Bird dies suddenly

[suzyc1954]

I don't know where to post this but I am so distraught and can't stop crying. Cheeky died last night between 1.00 and 4.00 when I went to bed then got up with the intentin of taking him to an avian vet but when I got up at 4.00 p.m. he had died. On Thursday he came out of his cage which he shared with two other birds, Babe and Ben and went' to his usual perch on top of the door but he looked all fluffed up as though he was cold. When I came home I found him under the settee as he wasn't able to make it to the cage. When I put him in the cage the other two birds were a bit aggressive with him so I put him in a small box lined with cotton wool and he seemed happier laying down. I tried to find an avian vet and an emergency number said they would call me back but didn't. On Friday he seemed a little better and could fly to the cage but was still fluffed up and not eating or drinking. I gave him water from a syringe and kept him in the box close to me. I took him out and kept him on my chest and preened him. He would not normally let me do this although he was finger tame and would liked to try to mate with although I discouragd this. I woke up at 4.00 p.m. this morning and found him outside the box in a the smaller cage I kept him in away from the other two birds. I put him in some tissue and a small box and need to bury him but I can't do anything as I can't stop crying as I blame myself for not getting him some help sooner. I miss his noise and general boisterness and can't believe this has happened so quickly. I can't cope with the way I feel. What can kill a bird so quickly

[mizloco]

Please don't be so hard on yourself there are a few things that can happen so fast but he knew he was loved and cared for. RIP little cheeky.

[suzyc1954]

Apr 19, 2014 13:47:56 GMT mizloco said:

Please don't be so hard on yourself there are a few things that can happen so fast but he knew he was loved and cared for. RIP little cheeky. [/

Thanks - your very kind but it was my fault for not getting him the help he needed sooner. No words will help me over this.

[starlingqueen]

Even if you had got him to a vet he may still not have survived. Birds are very good at hiding illness. They need to look healthy in nature or they will become targeted as prey for other animals, the weak are always singled out. Cheeky was probably ill for some time but hid it so you would never know until he got so bad he was unable to hide it any longer, by this stage it would probably have been too late.
It is not your fault, there is nothing to blame yourself for. You sound like you gave him a wonderful life and he was very much loved. That is the best we can do and you should feel proud that you were such a good caring owner.
Maybe you could take the remaining 2 to a vet for a check up to rule out any problems that they may have. Just for peace of mind.
How old was Cheeky?

[Hezz]

Sorry to read this. RIP Cheeky.

[BudgiesBuddy]

If it is any consolation, I believe that everything happens the way it is destined to.
I am sorry for your loss. Rest in peace little one.

[jellybean]

Everyone who has loved and lost a little bird knows exactly how you feel, myself included.
Soar high little one.

[jonah]

Sorry for your loss. I agree with starlingqueen and would add, it might not have been a treatable illness, it may have been organ failure or a number of other things.

[ffiscool]

I agree with everyone else, there would have more than likely been something underlying that had not yet presented as birds do hide their illnesses.

IF you had got Cheeky to a vet, then they might have run loads of tests but I believe the outcome would have been the same, and Cheeky wouldn't have been with you at home in familiar surroundings.

Many years ago, when Dusty died, I had taken him to a vet, and then one day I visited he looked awful. I wanted to take him home to die with me, but the vet dissuaded me. I regret that totally. He wouldnt have gotten better and went downhill very fast. I just wish he was in his own cage/at home.

So please do not beat yourself up, when a bud gets that ill, there is very little to be done.

You showed him love and gave him comfort (i.e. on your chest, preening etc)... he knew he was loved. It is very hard when you feel that way, but you didn't do anything wrong.

Cheeky is up there flying about now with lots of other buds and not suffering in any way.

[mizloco]

suzyc1954 how you doing? Hope youre ok.

[suzyc1954]

Apr 21, 2014 16:10:29 GMT mizloco said:

suzyc1954 how you doing? Hope youre ok.

Hi - thanks to everyone who has put their kind comments on this post.

I am still very upset but know that I can't change what has happened so I have decided to get another budgie as I have a spare cage and will introduce him slowly to the other two. Besides working I need something to focus on and training a new budgie may help with this. Babe (the female)is feeling the loss but Ben (the male)seems to be accepting his disappearance as normal (competition is out the way!!). Both birds are about nine years old and Ben can't fly - he has had French moult and lost all his flight feathers. I tried to attach a photo of them but haven't famothed out how to do this. Can I look for a bird on this site?

[suzyc1954]

I have attached a photo to my personal profile which shows Ben (on the left) Cheeky in the middle and Babe on the right.

[ffiscool]

What a lovely photo....

to upload, others will explain it better, but I use photobucket and when you load on there, it gives you a link to share - OP is good with all this....

I am not sure who is from your area, but there is the Budgerigar Society who have a list of breeders and also a link on the home page of this, I think with some. Others on here may well know of breeders in your area.

Ben looks just like my Bailey... is he a pied?

[suzyc1954]

Hi - I don't know if Ben is a pied - he looks like that Budgie up above on the left in the banner to the site. I will look on the home page for a breeder but I would rather have someone from this site who I know will care and look after their budgies.

Sue
xxx

[ffiscool]

if he is a pied, he has the white patch on the back of his head..

Yes hopefully someone on here will be able to help, but a breeder is as good if recommended