I had a quaker until today. My Pete was 8 years old. I thought He/she, I wasn't sure, but I thought he was lonley perhaps. We had gone away for 2 weeks in July and he stayed at my son's house, which he has done a few times. He seemed fine to me when he returned, although my husband thought he seemed blue. But he was eating, and drinking. He usually stayed out in the day on the deck , in the shade, and generally he would have his summertime baths on the deck. Last week, I took out my bike for a short ride, but it ended up longer than I thought as I ran into a bad thunderstorm. Pete , was home out on the deck in the storm….I brought him in as soon as I returned and then cleaned and dried out his rain drenched dishes of food. After that, I was also thinking he was acting blue. I have inquired the last few days about another bird, and yesterday when I came home I went to petco and bought him a new "playscape" for the top of his cage. He wasn't all that interested in it, and as I handled him more, I felt for the first time that he was sick. He just was fluffed out with his feathers, and his eyes would close. I didn't feel that his temperature was warm enough. So , I got a hand warmer, (the instant heaters that you shake in the air) and put it in a small fleece pillow case that I made specifically for the hand warmers….and I put heat in the cage, I darkened the cage and I changed the water to infant pedialyte. Unfortunatly, all too late. This morning, there was no improvement, and he only worsened from there. He started panting and I noticed a very white tougue rather than it's normal pinkish. He was clicking, purring, with the breathing, and his balance was quivering…I held him wrapped in some warm fleece and he just died ~ as I cried. I'm so upset that I didn't notice this sooner, back when my husband said he didn't think Pete was feeling well. After reading late this afternoon and tonight about illnesses with Quakers, I think had I picked up on this sooner, I could of saved him. I called a woman in a feed store that has a quaker as well and she gave me a name and number for a vet who would come to my house, and the vet only lived minutes from me, but when I called, the vet was in NY and was there until late Monday. I live in a illegal state for a quaker, (such a stupid law), and so my other option was to travel to another state to another avian hospital 1 1/2 hours away. But, he only lived another 1/2 hour.

I stupidly never even considered the possibility of Pete getting sick. He was so hardy. We heat with wood/ coal in the winter, our house certainly wasn't a even temperature. His cage was in front of the windows and doors so he could see all over outside, he was the best watch dog I have ever had. He went outside every day for the most part, and in the winter, he would have his baths inside so he could rezip all his feathers for entertainment. He ate many things, some things he shouldn't of , as I have read today….like cheese, and the daily peanut butter. I have raised and released 9 orphaned grey squirrels in the past two springs, and they were pinkies, and I was successful and very proud of the fact that I was able to save them…..but now to have blown the warning signs with my beloved Pete…

So right now, I wished that today, I would of taken a strynge and put the pedialyte into him . And kept him warm. I did notice that after holding him close to me in warm fleece, his feathers did settle down and look more normal.. so heat was very important. I should of had him on a light through the night for heat. When my boys bought the bird for me as a xmas gift, he was a baby, and I thought, huh…a bird! I'm really a dog person…not a bird person. And , although I love all animals, I never wanted a caged bird. So , you make the best of it, and soon , I found that he was really a cool bird. I really loved him, and I know that at some point , I'll stop crying, but I will miss him forever.

Maddy, I am so very sorry to hear of you losing your sweet Pete....Sometimes we just can't read the signs of time, so don't blame yourself....but I'm glad to hear of the confidence you have in QP forum...

May your heart healed dear and one day I'm sure you'll be able to nurture and love another little quaker...My best to you forever....

I am so very sorry for your loss......

I am so sorry for your loss , these little feathered critters really do get into your heart, I know the pain of a loss also ..Just know we here understand ...((HUGS)) coming from across the miles...

I'm so sorry for your loss. We understand how those little feather butts get into your heart and how it hurts when we lose them. I hope your heart heals soon.