[Loz]

Again, thank you for this helpful advice Hezz.