Stunting (failure to thrive) in parrots
Other names: The chick is not growing
Symptoms
- Thin body with a large head
- Thin toes and wings
- Delayed eye and ear opening
- Dry skin and curled head feathers
How it spreads
Not contagious; usually in the first 30 days due to the breeder's inexperience.
Diagnosis
Daily weight curve compared with normal.
Treatment
Supportive: fluids, nutrition, warmth; treat infection if present.
Prevention
Daily weighing in the morning before feeding, and recording it; feed volume ~10% of body weight.
Treatment and doses are decided by an avian vet after an exam; Zajel does not publish doses.
Other diseases
- Crop stasis/sour crop
- Crop burn
- Aspiration pneumonia
- Splayed legs
- Beak deformities (scissor/protruding)
- Constricted toe syndrome
- Chick dehydration