Photo by Jamieleigh Location: Orlando, FL Pictured: 3 Budgies

I'm a stickler about weighing my own birds anytime I have them out and a scale is nearby. I have charts devoted to recording their weights. And most of my birds weights are memorized based on their "stuffed full" weight and working weights. Then they all have an average weight when free feeding on food all day.

Many owners assume they don't need to record the weight of a small parrot like a budgie/parakeet. But I think just the opposite.

Because these birds are SO small, they are likely to cover up any illness and not let you catch on that they are sick until it's too late. I've heard some AMAZING recovery stories about budgies being sick and getting better. I even remember a story about a budgie having a toy go through its beak and come out its mouth. It had to go under for the vet to take it out and it fully recovered. Those odds are not great, as putting a budgie "under" is very risky. 

The long average weight of budgies will range from 25 grams to 60 grams but mine average around 30-40 grams. 40 grams normally means they are pretty full for my birds.

In the picture at the top of this post, all 3 of those birds are on a birdie scale. As long as the scale calculates in grams you're good to go. A perch makes it easiest and this one I have ran me about $130. Right now you could probably find them on sale, though. I wouldn't choose any other scale, this one is perfect. I can weigh every bird from a budgie to a hyacinth macaw. It gets the job done. 

So make sure you weigh your small birds too, this way you can catch a pattern in weight loss that you may not see by just looking at your bird.

Article by Jamieleigh Womach. She has been working with parrots and toucans since the age of 17. She isn’t homeless but is home less than she prefers to be. She travels the world with her husband, daughter, and a flockful of parrots whom she shares the stage with.