I thought he’d outlive me. Upon arrival home last night, there was no familiar screeching, no happy little nut rocking his cage with delight to see me, no nothing, just silence. Sam, a mitred conure (named after the biblical Samson-like the sun, for his red cap) died while I was away.
Gone are his endless whistles (he’d whistle and wait for anyone to whistle back), his catalert screams when he’d see a kitty in the yard, and his laughter-if you were amused, he’d join in.
Having an apple won’t seem right, since he always wanted a slice to share. This morning was way too quiet without the little feathered madman creating his din of dawn.
Aw, that’s so sad. My condolences. I have a bird too, so I know how much personality the little critters have. Sounds like he had a pretty happy life with you though.
So you want other people’s stories? Well, I lost my dog back in May (she was a black toy poodle). She was 14, so it wasn’t exactly a big shock, but still it’s always hard to lose one of our little friends. I still miss that dog…
I am SO sorry for you and Sam. I know how awful you must feel. I have a quaker parakeet who was deathly ill a couple of weeks ago from an infection (she’s still on the mend) and I was just devastated at the thought of losing her. Most people don’t understand what amazing friends, and bright, beautiful creatures these little birds are.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I recently became friends with a bird my friend was sitting for her mother-in-law, and was so sad when he went home. I’d never realized before what wonderful personalities the feathered little buggers have! He knew me when I walked in the room!
Meeting him tempted me greatly to get a bird of my own, but being owned by cats as I am I decided it wouldn’t be fair to the bird. Even if I knew the cats couldn’t/wouldn’t get him - would he be sure of that? I wouldn’t want the bird to always wonder if he was going to be the next meal. So I play with the birds my friends have, and count myself blessed.
Birds and cats can coexist very well Snakescatlady. I watched an amazon parrot battle with a cat for control of the sofa, and it was more of a slap fight. The parrot won by default-the kitty went off to sleep elsewhere. Thanks for your condolences-little critters get a big part of your heart
Strange this thread came up. My bird Larry the Blue-Front Amazon has been sluggish lately. I’ve never seen him so inactive. He hasn’t been playing with his toys, hasn’t been interested in chewing, drops peanuts without opening them. I’ve been worried something was wrong with him.
This is the first winter in this house and it isn’t getting much natural light. I’ve figured this out to be the cause of his inactivity. The last few days I’ve been turning on lots of lights for him during the day and giving him extra out-of-the-cage time. More snuggles and play time. He’s chirped up now and today started ringing his bell and singing along with it. Today I came home and he greated me with a very loud “FUCK YOU HELLO LARRY!”
Yup, he’s back.
This time last week I was wondering if I was about to loose him and it made me very sad. I thought the very thing you were saying. how empty the house would seem without the extra sounds from that part of the room.
You need to take him to an avian vet NOW. My quaker became sluggish and then perked up too so that I cancelled the vet appointment thinking it was just a passing problem. That was stupid. Two weeks later she was nearly dead of an infection and she’s still slowly recovering after two weeks of antibiotics. If your parrot is or was that sluggish he’s almost certainly very ill. Birds just don’t show that much change until they’re critical. I doubt light alone will cause what you described.
Seconds, thirds advice about an avian vet checkup. That’s the worst thing about birds-by the time they’re “off perch”, they’re usually very close to death.
Many thanks to everyone for your kind words of support.
