My Beautiful Haru... Now what?

My beautiful Kakariki girl Haru, whom i hand-raised from when she was 3 weeks old when my husband, our daughter and i first moved to our current town, passed away Wednesday 29th in the early AM.


I had been away interstate for 9 days and was due back that evening.. Haru was 3 years old... I feel like i missed such a big event... I wasn't there for her.


After having my husband notify me that Haru looked unwell Monday night (breathing a little heavier, fluffed up a bit, slightly droopy wings and not moving around much), i organised for him to pick up some Probiotics from our local Pet supplies store, and to take Haru to the Vets for antibiotics Tuesday morning.


I binged on some amazing Koko Black belgian chocolate which helped immensely!


I may have my darling girl cremated and placed in the same Urn as my Muta.. I remember every day or two I'd go out and say, "Hahlo Haruuu! Are you very preeetty! Yeees you are! You're a pretty girl! Yes you are!", and she'd jump up on the wire mesh and give me kisses (and she had a major crush on my husband so he got preened and everything). Her and Hayaku had also started breeding.. We would have had little Haru babies hatch next month...


Her poor mate Hayaku has been going mad since she passed away and keeps calling out for her...
I went out to chat to Hayaku Thursday (yesterday) to see how he was going. And i was chatting away, making Kakariki noises and telling him how pretty he is, and he kept grabbing seeds and coming up to the wire near my face to show them to me. Then he ate them, and flew around and showed me more.
When i turned my back and started walking away he starting doing that loud calling 'EEH-EEH-EEH-EEH-EEH' noise. The poor boy.. He needs company but we have no spare birds to put in with him..


I'm thinking of bringing him inside and taming him up to be our pet, since he's craving company and has always been a friendly boy. But I'm not sure... I don't know what to do...

Liana, I'm so sorry to hear about your precious girl Haru . That's such a heartbreaking thing in the first place, and harder when we can't be there at the time. Hugs and healing to you.

Will you get a necropsy? You said they were breeding, so I wonder if it was a reproductive issue? Poor Hayaku . If you think he'd tame up pretty well, then why not try him as a pet?

It's good to see you again, but I'm sorry it was under this circumstance. Take care.

Thank you Julie. I feel a little emotionally drained.. No i won't get a necropsy done, it's a minimum of $700 here now that our old Vet has retired and everyone else charges a fortune... Yeah I'm pretty sure it was to do with that, since no one else is ill and Haru was in perfect health until they began breeding..

A couple at my church own a Pet Cremation business and just picked up my Haru. They just told me they will engrave a little disc as well with 'HARU' on one side and 'THE MAD SCIENTIST' on the other (because of her white wisps she had on the top of her head as a baby).. So i asked how much that'd cost as a total and they replied, "Oh don't worry, it's free of charge. You will not pay a cent." *is so appreciative*

Oh yes he would. He never bites and is a great, friendly boy..and he's never been 'hand tamed'. I'm just questioning everything...

Good to see you too! I've been meaning to come back for a while but it's just one thing after another... But after Wednesday i had no one to vent to or ask about Hayaku except the loveliest parronts on earth, right here.

That is so kind of the couple to engrave a keepsake disc for you. I love "the mad scientist" . Good luck with Hayaku, Liana... and with everything .

thanks again Julie *hugs* Haha, yes they are very sweet. Should get Haru back tomorrow <3

Loki is not keen on Hayaku being inside... He wants to just leave him in his aviary until we can get him a mate (in a few months time...).
It's too long! Hayaku's hardly eating and keeps wanting me to chat to him all day long..but i can't if he's outside..

Is Loki's idea more appropriate? Am i just too emotional? ^^
Maybe I'm just feeling like i need a bird inside to help me to deal with the loss of Haru...

Gosh Liana, I don't know... I know you said Hayaku really seems like he is mourning and really appreciates your attention, and sounds like he might make a sweet little pet. However, if it would cause problems if he is brought inside, then better not do it unless you both agree, otherwise it can cause resentment and ill feelings surrounding the bird that you don't need.

Oh, Liana. I'm just now seeing this thread and I am so, so very sorry for your loss of Haru. And I know it must've been even more difficult since you weren't actually there when it happened. I wish you lived closer so that I could give you a hug in person, but given our distance just know that I'm sending you a big one in a spirit.

As for whether you should bring Hayaku inside for hand-taming, I really don't know enough about kakarikis to give you any informed advice on any. What I will say, though, is that hand-taming a bird can be a rather noisy process, and I know you are sometimes quite sensitive to loud noises. Just something to consider, as you need to take care of yourself as well.

And as Julie already mentioned, you've been missed hereabouts. I wish we were seeing you again under better circumstances, of course, but a warm welcome back nonetheless.

