Post by clt80 on Jan 5, 2017 17:32:06 GMT
Yesterday morning I lost Roger. I say 'I', but I mean 'we', as in myself and the flock.
Roger was advertised for rehoming in August 2016, as his partner had recently died and he'd become sad; I felt so sorry for him that I went to where he was and paid for him so he could come and live with me. I was desperate to rescue the poor little thing and make him happy.
He was a big, grey exhibition bird. His ring had 15 on it so he was between 1-2 years old, so young, yet he looked so much older because of his size. He was by far the largest bird in the aviary. After being inside for a few weeks to check for no illnesses he was finally let out into the aviary. He was usually head first in a tub eating with Ron, or preening on the tree on the same branch every time, it was his branch. He did like to preen, and he looked fantastic for it. Occasionally he would go on the big swing and rock back and forth. Inside the aviary where the flock go at night he always went on the branch nearest the radiator; I would often laugh and think there's Roger on his branch keeping warm.
Although he was big in size, he also had a big heart and was so soft with the other birds. I had hoped he would pair up with one of my hens, not to breed, just for love. As it turned out he didn't, and for reasons unknown he became good friends with Frank - a little blue budgie, and they would sit in the tree preening and feeding each other, then chirping together like they were discussing the local gossip. It warmed my heart that he'd bonded with another, I hope that gave him happiness in what unknown to me were his last months.
A couple of weeks ago I noticed he just wasn't....right. He was inside the aviary near the radiator in the daytime and i noticed another budgie pecking him....he wasn't hurting him but what alarmed me was Roger wasn't sticking up for himself and that he could be feeling ill.
He came inside and was on baytril, he did have some sort of tummy upset, I could tell from the bottom of his cage. I also noticed that he was thin when I held him; for all the puffing and preening of feathers he looked his normal size, but in my hands I could feel his bones. For a good week he seemed okay, warm and cosy inside with the radio and his toys and food. But a couple of days ago he stopped eating so much, and yesterday he was on the bottom of the cage when I got up. He kept twitching and I held him and I could feel how much weight he'd lost, I was losing him.
I called the vet and I knew what was coming, they would put him to sleep as that was what was best for him, he couldn't fight anymore and he was suffering. I have always had the mindset that when nothing else can be done and they are suffering then I have to suck in my pain and do the kindest thing I can do for them. The vet confirmed he was frail and very poorly, Roger didn't even fight the vet as he was so weak.
I held him in his last minutes next to my chest, near my heart and I hope that gave him a little bit of comfort.
My poor Roger, he was so young it just seems so unfair. But this is what happens in this funny thing called life.
Roger now rests in my back garden with others also gone to a happier place. I always plant some bulbs on their graves so each year when they bloom I will think happy thoughts for them. I have planted some snowdrops and crocus' on Rogers, they will look lovely for him every year.
I do hope Roger is now okay, and that he is back with his first love - the hen who broke his heart when she died. I would like to imagine them flying around, together, happy and pain free for all of eternity.
I am sorry I could not save you Roger.
Until we meet again Roger my sweet, rest in peace x
Roger was advertised for rehoming in August 2016, as his partner had recently died and he'd become sad; I felt so sorry for him that I went to where he was and paid for him so he could come and live with me. I was desperate to rescue the poor little thing and make him happy.
He was a big, grey exhibition bird. His ring had 15 on it so he was between 1-2 years old, so young, yet he looked so much older because of his size. He was by far the largest bird in the aviary. After being inside for a few weeks to check for no illnesses he was finally let out into the aviary. He was usually head first in a tub eating with Ron, or preening on the tree on the same branch every time, it was his branch. He did like to preen, and he looked fantastic for it. Occasionally he would go on the big swing and rock back and forth. Inside the aviary where the flock go at night he always went on the branch nearest the radiator; I would often laugh and think there's Roger on his branch keeping warm.
Although he was big in size, he also had a big heart and was so soft with the other birds. I had hoped he would pair up with one of my hens, not to breed, just for love. As it turned out he didn't, and for reasons unknown he became good friends with Frank - a little blue budgie, and they would sit in the tree preening and feeding each other, then chirping together like they were discussing the local gossip. It warmed my heart that he'd bonded with another, I hope that gave him happiness in what unknown to me were his last months.
A couple of weeks ago I noticed he just wasn't....right. He was inside the aviary near the radiator in the daytime and i noticed another budgie pecking him....he wasn't hurting him but what alarmed me was Roger wasn't sticking up for himself and that he could be feeling ill.
He came inside and was on baytril, he did have some sort of tummy upset, I could tell from the bottom of his cage. I also noticed that he was thin when I held him; for all the puffing and preening of feathers he looked his normal size, but in my hands I could feel his bones. For a good week he seemed okay, warm and cosy inside with the radio and his toys and food. But a couple of days ago he stopped eating so much, and yesterday he was on the bottom of the cage when I got up. He kept twitching and I held him and I could feel how much weight he'd lost, I was losing him.
I called the vet and I knew what was coming, they would put him to sleep as that was what was best for him, he couldn't fight anymore and he was suffering. I have always had the mindset that when nothing else can be done and they are suffering then I have to suck in my pain and do the kindest thing I can do for them. The vet confirmed he was frail and very poorly, Roger didn't even fight the vet as he was so weak.
I held him in his last minutes next to my chest, near my heart and I hope that gave him a little bit of comfort.
My poor Roger, he was so young it just seems so unfair. But this is what happens in this funny thing called life.
Roger now rests in my back garden with others also gone to a happier place. I always plant some bulbs on their graves so each year when they bloom I will think happy thoughts for them. I have planted some snowdrops and crocus' on Rogers, they will look lovely for him every year.
I do hope Roger is now okay, and that he is back with his first love - the hen who broke his heart when she died. I would like to imagine them flying around, together, happy and pain free for all of eternity.
I am sorry I could not save you Roger.
Until we meet again Roger my sweet, rest in peace x