My green cheek conure is underweight. Will she grow normally?

Adult green cheeked conures (that's what Angel looks like) weigh between 60 and 80 grams. They average 70 grams. He seems to be on schedule in regards to weight. You can feel his breast for a pronounced keep (breast bone), if there isn't much muscle mass, he may be a bit thin. It is always recommended to have an experienced avian veterinarian examine a new bird. An exam can confirm good health or may diagnose pre-existing conditions. Beak growth can vary from bird to bird. Beak trimming isn't typically done unless the beak is overgrown. A young bird would not be expected to have an overgrown beak.

Hi and thank you for this question, This sounds more like a behavioral issue rather than a medical one. GC conures are playful birds by nature, so I'm not sure there is a problem. Also, very young birds often lose some weight as they mature and become more active. I would continue to watch YaYa's weight using an accurate gram scale and see if there is a persistant weight loss or just fluctuations. If he continues to lose weight a vet exam is indicated.

Bird droppings normally contain some green as well as white and some liquid. If you feed mainly seeds, the droppings will be mostly green. A pelleted diet will make droppings darker. Some feather loss is normal as she matures. Her first molt may be around 8 months of age. Symptoms of illness that warrant an exam with your veterinarian include lethargy, decreased appetite, loose droppings, perched with feathers fluffed, vomiting or excessive regurgitation.

https://www.omarsexoticbirds.com/diet.html This is a great website for information about what to feed your conure. Also for specific questions, you could try calling their store during opening hours (they are in California).

As far as I can see from the photo, the feathers look normal and healthy. Some color change and darkening of feathers is normal, and the feathers may continue to change somewhat until Pa Pa reaches maturity. Molts can also change feather color some as old feathers fall out and new ones come in. If he is otherwise healthy, normal, and active, I wouldn't be worried. If the feathers change rapidly, fall out, seem bothersome, or you notice any signs of illness in addition to the changes, scheduling a checkup with your local vet to rule out any health issues is always the best course of action.

At his current age, you can start weaning him off of hand feeding formula. Begin to gradually decrease the amount and frequency of feeding. Offer a commercial pelleted diet and a fortified seed mix. Millet sprays can also be offered. Check his crop to ensure he is eating. You can continue to supplement as needed though to prevent weight loss. The droppings look normal for a chick being hand fed. The increased liquid can result in loose stool. Expect the consistency and appearance of droppings to change once the transition to solid food is made. Contact local breeders, bird keepers or even zoos to get information on avian veterinarians that will be able to examine Kiwi if necessary.

Thanks for reaching out about Quincy. First, is to determine why she is so thin. If it is lack of nutrtion, then improving her diet should suffice. If she is ill (renal, liver, intestinal, other) then that must be determined in hopes of fixing the problem. A veterinary visit is needed to come to those conclusions. Likely blood work, fecal examination will be recommended. Good luck.