Lost a dear friend today (my bird)

A little over 5 years ago, I was wandering the mall in a rather dejected manner. It was winter, my entire family had moved out of state, and I was stuck in a crappy little rental. My wanderings took me into the petstore. In the window, in a plexi box, sat a dejected looking fanci parakeet. She was all alone too. As wondered if I should get her or not, a fly entered the box and flew right at her.

When she ducked, I knew I had to bring her home.

The first month, she sat in her cage, I had left it open (the whole front opened on this cockitiel sized cage) with a ladder sticking out at an angle. Sitting on a low book shelf next to my computer, the end of the ladder ended about a foot from me.

Penny slowly tamed herself, coming to me rather than me forcing myself on her.

This poor little dejected and rejected bird turned into the sweetest thing. in the over 5 years I owned her, she never once even nipped me. Not even when the vet gave her an injection of antibiotics.

The last 4 days were the hardest. She has been sick for the past 2 weeks, and I tried everything to get her better, but the past 4, she could barely move around the cage and all she did (aside from eating and drinking) was cling to the back of my neck for warmth and companionship.

Today she has none of that. She got to the point where she could not cling to me anymore around 3ish.. I held her till 4 when she finally breathed her last.

Farewell my fine feathered friend..

Penny before this all happened:

The last couple of hours:

I'm sorry. As a fellow bird owner, I know how you feel. My quaker parakeet died a few years ago. People who don't have birds don't realize how affectionate - and loyal - they can be.

I'm sorry for your loss.

My condolences, we lost our african grey earlier this summer. You kinda have to be a bird person to really understand just how much these guys become a part of your life.

That sucks dude.

My parakeet was a loner in the store too. The other birds hated it because its albino. These birds know when you show them love and will love you back unlike any dog or cat could.

That warm fuzzy feeling you got when she was on your neck just crawled up my spine also, bird owners are a different breed. I have nothing else. Sorry don't cut it . May I suggest you rescue another............soon?

We have a female who we rescued around 10 years ago, she cuddles up to me all the time, she knows my car when I pull up and she has even laid eggs on me, I feel your pain.

Several years ago we had a female eclectus that we rescued from a horrifically bad situation. The day we got her, we kind of knew it was going to end poorly. Her nails had grown so long they had punctured her feet, and the resultant infection had nearly crippled both her legs. She spent six months with us before she died in the arms of my wife and myself. Our two cockatoos, who were usually rowdy and rambunctious around the time of the night this was all happening, were standing wing to wing in their room, as quiet and still as statues. We brought their departed companion out to show them, and they each reached down in turn and gave her a single preen down the length of her wing before returning to their perches. It was quite possibly one of the most gut-wrenching days of my life.

Our flock has grown since then, but Tessa's memory will persist. One of he feathers resides in the lining of my race helmet, and her image is permanently inked onto my right arm.

These creatures share a special bond with us. There's perhaps no better BS detector than a bird. They are as clued into our emotions and feeling as well as any animal you'll ever likely encounter. It's an amazing ability, but it just makes it that much harder when they leave.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Thanks for giving her five exceptional years.

jg

thanks,

The bell you see her under in the first picture is the only thing I kept besides the cage itself. even the perches got thrown out. No sense in taking a chance in infecting a new bird with whatever did penny in. Tomarrow I will scrub her cage down from top to bottom and might take it to the carwash for a high pressure was down.

I almost put the bell in with her before burying her.. but I decided I needed something to remind me. Penny now resides at the base of a birch tree I planted here when I moved in.. and not long after I got her. The bell sits on my desk

Peace.

Sorry to hear of your loss.

My wife and I are owned by a couple cockatoos , and two amazons.

They all have their own personalities and I would hate to lose any of them, even the grumpy, bitey one.

Shawn

JG Pasterjak wrote: Several years ago we had a female eclectus that we rescued from a horrifically bad situation. The day we got her, we kind of knew it was going to end poorly. Her nails had grown so long they had punctured her feet, and the resultant infection had nearly crippled both her legs. She spent six months with us before she died in the arms of my wife and myself. Our two cockatoos, who were usually rowdy and rambunctious around the time of the night this was all happening, were standing wing to wing in their room, as quiet and still as statues. We brought their departed companion out to show them, and they each reached down in turn and gave her a single preen down the length of her wing before returning to their perches. It was quite possibly one of the most gut-wrenching days of my life.

Wow.

Very sorry for your loss, OP.

Sorry to hear that. Our cockatiel was abused prior to coming to live with us and can switch from super affectionate to complete ass in a heartbeat. I still would not trade him for anything.

I have to say that this morning was hard. Usually when I first wake up and come out into the living room or I walk in the door.. all I would have to say is "How's my penny bird?" And she would put up a big fuss to get let out.

I didn't realise how much that was a part of my life.

As a Wiccan, I believe all forms of life are just as important as another. As an animal lover and caretaker of two cats and a dog, I feel your pain and wish the best to you. I hope you find a lonely little friend again because there are lots of animals that need the care you can provide.

In reply to N Sperlo:

Very nicely put.

As a fellow Parakeet owner, I feel for you. I have owned several over the years and they really are great birds. My wife and I have one currently and for some reason he likes explosions and violence on TV.

I'm sorry to hear you lost your friend. It always seems like their time always comes too soon.

From your story, I'm glad you found her (and vice versa). Sounds like you both had a great time together over the years. Funny how the good times make the bad ones so much worse. Cheers to your feathered friend.

Sorry for your loss.

We get so attached to the animals we share our lives with. We miss them so much when they are gone.

awwww

that totally sux! sorry man! don't know what I'd do without my pets.

That pic of her on your shoulder is a real heart wrencher. Hang in there.

She sounds like such a sweet thing. Thank you for opening your heart to her.

I went to "wings of hope"s website today and filled out the paperwork to adopt a bird.. they have a senegal parrot up for adoption I would not mind taking care of.

We shall see.. I could always just wind up with another fancy parakeet.. I do love those little birds

That's such great news! Some little winged friend is going to be a lucky soul.

Dew It, Sunny approves! Picutre Fail