I have two keetss. One was a rescue that landed outside of my work. I tried to find his home but no one claimed him. He is a sweetheart and totally adorable. I didnt want him to be alone so i purchased a female for him. I have no idea how old the rescue is but the female is about 3.

Today when i went to feed them she was at the bottom of the cage and breathing hard. I am not sure if she is sick of if she is laying an egg. I dont know how to tell the difference. She seems to have abit of bird poop stuck to her bottom. She isnt very tame so i really cant get to close to her but im not even sure if i should. Can anyone help me? I dont want to lose her.

If she's showing open signs of distress and there's something stuck to her vent area I'd recommend contacting your vet ASAP. Are you using an Avian vet? Birds don't show illness until they are incapable of hiding it any longer, which means when they look sick they're REALLY sick.

What you can do for right this second is put a lamp with the shade off (so it's just the bare bulb) close to the cage and turn it on. The bird will move as close to the heat as she needs. This will help her stay warm while you're making calls and deciding what to do.

Good luck and keep us up on it!

I would also remove the other budgie from the cage, or put the sick one elsewhere, but separate them, or he might get sick, too, if she has something contagious. She should probably be in an old aquarium or smaller cage, with a soft towel or something for her to sit on, instead of in the regular cage. A sick budgie won't argue as much about being caught as a well one, and you can get a washcloth to towel her with so you can move her out of there. If you can get her to a vet or at least call one and describe her symptoms, you should. Try not to disturb her any more than you have to but keep an eye on how she's doing.

Thanks for the advice everyon.e I called my vet and he said to keep an eye on her tonight and if she isnt better by morning i will have to take her in. I removed all the poo that had stuck around her and i can see a large pink mass. I dont think that is a good sign. She seems to be ok at times. She will go to the bottom of the cage in the nesting material for awhile but then she will go back up on the perch and eat. Azul ( her mate) keeps picking at her, im not sure why he is doing that but he doesnt seem to be mean, just sortof like love pecks.
It will be a long night. I am such a worrier when it comes to my animals, i wont be able to sleep well. Please say a prayer for my Blanca girl, she is such a sweetie and with all the things going on in my life, i cnat handle losing her.

Thank you again for all of your help.

Unfortunately, that sounds like what happened to my budgie, Arnie. I'm very sorry to have to tell you that.

http://www.quakerparrots.com/forum/index.p...03&hl=Arnie

http://www.quakerparrots.com/forum/index.p...43&hl=Arnie

I don't know what else to say.....good luck, and I really hope this isn't what your budgie has. Arnie was 4 when he died.

Please, please, please.....someone say something to contradict my post! I don't want someone else to go through what I did with Arnie! I've been crying since I read this.......

I didn't even read your post...I have my own experience
The pink mass sounds like a prolapse of the oviduct. That is an emergency and it needs immediate intervention by a good avian vet. The outlook is not very good, but with surgery...there is some hope.
I hope you can take your bird to the vet as soon as possible.
I also keep my fingers crossed...
Sigrid

Im so sorry your having to go through this quikerluver! I hope she will be ok Get her to the vet as soon as you can! Please keep us updated!

And Dani soory that those bad memories are coming back One of my friends lost her dog 2 days ago and so I know exactly how your feeling right now

Hi Zach, I'm so sorry for your friend, and I feel terrible for your loss....I hope you're doing better. I'm doing much better now...

I don't like the vet's advice AT ALL. Birds are very, very good at hiding illness. As Siobhan said above, by they time they let on that they aren't feeling well it usually means they're pretty bad off healthy birds keep their vents clean- even healthy, laying hens.
If she's in distress please do take your little one to a vet right away.
Good luck!

I'm sorry that it took me a while to come back. I still am having a hard time typing this being able to see the keys. I had to have my baby Blanca put down yesterday. I took her to the vet and she had a tumor. D.r Knight said i did nothing wrong, that she had the proper food, toys and everything else that she needed, it just happens. It tends to be common in Parakeets. Tht doesnt make me heart feel any better. I miss her so much. And poor little Azul, he flies around the cage and looks for her, it breaks my heart.

Dr. Knight told me i need to find another companion for him because keets are very social and dont like to be alone. I am trying but it just seems so harsh somehow to replace her so quickly. He told me that i should feel good that she lived a happy life and was well loved and taken care of but it still hurts. I so hate this part of loving these little stinkers.

Thank you all for your advice.

