Lily <3

[clt80]

Devastatingly Lily was put to sleep this morning.

I rehomed Lily in August last year. Her leg ring said 16 so she was approx. 1 years old. So young.

This morning as I went in the aviary all the budgies fly to the 'flap' ready for me to open it and then they fly out. In the commotion I heard a thud and looked down and saw the cuttlebone had been knocked down in the flurry.

Half an hour later I returned to clean the aviary and bring veg and change the water. As I opened the inside enclosure Lily was on the floor. The thud I'd heard was her fall, but I'd not realised or seen her.

I picked her up, she was breathing heavily. I held her for a while, when I checked her feet she gripped them but wouldn't move as such. Her head was in a funny position.as I put her in a towel she didn't want to let go of my finger.

I called the vets, and went straight down. The vet asked if she was blind, I said no. He confirmed she must of hit her head when she fell as she couldn't see. Her eyes did not respond to light being shone in them. That explained her not wanting to let go of my finger. It was a comfort to her as she had lost her sight in the fall, and I took it away so I could drive to the vet.

Lily got a strong shot of steroids to help with the head trauma, and I presume the swelling of her brain. He said the next 12 hours were critical. I said I'll feed her, I'll syringe water to her. He said to not do anything for 2-3 hours. It dawned on me..... I asked him, was she going to die. He said most likely, the trauma to her little head must of been so horrific.

I did what I thought was the kindness thing for her. I held her and my vet put her to sleep. As she died I held her next to my chest and I sobbed.

I have buried her in my garden with the others and put snowdrop bulbs on her grave. I felt they were appropriate as they are white like Lily and beautiful just like her

It was a tragedy accident. I can't quite come to terms with it. It should not have happened. She was young. She was healthy. It wasn't her time. It just wasn't her time.

Lily had the most beautiful personality. She was a fair sized bird, which made her look older than what she actually was. She was white with a few cinnamon markings on. She was a beauty. She was the friendliest budgie in regard to other budgies that I've ever seen or indeed had. She would go up to all of them and sing loudly, Bobbing her head up and down. All her head feathers stuck on end. I often laughed when I'd look in and see her head bobbing frantically at someone. She was always excited; a beautiful quality to have.

She had a short lived romance with Desmond. He then got with another, but I'd sometimes see them together in a corner, like they were catching up. Lily seemed okay, she was always singing to someone.

Lily was the budgie who everyone loved, never quarrelled with and was joy itself.

I still can't believe she has gone. Life can be very cruel. Usually it's the innocent ones that suffer. Poor Lily. Rest in peace my sweetheart, I hope I did the right thing for you this morning. I realised now why your feet gripped my finger, you couldn't see. I'm sorry I didn't realise. I am sorry the end was so awful and scary for you. Rest in peace my dear friend. Until we meet again xx

[clt80]

[Hezz]

I am so sorry, clt80. What a terribly sad thing to have happened, a terrible accident. Poor sweet little Lily; she certainly was a beauty.

Rest in peace, little one. xx

[Marianne Marlow]

I'm so sorry to hear about Lily, she was a beautiful little girl.

My JoJo also died of an accident (Feb this year). JoJo could not hold her head properly either and I also think she'd suffered a sight issue with her fall. You did the right thing putting Lily to sleep, I wish I had done the same for JoJo, I tried to keep her alive for 2 days before she passed.

Rest in peace sweet Lily x

[jellybean]

 Rest in peace beautiful girl. Im so sorry clt80.

[clt80]

This is a better picture of her.

It's just shouldn't have happened, I can't accept what has happened. Maybe tomorrow I will feel a little better.

There is a niggle in the back of my mind, would the steroid shot have helped her head and would she of recovered. But then I argue with my thought s in that she must of been in tremendous pain. It just shouldn't have happened.

Poor Lily. I keep crying when I think of her.

She is the sixth I've lost this year. It's been a truly awful year.

[helenmat]

So so sorry clt80, as someone who has recently suffered the loss of a dear little friend I send you my total sympathy. Fly high little one!

[starlingqueen]

I'm so sorry, it is a truly heartbreaking way to lose a bird. You have had so many losses this year I feel for you and know what you are going through. I too have had many losses this year. 5 in total, not all birds, this year has been a sad one.

[clt80]

Thank you all for kind words.

I love all my budgies the same, but I'm having trouble with accepting the nature of Lily's passing and I just can't process it and try to move forward.

I panic now when I open the aviary, worry about will fall and the same fate will occur.

I also wish I had more pictures of her. I am going to take some pictures of them all as soon as the weather improves. Lily had beautiful red eyes, and I've no picture that shows this, all I have is the visual image in my memory.

I'd to know her mutation if anyone can help - she was white with red eyes, all her head and body was white except for cinnamon dots on each of her cheek patches and her wings were white with cinnamon lace, lacewing I think it's called. Not sure - I've never got my head around mutations and colours.

[Shirls]

So sorry to read this clt80. Lily was truly beautiful. Fly high little girl.

[samwiseg]

Never blame yourself as it is the hardest decision you have to make albeit the kindest one.

You didn't want little Lily to suffer and I have no doubt she has brightened up the lives of other budgies over rainbow bridge xx

[bud9]

Just seen this, i am so sorry for the loss of lily, you did everything you could. 

[sweetpea]

I feel sad reading this. I'm sorry you lost Lily in such circumstances. She was beautiful. Fly high little one.