Post by clt80 on Oct 5, 2017 9:34:46 GMT
Edith. Beautiful, Edith. She was a gorgeous, yellow lutino - just stunning.
Edith was advertised for sale to be rehomed from an aviary about an hour away from where I live. She was an older bird her age unknown, and hadn't been getting on with another in the flock. I felt sorry for her. Being removed from her flock, from her offsprings, from her friends and presumably her partner, to go to a new surrounding. I contacted the owner and said I'd come and get her, once I'd seen the advert I wouldn't have been able to get her out my mind. I went and collected her on 23 August 2016. She was in a little travel cage and we drove back 'home' with the radio on low, she was good as gold.
After incubation, she went out to the aviary. She caused no trouble, and never had a run in with anyone. She took a liking to the other two lutino's in the aviary: Sue and Rita. In particular Rita. They wouldn't preen or feed each other but they would always perch next to each other in the daytime, and again at night to go to sleep. They enjoyed a friendship. I always wondered if it was because they looked so alike that they use to stick together; who knows, but they would always light a corner of the aviary up in a beautiful yellow, even on rainy dull days.
No suitor ever got anywhere with Edith, she was a girl's girl. She had her pal Rita and that was all she needed. She liked to sit on the ladder and pull ropes and toys, she'd spend ages just pulling and tugging away. Her other happy place was the branch right at the top apex of the aviary. She'd snooze in the daytime here, then wake up and peruse what the others were up to below her. She was at a vantage point and she liked to keep an eye on what was going on.
Edith never looked messy, even after eating carrot or greens, her chest and face feathers would be immaculate. No orange or green stains on them.
In February 2017 three new boys came to the aviary, one being Harold. He was only young but he took an instant liking to Edith. Surprisingly she felt the same and a beautiful romance began.
I was so happy for them both, Harold had been unwanted but came with two brothers so he settled in quickly. Where as Ediith had been plucked from all she knew and no matter how hard I tried to make things easy for her, there is no way the move to mine can't have upset or stressed her, she must of been scared. I just thought her previous owner was going to sell her to anyone, as nice as he was, at least if I took her I'd give her the best I possibly could.
She was happy with Harold, and she still sometimes hung out with Rita and Sue. Harold was besotted with her. Feeding her. Preening her. Singing to her. He loved her.
A month or so ago Edith started squeaking and getting out of breath. She came inside and the squeaking stopped. Edith didn't want to be inside, she'd bang the toys in her cage, in particular the pink mirror with a bell on it. Bang, bang, bang all the time. Often she'd be upside down banging it. For the first few days she would upturn the grit pot, spilling it's contents everywhere. I caught her one day sat in the seed tray scratting away with her feet and seed flying everywhere around the table. She was a little minx when she wanted to be, such a great personality. After a week of what I thought was her getting better I put her back into the aviary. I did this on an evening as the weather had turned and I wanted her inside with the heater on. Of course she flew outside but as sunset was soon I knew she'd be inside soon. A few hours later upon locking up Edith was outside alone. She eventually went inside. I didn't think anything of it. I sat inside with the radio on for a few minutes just watching them, Edith in particular to make sure she was okay. She was sandwiched between Harold and Tom. Harold was preening her head. Edith was turning it 180 degrees round, up and down, she looked like a little owl. It was a happy sight to behold. Little Harold, who was half the size of Edith, preening away and Edith sat there spinning her head enjoying it. I turned off the radio and closed up for the night.
I didn't realise that would be the last time I saw Edith alive. This morning she was on the floor of the aviary and had passed. She is now buried in the garden, with yellow and purple crocuses on top of her grave.
Edith - I have so many questions to ask you. Were you happy here? What had made you so poorly? What could I have done to save you? Did you suffer? Should I have kept you inside longer?
I will never know. All I know is that I loved her and I hope her life was the best it could have been whilst she was with me.
Edith - rest in peace my love, you were obviously very poorly but were so brave throughout. An inspiration to us all.
