Going Light:

Going light often refers to a bird that seems to be eating regularily, but when picked up is extremely light. The problem is that the bird can't absorb proper nutrition from the food it eats.

I recommend cooked couscous* with about 25% egg food and Avi-Culture™ sprinkled over the top. Feed this twice daily until the bird is back to normal. It can take several weeks to turn them around. Make sure they get plenty of this mix. Avi-Culture™ should also be added to the water for a week or two. Conuscous is high in carbohydrates and will help give the bird an energy boost while the internal organs are getting back into a healthy state by the addition of the avian probiotic.

If your birds ignore the couscous add a little poppy seed to spark their interest. For larger birds, add their favorite grain, nut or fruit to get them interested.

These new species-specific probiotics can supply nutrients to the host, aid in digestion and produce better food conversion. They will help keep disease causing microorganisms in check by producing antibacterial agents and enzymes that act on and kill many pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Probiotics help neutralize toxins produced by pathogenic bacteria and produce a wide range of B-vitamins and beneficial enzymes. Avi-Culture™ is an avian specific probiotic.

To help eliminate "going light" in young birds, sprinkle a little Avi-Culture™ on their nesting food for the first few weeks after they are taken from their parents. When hand feeding new born parrots, I would include the probiotic from the first day of hand feeding. Remember a little goes a long way. Avi-Culture™ does not contain fillers as do some probiotics.

Couscous is tiny grains of Moroccan style pasta made from semolina wheat.
Ingredients: precooked medium grain semolina.
Nutrition Facts: Total Fat - 1g, Sodium - 5mg, Carbohydrate - 46g, Protein - 8g.

Put 1 cup of water in the microwave for 2 minutes. Add the hot water to 1 cup of couscous and stir. The couscous will absorb the water in about 5 minutes, fluff and cool. It can be fed warm but not hot. Birds love it with a little poppy seed and a little wheat germ meal mixed in.

Large grocery stores carry couscous in the pasta section. There is very little shelf space devoted to couscous and even most of the clerks don't seem to know what it is. Get a manager to help you if a clerk doesn't know about it. Try looking in the section with Rice A Roni or Macaroni & Cheese mixes. It comes in small boxes. I recommend the "plain" couscous since it absorbs the water easier. It also comes with flavor packets which are mostly salt. If you cannot find the plain, buy a flavored mix and just don't use the packet.

Health food stores may sell couscous in bulk and that may be less expensive. If you are just trying to save one bird from going light, then a small box is all you need. If you are feeding it on a regular basis the bulk purchase may be the way to go.