Liana, I am so sorry for your loss of Haru. There is always that special bond with hand-fed parrots, and they live forever in our hearts.

Cremation is my personal preference, and having her essence helps with the grieving process. I would suggest some time before deciding the direction for Hayaku, though input from your husband is important. Watch him carefully the next few days and note his level of stress and eating. Kakarikis are not critically endangered, so breeding is less IMO a need than a want. They are wonderful birds, and he would make a terrific pet!

RavensGryf said:

Gosh Liana, I don't know... I know you said Hayaku really seems like he is mourning and really appreciates your attention, and sounds like he might make a sweet little pet. However, if it would cause problems if he is brought inside, then better not do it unless you both agree, otherwise it can cause resentment and ill feelings surrounding the bird that you don't need.

Click to expand...

After today I can certainly say he is/does. He got a few centimetres form my face today holding a sultana, eating it, and chatting to me before diving off to get a seed and eating that in my face as well - such a cutie! But the instant i turned my back on him to walk away he started chattering with that "Eeh-eeh-eeh!" noise.

I actually hadn't thought of it like that.. thank you Julie :heart:

Anansi said:

Oh, Liana. I'm just now seeing this thread and I am so, so very sorry for your loss of Haru. And I know it must've been even more difficult since you weren't actually there when it happened. I wish you lived closer so that I could give you a hug in person, but given our distance just know that I'm sending you a big one in a spirit.

As for whether you should bring Hayaku inside for hand-taming, I really don't know enough about kakarikis to give you any informed advice on any. What I will say, though, is that hand-taming a bird can be a rather noisy process, and I know you are sometimes quite sensitive to loud noises. Just something to consider, as you need to take care of yourself as well.

And as Julie already mentioned, you've been missed hereabouts. I wish we were seeing you again under better circumstances, of course, but a warm welcome back nonetheless.

Click to expand...

Thanks Stephen, I'm so used to losing my favourites, but unfortunately it doesn't make losing them any easier. Awww, it's the thought that counts.

Well, he is incapable of screaming or squawking, so it wouldn't be very loud at all. It's just that my husband has just been recently falsely accused of deliberately watching a neighbours rabbit get mauled by dogs... (utter nonsense!) so he's stressed out having to get stat dec's signed by police and all that in case it goes to court... so I don't think he can handle any extra 'unnecessary' noise.. Thank you. You are 100% right - I am quite sensitive to shrill squawks and screams.

Aww I've missed you guys too! Thanks again :heart:

Scott said:

Liana, I am so sorry for your loss of Haru. There is always that special bond with hand-fed parrots, and they live forever in our hearts.

Cremation is my personal preference, and having her essence helps with the grieving process. I would suggest some time before deciding the direction for Hayaku, though input from your husband is important. Watch him carefully the next few days and note his level of stress and eating. Kakarikis are not critically endangered, so breeding is less IMO a need than a want. They are wonderful birds, and he would make a terrific pet!

Click to expand...

Thank you (and I'm not just saying that, I really am grateful for your condolences, as is my husband). They do...they do...

He's really very 'fretty' today, and only seems to eat while I'm talking to him. A friend of ours has a grandson who is driving to our nearest city to pick up birds for himself and our friend, so they have offered to pick up a mate for Hayaku. There's a really good breeder/dealer who is selling a 10 month old Red Fronted BEC hen for a relatively decent price (which is precisely what Haru was), so by the end of next week Hayaku will have some company!

As much as I'd love to have him inside, i think a female Kak would be best for him. :heart: Kakariki really are amazing little things!

Hayaku is eating again!

I'm so happy (and relieved) for you and Hayaku! I think he is going to be alright Liana !

Thank you

Hayaku's new mate now has a name! Haeru (Hay-err-uu). Meaning: to be pretty, and shine. They are very attached to each other now! ^^ Feels like my little spirit is soaring now that they get along so well and she has a name!

Wonderful news, Liana! And I like the name you've chosen for her! Of course, you'll now have to provide pictures as well.

That is so wonderful, I am so happy for him and for his new mate.

Great to hear Liana ! I'm so happy for Hayaku and his new love!

I had my GCC cremated last December when she passed, I framed her certificate and everything is in a nice wooden box with her name engraved on it. It sits out in my living room with my birds and with my family pictures.

I cried for a long time, I still cry, but I did the best I could for her, you can never be prepared for these things.

That's so sad i hope you feel better soon. Full respects to Haru from the parrot forum.

Aww Aquila...it's never easy is it?

I still haven't taken photos, but thank you so much everyone for your condolences and cheery-up-iness. So sorry it's taken me so long to reply, more hectic stuff happening, again... >.>

Haeru and Hayaku have been mating, she went down in the nestbox but the eggs were infertile, so fingers crossed the next batch works.