I'm so sorry. I didn't realize your original post was from the 29th. Poor Bianca- and Azul, too. Be sure to give him lots of extra attention- maybe that'll help you feel a bit better too.
Hugs to you...

I'm so so so sorry......I know how you feel, and my vet told me the same thing. There's nothing I could have done, I didn't do anything wrong, etc. *many hugs to you* I'm sorry. If it helps, she's not sick anymore. I don't know if you saw it, but Jobo posted a WONDERFUL story about the Rainbow Bridge a couple months ago. I'll see if I can find it for you.

Fly free, little Blanca...you're mama loved you very much!

Been there too. 2 years ago, and it still hurts.
Don't blame yourself, you did nothing wrong. I am so sorry for your loss.
But as hard as this is for us, it is a lot harder for the surviving budgie. We lost a pet, but they lost their life partner.
My Snoopy got extremely depressed when her partner died. I found another bird at the humane society 4 days later. Still, the quarantine seemed endless. In the end, it worked out, and I have two happy budgies now. Both with "issues" since they are rescued..but still doing well.

I hope you will find a partner for your surviving budgie soon.

Sigrid

So sorry for your loss

STORY OF RAINBOW BRIDGE

The Rainbow Bridge

She opened her eyes ... as if she woke from a dream. All around her were the sights and sounds of the most beautiful place she had ever seen. A tropical paradise, with lush green foliage and trees of every kind, stretching as far as she could see towards the most beautiful blue sky she had ever seen. A short distance away, she could hear the sound of a waterfall, and found herself feeling very thirsty. Without thinking, she stretched her wings and with a short hop, flew up into the sky, towards the waterfall.

She landed at the base of the waterfall, on a stone perfectly placed in the calmest part of the small pond that formed there, to take a drink. Looking down into the water, she saw her reflection for the first time since awaking. Amazed, she gazed at the beautiful bird looking back at her ... hardly believing what she saw! She had all her feathers, and her plumage was glossy and bright, not at all dull and plucked like she remembered! She was confused and happy at the same time!

She dipped her beak into the fresh, cool water, enjoying the sights and sounds of the beautiful oasis. Suddenly, she could hear the sounds of a powerful, large bird, coming towards her. The magnificent red, blue and yellow bird, the largest she had ever seen, landed gently, a short distance away. She looked at the beautiful bird, and asked, "Who are you?"

"I'm Dante, the Scarlet Macaw", replied the magnificent bird.

"Where am I, Dante?" asked the little green and black bird.

"You are at the entrance to the Rainbow Bridge, Nina." replied Dante.

"What am I doing here? And why am I so beautiful?"

"Waiting" replied Dante. "We all come here to wait, all of us of the animal world, who have lived amongst the humans. We wait until our companions come to claim us, to take us up into heaven. You are beautiful, because this is how you have always looked inside." said Dante.

Just then, off in the distance, a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky. "Come on, Nina! I'll show you!" and with a powerful thrust of his strong, beautiful wings, Dante arose into the sky. Nina opened her beautiful wings, marveling at the sheen and luster, and took off after Dante. They flew for a short while, enjoying the rise and fall of the warm air currents beneath their wings, until the came to a large meadow bordering on a long, meandering stream.

In the center of the meadow a bridge appeared, made out of light, and shining with every color of the rainbow. Dante and Nina found a tree to land on in the meadow so they could watch what was going on. All around them animals of every type and species had gathered to watch the miracle unfold. Over the bridge, they could see the most beautiful thing, an angel almost, crossing the bridge towards the meadow. In the meadow a strange assortment of animals had gathered at the foot of the bridge. They were all so excited! Nina could see cats, dogs, mice, even a horse! "What are those animals doing?" asked Nina.

"They are meeting their human companion. That is her coming over the bridge now!" replied Dante.

Nina watched as the shining being crossed over the bridge. When the being crossed to the animals, the animals rejoiced! The cats jumped up into the arms of the being, and the dogs ran circles around her legs, barking and yipping, the mice scurried up the being and dove into a pocket to peek out at everyone else, the horse nuzzled the being and whinnied, everyone was so happy! As the being and the animals crossed back over the bridge, the animals turned and said "Farewell, see you on the other side soon!"

Nina turned to Dante, and asked, "I wasn't with my companion for very long, will she come for me?"

Dante replied, "Don't worry, Nina. When you are loved, your human will come for you. Heaven just would not be heaven to them, without us to keep them company!"

"How long will I have to wait?"

"Not long, Nina, not long!" And with that, Dante beat his powerful wings, and rose up into the sky.