Fly high sweetie pie, until we meet again xxx
Edith was advertised for sale to be rehomed from an aviary about an hour away from where I live. She was an older bird her age unknown, and hadn't been getting on with another in the flock. I felt sorry for her. Being removed from her flock, from her offsprings, from her friends and presumably her partner, to go to a new surrounding. I contacted the owner and said I'd come and get her, once I'd seen the advert I wouldn't have been able to get her out my mind. I went and collected her on 23 August 2016. She was in a little travel cage and we drove back 'home' with the radio on low, she was good as gold.
After incubation, she went out to the aviary. She caused no trouble, and never had a run in with anyone. She took a liking to the other two lutino's in the aviary: Sue and Rita. In particular Rita. They wouldn't preen or feed each other but they would always perch next to each other in the daytime, and again at night to go to sleep. They enjoyed a friendship. I always wondered if it was because they looked so alike that they use to stick together; who knows, but they would always light a corner of the aviary up in a beautiful yellow, even on rainy dull days.
No suitor ever got anywhere with Edith, she was a girl's girl. She had her pal Rita and that was all she needed. She liked to sit on the ladder and pull ropes and toys, she'd spend ages just pulling and tugging away. Her other happy place was the branch right at the top apex of the aviary. She'd snooze in the daytime here, then wake up and peruse what the others were up to below her. She was at a vantage point and she liked to keep an eye on what was going on.
Edith never looked messy, even after eating carrot or greens, her chest and face feathers would be immaculate. No orange or green stains on them.
In February 2017 three new boys came to the aviary, one being Harold. He was only young but he took an instant liking to Edith. Surprisingly she felt the same and a beautiful romance began.
I was so happy for them both, Harold had been unwanted but came with two brothers so he settled in quickly. Where as Ediith had been plucked from all she knew and no matter how hard I tried to make things easy for her, there is no way the move to mine can't have upset or stressed her, she must of been scared. I just thought her previous owner was going to sell her to anyone, as nice as he was, at least if I took her I'd give her the best I possibly could.
She was happy with Harold, and she still sometimes hung out with Rita and Sue. Harold was besotted with her. Feeding her. Preening her. Singing to her. He loved her.
A month or so ago Edith started squeaking and getting out of breath. She came inside and the squeaking stopped. Edith didn't want to be inside, she'd bang the toys in her cage, in particular the pink mirror with a bell on it. Bang, bang, bang all the time. Often she'd be upside down banging it. For the first few days she would upturn the grit pot, spilling it's contents everywhere. I caught her one day sat in the seed tray scratting away with her feet and seed flying everywhere around the table. She was a little minx when she wanted to be, such a great personality. After a week of what I thought was her getting better I put her back into the aviary. I did this on an evening as the weather had turned and I wanted her inside with the heater on. Of course she flew outside but as sunset was soon I knew she'd be inside soon. A few hours later upon locking up Edith was outside alone. She eventually went inside. I didn't think anything of it. I sat inside with the radio on for a few minutes just watching them, Edith in particular to make sure she was okay. She was sandwiched between Harold and Tom. Harold was preening her head. Edith was turning it 180 degrees round, up and down, she looked like a little owl. It was a happy sight to behold. Little Harold, who was half the size of Edith, preening away and Edith sat there spinning her head enjoying it. I turned off the radio and closed up for the night.
I didn't realise that would be the last time I saw Edith alive. This morning she was on the floor of the aviary and had passed. She is now buried in the garden, with yellow and purple crocuses on top of her grave.
Edith - I have so many questions to ask you. Were you happy here? What had made you so poorly? What could I have done to save you? Did you suffer? Should I have kept you inside longer?
I will never know. All I know is that I loved her and I hope her life was the best it could have been whilst she was with me.
Edith - rest in peace my love, you were obviously very poorly but were so brave throughout. An inspiration to us all.
Fly high sweetie pie, until we meet again xxx
