When we think of products that we need
for our bird(s), one of the items often
forgotten is a scale. In the following article
we will discuss why a scale should be on
every bird owner's list.
The Importance of a Scale at Home Many
of us tend to believe that unless we are
a bird breeder a scale is not needed. While
scales are truly invaluable to a breeder,
they are also extremely important in the
home. Having a scale in your home allows
for keeping an accurate record of your bird's
weight on a regular basis. Knowing your
bird's "regular" weight is a major
key to keeping them healthy. This is important
because one of the early signs of illness
in birds is weight loss in small, continuous
amounts. Unfortunately, this type of weight
loss cannot be detected just by looking
at a bird. On top of that fact, birds can
endanger their own health by hiding an illness
until they become too weak to continue to
do so. They do this because in nature the
weak and sick are kicked out of the flock
to help keep predators away. This instinct
carries over to our homes, with the only
difference being now we are considered the
flock. With a scale, weight loss in a bird
will not go unnoticed and illness can be
spotted sooner. It is recommended for adult
birds to be weighed at least twice a month.
Based on this knowledge, it certainly is
a great advantage for a bird owner to invest
in a scale.
The Importance of a Scale to Breeders If
there were a bird breeder's mantra it would
be: "Those who breed shall weigh."
In other words, if you breed birds you must
have a scale. A scale is an invaluable breeding
tool with two major functions: It is used
to weigh out hand feeding formula the babies
are fed; and, of course, is used to weigh
the babies themselves. Baby birds simply
cannot be raised properly; and, most importantly,
to be healthy, without a scale. Hand feeding
formula must be weighed out or there is
a possibility of malnutrition occurring
in baby birds from the wrong ratio of food
to water.
Babies must be weighed every morning before
the first feeding of the day to accurately
access their growth rates. Remember, no
one can look at a bird (even a baby one)
and tell if it has lost small amounts of
body weight; yet, small amounts of weight
loss can be an early sign of a major problem.
Please invest in a scale to weigh your formula
and your babies daily.
