My parakeet passed away overnight

[maelstrom]

My wonderful 'keet baby, who I've had for over 8 years, passed away over night. A few weeks ago he had a stroke. He seemed to be doing fine afterwards, but he was no longer able to use his left leg and foot. But he was still cheerfully flying around his cage, interacting with his lover Petri, and being our cute little Winkie. Yesterday, however, he took a turn for the worse. His foot was sticking out at an awkward angle and he kept falling off his perch to the bottom of the cage and had to be picked up and put back on his perch. He was puffed up and had his eyes closed. I feared that he wasn't long for this world, and I was right. I'm just heartbroken over this.

 

[TeresaBelle]

So sorry for your loss... to you!

 

[Mermaid02]

My wonderful 'keet baby, who I've had for over 8 years, passed away over night. A few weeks ago he had a stroke. He seemed to be doing fine afterwards, but he was no longer able to use his left leg and foot. But he was still cheerfully flying around his cage, interacting with his lover Petri, and being our cute little Winkie. Yesterday, however, he took a turn for the worse. His foot was sticking out at an awkward angle and he kept falling off his perch to the bottom of the cage and had to be picked up and put back on his perch. He was puffed up and had his eyes closed. I feared that he wasn't long for this world, and I was right. I'm just heartbroken over this.

I'm sorry. He was very pretty.

 

[Hannathy]

I'm so sorry. It hurts so bad when we loose them. He was a very pretty fellow.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

It's tough losing our pets.

 

[phred52]

 

[Momvic5]

I am so sorry.

I once had a parakeet that I was so attached to. He was the sweetest little bird and could repeat almost any phrase that you said to him. We often let him fly about in our home freely because he just loved to be with me or my dh. He was so fun to watch, and his favorite phrase was, "What ya doin?" I never thought I could or would get so attached to a bird, but I did. I was pregnant with my first child at the time, and I don't know if it was my raging hormones or what, but I cried like a baby when we lost him. I think he had a stroke too. I still have fond memories of him.

 

[maelstrom]

Thank you all for your kind words.

Our next step is figuring out what do to with Winkie's cage-mate/friend/lover, Petri (yes, I believe that they were truly in love). I think if we keep Petri here with us, even with as much as a good life he has here (lots of toys, a huge flight cage, etc), he will die of a broken heart without his Winkie. We are going to try finding a new home for him where there are other parakeets for him to interact with and hopefully he will adjust well. I think if we keep him, he will become depressed and die.

 

[maelstrom]

I never thought I could or would get so attached to a bird, but I did.

Ditto. I never knew that birds had such personality until I got Winkie and Petri. They each have their own distinct personalities and quirks. Birds are wonderfully smart creatures. Mine do not talk, nor are they hand-trained, but they were smart nonetheless.

 

[RUDisney]

I am so sorry for your loss. I walk by our cages and say, "I love you, Bloo," and "I love you, Igor." As soon as I walk into the room with them, they start twittering about in their cages for my attention, which I readily give them. My Bloo looks very similar to your Winkie.

We had one conure pass away on us, and it was only after one night in our house. The necropsy showed that there was no reason that he should have died. That's when we got Igor. Even after just one day with Peanut, we were very smitten and it was very hard when we removed the cage cover that morning and found him on the bottom of his cage.

 

[lynxstch]

it's always hard to lose a pet, and your Winkie was such a pretty bird!!
You and your family have our sympathy at this sad time
Lynn

 

[psupple]

So sorry for your loss. It is amazing how smart they are. We had our last parakeet for a good 7 years before he passed last winter. Sounds very similar to the stroke your little guy had. He was allowed out of his cage and knew how to get around the house pretty well. Maybe you should get a new friend for Petri istead of giving him (her) away.

 

[hucifer]

I'm very sorry for your loss. I can identify with what you're going through.

My first parakeet lived about 8 years. He suffered a stroke around age 6 or 7 and lost the use of one of his legs. He was a very loving bird. I was 15 years old and heartbroken when he died.

My second parakeet was only about 4 or 5 when she died. I found a tumor on her wing and took her in to the vet to have it removed. She woke up after surgery (it was a malignant tumor that spread throughout her wing), but then went into shock. They couldn't revive her. I was devastated. I sobbed like a baby when she died. (She's the one that my tag is for.) She's been gone for 12 years or so, but I still think about her a lot.

They may be tiny creatures, but they leave a big void when they die.

 

[maelstrom]

So sorry for your loss. It is amazing how smart they are. We had our last parakeet for a good 7 years before he passed last winter. Sounds very similar to the stroke your little guy had. He was allowed out of his cage and knew how to get around the house pretty well. Maybe you should get a new friend for Petri istead of giving him (her) away.

Thank you.

Well, Petri is 8 years old as well (and yes, he's a male), and who knows how much longer he may live (parakeets can live A LONG TIME, but usually 8-10 years is the norm). If we got another parakeet, and then Petri died in a couple of years, we'd be stuck in the same situation with the newer parakeet. My mom also doesn't really want to get another bird. Winkie and Petri are special birds and we just really don't want another. I really think it is in Petri's best interest to find a new home with other parakeets he can play with.

 

[TI double GGER]

I lost one of my keets several months ago and also feared what would happen to his playmate. For three days Petey screeched and hollered and covered every inch of the cage over and over again looking for him. Then I guess he decided it was ok. BB, the deceased, was the dominant bird and I guess Petey liked not being bossed around anymore. He has been fine ever since. So don't give up on keeping Petri, give him a chance to adapt.

 

[disdanny]

Are you sure he has passed on?

Maybe he's just "resting" or "stunned" or "pining for the fjords."

 

[bellebud]

I'm very sorry!! It's so hard when we lose a pet... they're such a part of our lives.

 

[Owlpost23]

I absolutely adore parakeets! I had Linus when I was in high school.I received him for Christmas one year.He never learned to talk,but he was the sweetest little fellow.He loved to eat peanut brittle.When you would play a board game with dice,he would fly onto the board and pick the dice up.He was absolutely wonderful.One day I ran out the door,and he followed me.It was completely devastating to lose him.Made the mistake of getting another one that was a stinker.I am really sorry for your loss-they are so special.

 

[maelstrom]

Here's a much better picture of Winkie and Petri together.