Post by ariella on Oct 16, 2023 23:54:48 GMT
It is with great sadness that I am letting you all know Otis left us yesterday. You may recall he was a fluffed up tired little chap and I’d moved him across to the hospital cage for some rest and to monitor him. I could see that his most likeliest problem was FLD. The telltale bruising on the beak, the poops, the beak just starting to show signs of overgrowth. I had this confirmed with the vet and started him on milk thistle drops and some Avi-Pro Avian. The little monkey remained quiet but not hugely worrying and got the full pamper treatment including a lamp above for warmth.
Over the days his poops got much better and I began to see him rallying and thought he’d be back with the rest of the flock by the weekend. On Monday last week, he was perky and joined in with the chattering and singing while we celebrated my second son’s 23rd birthday. I felt very confident Otis had turned the corner. He was approaching 4 years old at the end of the year so thought he stood a good chance of recovering but it wasn’t to be.
He deteriorated very quickly. Not touching his veggies but hunched over his seed bowl I could see something wasn’t right. I thought I saw a bit of a tail bob, but couldn’t be certain whether I was overthinking things. But then I saw him waver a little on his perch and worried there was a balance issue. Yesterday it was apparent that there was no hope and he wouldn’t be rejoining the flock. I saw no point in a trip to the vet as there’d be nothing they could do and it would be cruel to scoop him up and out, causing him unnecessary stress when he was passing quite peacefully mostly whilst sleeping and so I decided he should remain at home, surrounded by love, and that is what happened.
The flock knew, they called to me; they remained in their cages so he had no concerned beaks coming to see, help or perhaps interfere. They watched silently as I took him out the cage for a final cuddle and wrapped him up into a little cocoon with the last flowering rose in the garden. I buried him in a pot and scattered hydrangea flowers over him before filling it up with the rest of the soil. Then onto cleaning and disinfecting the hospital cage and all within it. No time to really process it all as the day was full of comings and goings and my head has been working pretty hard for the last fortnight with one thing or another. It is currently one of those surreal periods where I’m drifting through on auto-pilot.
Now to let the flock accept and get used to a new dynamic. One short, but this morning I am glad to hear that they’re no quieter. Yesterday’s silence from them was deafening. However once they saw me they called for him. ☹️
And so we move into a new week and I can see Otis’s pot right beside Gaia’s (the budgie in my profile pic) and Aurelia’s - the only tortoise I was unable to make better. Popcorn the Guinea pig is just in behind them and memories of the flock of hens and of my sons’ tree frogs from their teens are all here. My garden is a haven where I can feel close to them all and for that I know I am indeed fortunate.
My fluffiest of the flock, my cool dude, my little chap, how we will miss you.
I’m so grateful for the cuddle we had yesterday when I thought you were about to pass, holding you gently in my hands and stroking your head for over 20 minutes. Then you became more alert, opened an eye and looked at me. Opened it again and gave me a beady stare. Opened it a third time and lifted your head and started to look around and let me know what did I think I was doing?! It wasn’t quite time yet! 😂
So back down to the hospital cage you went in the company of the flock (not in the hospital cage obviously) and it was there you decided you were ready to slip across to the warm skies and soar above the fields of millet. I told you Gaia would be waiting for you and I’m certain she was. Fly high little man. You brought me so much joy and happiness. We will miss you but will never forget you and like all the other animal family members, we celebrate your wonderful life lived with deep love and feel blessed that your sweet soul was a part of our family.
A few photos to look back on with an abundance of fondness and love.
]
Your first photo at the breeders.
Enjoying a good splash
Three of you home and in quarantine. Otis, Ivo and Henry
Settling well into the Hamberley once successful introductions were made with Louie and Luca.
Such a distinctive blue grey colour .
Over the days his poops got much better and I began to see him rallying and thought he’d be back with the rest of the flock by the weekend. On Monday last week, he was perky and joined in with the chattering and singing while we celebrated my second son’s 23rd birthday. I felt very confident Otis had turned the corner. He was approaching 4 years old at the end of the year so thought he stood a good chance of recovering but it wasn’t to be.
He deteriorated very quickly. Not touching his veggies but hunched over his seed bowl I could see something wasn’t right. I thought I saw a bit of a tail bob, but couldn’t be certain whether I was overthinking things. But then I saw him waver a little on his perch and worried there was a balance issue. Yesterday it was apparent that there was no hope and he wouldn’t be rejoining the flock. I saw no point in a trip to the vet as there’d be nothing they could do and it would be cruel to scoop him up and out, causing him unnecessary stress when he was passing quite peacefully mostly whilst sleeping and so I decided he should remain at home, surrounded by love, and that is what happened.
The flock knew, they called to me; they remained in their cages so he had no concerned beaks coming to see, help or perhaps interfere. They watched silently as I took him out the cage for a final cuddle and wrapped him up into a little cocoon with the last flowering rose in the garden. I buried him in a pot and scattered hydrangea flowers over him before filling it up with the rest of the soil. Then onto cleaning and disinfecting the hospital cage and all within it. No time to really process it all as the day was full of comings and goings and my head has been working pretty hard for the last fortnight with one thing or another. It is currently one of those surreal periods where I’m drifting through on auto-pilot.
Now to let the flock accept and get used to a new dynamic. One short, but this morning I am glad to hear that they’re no quieter. Yesterday’s silence from them was deafening. However once they saw me they called for him. ☹️
And so we move into a new week and I can see Otis’s pot right beside Gaia’s (the budgie in my profile pic) and Aurelia’s - the only tortoise I was unable to make better. Popcorn the Guinea pig is just in behind them and memories of the flock of hens and of my sons’ tree frogs from their teens are all here. My garden is a haven where I can feel close to them all and for that I know I am indeed fortunate.
My fluffiest of the flock, my cool dude, my little chap, how we will miss you.
I’m so grateful for the cuddle we had yesterday when I thought you were about to pass, holding you gently in my hands and stroking your head for over 20 minutes. Then you became more alert, opened an eye and looked at me. Opened it again and gave me a beady stare. Opened it a third time and lifted your head and started to look around and let me know what did I think I was doing?! It wasn’t quite time yet! 😂
So back down to the hospital cage you went in the company of the flock (not in the hospital cage obviously) and it was there you decided you were ready to slip across to the warm skies and soar above the fields of millet. I told you Gaia would be waiting for you and I’m certain she was. Fly high little man. You brought me so much joy and happiness. We will miss you but will never forget you and like all the other animal family members, we celebrate your wonderful life lived with deep love and feel blessed that your sweet soul was a part of our family.
A few photos to look back on with an abundance of fondness and love.
]
Your first photo at the breeders. Enjoying a good splash
Three of you home and in quarantine. Otis, Ivo and Henry Settling well into the Hamberley once successful introductions were made with Louie and Luca. Such a distinctive blue grey colour .
it is always twice as hard to lose a friend before their time should be up. Otis was a beautiful boy and obviously much loved by you and his feathered flock; your tribute has brought a lump to my throat.
