I've been wondering about this for awhile. Occasionally I hear of a "fat line" mentioned in the chest feathers of birds - when you can see a vertical line in the feathers down the middle of the chest. I've tried looking this up several times and have found no information on it. Does anyone have information about this and if this feather line does indeed indicate that the bird is overweight? My husband says that in wild birds this is a common thing as the feathers naturally separate along the breast bones when they fly.

Lulu is the only one that I sometimes see a line on:



At her well check last year the AV said that her upper chest area was slightly fatty. But although being a larger female tiel she is not overweight per se. And she gets a lot of flying time so I would expect her chest muscles to be built up.

I never heard it called that before. All of mine have it and they are kept lean. I always thought it was the keel line and a natural part in feather follicle?

Yep, that's what we think too. I think that I've read in one of the most recent Bird Talk magazines that this was referred to as a "fat line" and was an indication of being overweight - and I've heard it here and there other times as well.

But as I said, I've never found any substantial information on this.

Its not seriously fat on a bird that is fed a healthy diet. It would be a bad thing on a bird that is fed seed and peanuts. It is not the outside visible fat that is the problem but the build up of fat around the liver. It is really only an indication. Wild birds at different times of the year appear different since sometimes they do build up body fat and lose it again when the lean times come.

artemis has that "line" every now and then, too. i've never heard it been called a "fat line" before.

I've NEVER seen a wild bird have this. I believe this is definetly true. Pua had it when I first got her, she looked like she had very femine birdie breasts. Kiki my male budgie had this when he wasnt flighted, oh he was a fatty bird. Im not sure if its just being "fat" or just plumpuous breasts on the bird, or just very healthy. But even my healthy finches who are fed very healthy food along with seed do not have this. Perhaps this does indicate a fat bird? Or a fat bird with healthy feathers..

Mercedez

I've never heard it called a fat line before. I've also never seen it in wild birds, but then I've never been looking for it either. Ollie has a line you can see when her feathers are slimmed down, but its not as pronounced as Lulu's in that picture. At her last vet check they said she wasn't overweight at all. Dakota doesn't have a noticeable line at all.

I have another question: It must be hereditary? - some are naturally plump.

Not all birds/animals are, what my Dad would call Good Producers = what they eat turns into building fat & muscle. This is something the farmers look for when selecting stock that uses their food to the maximum benefit to their growth overall.

At my house, when I was growing up I was considered a poor producer - ate tons & was as skinny as a rake.

Aside: My father helped develop the chicken we now eat, in the 60's. He chose a variety of birds to produce genetically the qualities we all want in a big, healthy bird. I remember when he came home from a conference in the States - he'd met Colonel Saunders & I as a child I was very impressed. [Kentucky Fried Chicken to you younger people - or KFC].

That's a good point. (I would be called a Poor Producer too lol).

Tonight I'll dig up the Bird Talk article where it mentions chest feather lines in association with an overweight bird, I know I've read it recently.

What Causes Fatty Liver Disease in Pet Birds

If the fat content of the diet is too high, the fat accumulates in
the bloodstream and is deposited throughout the body, especially
in the liver, as well as the causing development of fat deposits.


This fat slowly infiltrates into the liver over time so that
there is less and less functional liver tissue left until normal
body metabolism is disrupted and the bird is subject
to secondary disease.

As this fat accumulates it forms fat deposits on the chest and
abdomen so that the bird has a buxomy chest or belly. Due to the
excessive weight the bird may be unable to fly or tires easily.
Fat accumulation may also occur around the heart, interfering
with normal function.


Fatty Liver Disease is thus caused by a high fat seed diet.
Seed is high in fat (which is why the birds like it so much,
it tastes really good).

All About Fatty Liver Disease in Pet Birds

Fit or Fat?
So, how can you tell if your bird is fat? Check the breast muscle on either side of your bird’s keel (the breastbone down the center of your bird’s chest). On either side of the keel, you should be able to feel firm, rounded muscle. It shouldn’t be boney and concaved. A bird that is carrying extra fat will have chest “cleavage” and the keel bone will not be easily palpated.
Light in Flight– Hartz.com