"See you around, Dante!" Nina yelled.

Just then, hundreds of parrots, all of her own species flew from the distance and approached the tree that Nina was perched on. "Come on, Nina!" they cried. "Come and wait with us! You will be called when it is your time to cross!" and with that, Nina was up in the sky, joining the flock, safe in the knowledge that soon, she would soon be with her beloved companion in heaven.

***************************

Just this side of heaven, is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies, it goes to Rainbow Bridge.

At Rainbow Bridge, there are meadows and hills and beautiful trees of all kinds where all our special friends can fly and climb, hang and flap, hop and run, jump and play, squawk and squeal and sing together.

There is plenty of good food, including grapes and peanuts, ice cream, cheese, spaghetti, and especially, lots of pizza.

There is crystal clear water in brooks and springs are filled with water as well as every kind of delicious fresh fruit juice.

One warm spring even runs full of coffee and they can now drink their fill without hearing a single "no no".

There is lots of glorious sunshine and sweet warm rain when they want it.

Our friends are warm and comfortable and totally at peace.

All animals who had been ill or old, are restored to health and vigor and to their natural incredible beauty.

Their fur and feathers shine, their limbs and wing feathers are whole and their eyes gleam once again with vitality.

Those who were hurt or maimed or ignored or broken-hearted, are made whole and strong and free of fear, just as we remember them in our dreams of days gone by.

The animals are happy and content ... except for one thing ... they each miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind.

Still they jump, swim, fly and play happily, safely and noisily together ... even the grouchiest, spunkiest, largest, smallest, least and greatest animals. All are so happy that they're all flashing their best Sunday colors and coats.

But the day comes for each animal when he suddenly stops and looks far into the distance. His body freezes and his bright eyes are intent as he watches and listens in silence. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, streaking over the green grass, his legs churning harder and harder. You have been spotted and he shrieks to you, then calls your name and his own and cries again and again as he rushes toward you.

When you and your pet finally meet, you cling to each other in joyous reunion, knowing you will never again, be parted. Your face, your fingers, even your toes are covered with nibbles and soft ecstatic kisses.

Your hair is preened by that special beak and a head bends under your fingers to invite your touch. Your hands again find their way under beloved wings, to caress the downy softness beneath, and you ruffle the fur you haven’t touched in so long.

You look once more into the trusting eyes of your companion ... so long gone from your physical life on earth but never, for an instant, absent from your heart.

Your tears of joy are gently brushed away by those beloved paws and wings ... and feeling immersed once more in total contentment and love, you and your beloved companion cross the Rainbow Bridge together.

Thank you so much for all of your kindness. It helps so much to find people who understand. The Rainbow Bridge give me the strength to make it through the losses of all my furr and fid babies. I have already started finding a new partner for Azul because i dont want him to be lonely. He isnt singing right now and he just keeps staring at the swing. (They used to fight over it and she always won) and as you said, the quarentene time will seem like forever. I am going to put his cage in the same room as maui (my quaker) because Azul loves him and gets so excited to se him. He climbs all over his cage and whistles and sings. Maui, the rotten monster doesnt want anything to do with him, but i think it will help Azul.

Maui has been too sweet during this. For anyone who thinks that there parrots dont understand our feelings, i beg to differ. For the last two days he has spent most of his time on my shoulder. Wether i am actually crying, or just feeling really sad, he preens my hair, give little whimpers and says "You ok?" Dont cry". Which of course makes me cry even more that he is such a sweet little monster. He will also lay his cheek on mine and lick my tears away. God, i dont know what i would do without him.

I am still dealing with the guilt of i should have been able to do more. THe vet said there was nothing i could have done, but the tumor was so huge. I dont know how i could not have noticed it. HE said she would not have survived it anyway but i pray she didnt suffer too much. She was a wild lttle thing so i didnt get to hold her and there is no way i could have felt it any sooner. When i got her out of her cage yesterday morning, that was the first time i actually got to hold her so i took a minute and stroked her head and told her i loved her.

Is just hurts so much. I told my boss yesterday that i was not going to get anymore birds. No more animals because i cant do this anymore. He just gave me a hug and said yes you will ( he is a huge bird lover and used to raise and sell exotic birds). Soooo, this morning i am online looking for a new companion for Azul!

I'm glad we're able to help a little bit....I know how much it hurts, and REALLY, there wasn't anything you could have done. You gave her a very good life and she was happy. *hugs*