Our little Lucy has passed

Our very first parrot, a Peach-Faced Lovebird we called Lucy when we got her about 17 years ago, passed away in my hands an hour ago.

She had a stroke a few months ago, and her head was tilted way over to one side as a result. Vets say that there's no treatment, and that all we could do for her was to keep her happy and comfortable. She's been eating well, voiding well, and playing with her one of her daughters, whom she's lived with for several years since her original mate, "Ricky", passed.

We got Ricky and Lucy some 17 years ago from a pet store that was going out of business. Since they hadn't been able to find a buyer for the two, they were simply going to euthanize them. We stepped in and adopted them. They were thought to be at least 2 years old at that time, so she would have been 19-20 now.

She has raised about a dozen wonderful babies over the years, and several of our friends have her offspring.

Today, though, she suddenly squawked and fluttered to the bottom of the cage. I feared the worst, as she couldn't right herself, and her daughter guarded her fiercely, grooming her & trying to get her to stand. After a few minutes, she seemed to realize that she couldn't help Lucy, and let me reach in & pick her up. This would never have happened before - she would have attacked me ferociously.

I held Lucy cradled in my hands and breathed into her feathers to warm her. I knew the end was coming, and wanted her to be as comfortable as possible. All she could do was make little twitches.

After about a half hour, she suddenly opened her eyes, gave one last gentle stretch, and quietly passed. It was heartbreaking, and I have to admit I cried like a baby over her. The whole house suddenly became silent, all the other parrots quiet and still. I'm sure they knew that one of their flock was gone.

I've placed her in a beautiful gold brocade box, tied with gold ribbon and wrapped in tissue. In the box with her are with her favorite little bell (she used to like to get under it, lift it up, and wear it as a hat) & a small spray of the millet she loved so much.

Now, I have to go and bury my beloved Lucy. It is such a hard thing to do.

Fly free little girl, and know how much you were loved. I will always miss you!





Here's a picture of our little Lucy, a few years ago, enjoying a piece of pumpkin pie with her Dad.

Wow what a wonderful life she had with you.

Bless you.

I am so glad you were able to be together through this! There is a lot of love in your home!

You gave Lucy a full and wonderfully loving life, and now you’re sending her out in style in a beautiful golden casket as befits how much you treasured her. It’s good you were able to be there for her at the end.

What a lucky bird to have found such a loving home (and at just the right time). It sounds like she was well-loved; I have no doubt that love was reciprocated. I don't know that any of us can hope for much more (human, bird or other).
I am sorry for your loss and I hope you take comfort in the fact that you were with her and that she lived a long, happy life.

I shed a lot of tears over her little grave, and I don't suppose I'm done yet. I made a nice stone marker with her name engraved on a little metal plate, and placed her beside the graves and markers of others who passed before her.

I know, it seems sentimental, silly even, but it's something I need to do to have closure. I suppose in a way it's proof to myself that, even at the end, I did my best to love her & care for her. I still go out to that little graveyard from time to time, and think about the wonderful little friends buried there. It brings them back, in a way, and it's somehow comforting.

She was a sweet little girl, and a wonderful mom to generations of Lovebirds, many of whom have already passed. I hope she's flying free with them now....

Doesn't sound silly at all. They are family.

Yes, they are family and will always be family. Remembering them and visiting their resting place is a part of loving them.

Lucky are we that have our loved ones pass in our hands. As we know that they, as we, had not been alone during those final moments. She passed in the comfort and love of your hands. I can think of no better way to cross over rainbow bridge.
Warm Amazon Feather Hugs.

So sorry for your loss. You were a good parront!

My deepest condolences for your loss of Lucy. Your thoughtful eulogy watered my eyes and attests to the extraordinary tight bonds we form with feathered children. Lucy was clearly a well loved matriarch.

Grief for a beloved companion has no timeline, just let it flow my friend. In time the happy memories will outshine sadness.

Sorry for your loss. I'm glad Lucy was lucky enough to hit the jackpot with a life with you and your family. She may be gone, but I know she had a great life full of love

So sorry for your loss of Lucy. Her life sounds full of love and happiness and that is what we all hope to give our birds. I am sure she was comforted to be with you in her final moments.

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Many thanks to all for your love and concern. It is deeply appreciated! For those who have been following my situation, you'll recall that my wife left me a few weeks ago to "start a new life" without complications and responsibilities. I was (and am still) devastated, grieving, and lonely, and she was my "shoulder to cry on".

Burying my little Lucy was extremely hard, but saying "goodbye" to her was even harder, made more so because I was....alone.

Now, you wonderful people are all I have left, and I thank you for all your caring and help. You all really do "get it".

What a beautiful ending to a beautiful life. I’m so sorry for your loss and so thankful for Lucy that you were able to be there to help her across.


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I'm so very sorry for your loss.

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I am so much richer in spirit for having read this thread. I appreciate you so very much for sharing it, and Lucy... with us, with me.
Beautiful.
Thank you.

So sorry for your loss...what a wonderful home she had.