Kiwi

[kme3388]

Today Kiwi my Jenday conure passed away. I miss her so much already. I took her to the vet Monday to refill meds, and she had a seizure. This morning she had 3 of them. They were lengthening, and happening every 20-30 minutes. She was perched in her cage for 2 of them, and collapsed very hard to the bottom of her cage. She had a seizure in her incubator too. She’s been sick since October with seeds in her stool, ataxia, and such. We’ve been hand feeding her formula for months. She started refusing even that on and off since Monday. We definitely bought her about 4 more months of life. Today we decided the quality of life was no longer good, and she was really suffering. We brought her to a local vet to euthanize her.



Kiwi was 15 years old. I have done some research and it does appear like a Jenday conures average life expectancy is from 15-20 years. It sounds like they can live up to 25-30 years old but that’s the exception. I’m beginning to think she may have been a senior Jenday conure but because of her beauty I couldn’t see it.





I can’t thank everyone enough for advice and suggestions involving Kiwi. I had to stop being on the parrot forum because I had gotten negative, and I can’t help anyone in that mind set. Nor do I need to drag down a forum with my pessimistic attitude.



Kiwi is what started me rescuing parrots, and advocating for them. I wasn’t the greatest owner when I first bought her at a pet store. I came across a YouTube video years later that was about how to care for parrots. In that video I realized how much I was doing wrong, and I immediately made changes. I started educating myself better. Kiwi is my inspiration, and I definitely lost that for a while.

 

[nkrbkr]

I’m so very sorry for your loss.

 

[LaManuka]

Today Kiwi my Jenday conure passed away. I miss her so much already. I took her to the vet Monday to refill meds, and she had a seizure. This morning she had 3 of them. They were lengthening, and happening every 20-30 minutes. She was perched in her cage for 2 of them, and collapsed very hard to the bottom of her cage. She had a seizure in her incubator too. She’s been sick since October with seeds in her stool, ataxia, and such. We’ve been hand feeding her formula for months. She started refusing even that on and off since Monday. We definitely bought her about 4 more months of life. Today we decided the quality of life was no longer good, and she was really suffering. We brought her to a local vet to euthanize her.



Kiwi was 15 years old. I have done some research and it does appear like a Jenday conures average life expectancy is from 15-20 years. It sounds like they can live up to 25-30 years old but that’s the exception. I’m beginning to think she may have been a senior Jenday conure but because of her beauty I couldn’t see it.





I can’t thank everyone enough for advice and suggestions involving Kiwi. I had to stop being on the parrot forum because I had gotten negative, and I can’t help anyone in that mind set. Nor do I need to drag down a forum with my pessimistic attitude.



Kiwi is what started me rescuing parrots, and advocating for them. I wasn’t the greatest owner when I first bought her at a pet store. I came across a YouTube video years later that was about how to care for parrots. In that video I realized how much I was doing wrong, and I immediately made changes. I started educating myself better. Kiwi is my inspiration, and I definitely lost that for a while.

Oh @kme3388, I'm so sorry for your loss of your beautiful girl, my heart hurts for you! Sending much love and hugs to you, you and Kiwi are in my prayers.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

OUch! RIP to a loving, special burdee.

 

[kme3388]

Thank you,

We gave Kiwi her sunflower seeds, and as many as she wanted before we said goodbye. It was her favorite treat. I hadn’t been able to give her any seed, or nuts in months due to her medical issues. I snuggled with her under my shirt one last time. Her send off was so peaceful. I know others don’t always have that opportunity. It’s something I’ll always cherish.

 

[LaManuka]

Thank you,

We gave Kiwi her sunflower seeds, and as many as she wanted before we said goodbye. It was her favorite treat. I hadn’t been able to give her any seed, or nuts in months due to her medical issues. I snuggled with her under my shirt one last time. Her send off was so peaceful. I know others don’t always have that opportunity. It’s something I’ll always cherish.

I'm so glad you were able to spend that precious time with Kiwi. As hard as it is, I always prefer it when they pass in my hands - having lost a couple at the vet clinic it's much better for them to go in the arms of the one who knows and loves them best in my very humble opinion.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

So sad, so sorry. These past few months must have been so difficult for you and your family, watching Kiwi decline despite all your efforts to nurse her back to health. It must have been heartbreaking to watch her suffer and equally heartbreaking when it came time to say goodbye. How is Kiwi's pal, Charlie, taking it?

 

[saxguy64]

I'm so very sorry for your loss @kme3388 You did everything you could to give her the best life possible, especially in her final days. Truly a gift that you could be there for her so she knew how much she was loved at the end, no matter how difficult it was. You're in my thoughts and prayers

 

[wrench13]

My deepest condolences. I too have lost a treasured parrot in the past. RIP KiWI.

 

[texsize]

I am so sorry to hear you lost Kiwi.

 

[kme3388]

Charlie (Kiwi’s mate) appears to be contact calling today more so than usual. Between him & my macaw going back and forth my house has been very loud.

I won’t be getting another parrot. My macaw is very challenging to care for, and he requires so much attention. He’s a tornado. I just wouldn’t have time. It also wouldn’t be fair.

I am planning on moving Charlie to the large parrot room so he isn’t solo on the main floor of my house. I think it would be healthier for him to be around other parrots for the remainder of his life. It is speculated that Kiwi had bornavirus that lead to PDD. I’ve had a lot of hesitation on moving him into a space with other parrots as I don’t want disease transmission, and I’ve done minimal research on quarantining. If anyone is well versed on quarantining, and has time please do help.

 

[SailBoat]

Very sorry to hear of your loss of your dear KIKI, a truly loving and treasured feathered companion.

I offer you this Pray: “Passing of a Feathered Friend,”

It is not an issue of not wanting to visit and more importantly providing words of support as part of the Bereavement Forum, but my own difficultly in fully facing our many losses over the years. It is a reality of what we have committed ourselves too and each loss returns us to that clarity. When one opens their home to the very sick and very poorly cared for, losses are part of the commitment. I ask not forgiveness, but understanding of not often enough in sharing your grief. For those of you who loss a Loving Feather Family Member, I offer you this Pray “Passing of a Feathered Friend,” that we provide our Loved Ones!

May Pease find and stand with you as part of your loss my friends…

Passing of a Feathered Friend - Our Dear Cleo
Provided By: Steven (SailBoat), November 2016

You left this world so quickly. I can hardly comprehend your leaving. Yet there, in my hands, your still body rested — no longer your home. So much I have learned, so much you have taught, your purpose a full measure beyond your size. Comprehensions of your loss still a mist but yet, I know you are whole and happy - now beyond Rainbow Bridge. And so busy you must be upon your green wings, guiding angles to those of us yet to cross. With in my ear, I still hear you, those special sweet sounds of comfort and contentment:

“Do not stand by my grave and weep my friend.
I am not here. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the gentle summer rain.
When you wake in the morning hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry my friend.
I am not there. I did not die.”

My pray for you my beloved feathered friend:

“May your body nourish this earth.
May your soul find release and contentment.
May you fly high and free upon wings of spirit.
Rest in peace little green one.”

The love and tender warmth of you is a un-full-fill-able void.
I do so much thank-you for creating a space for another, a special place next to yours’.

In remembrance of Cleo, (Estimated) Spring 1959 - May 2003

 

[kme3388]

Thank you for these kind words. When I’m feeling sad, and missing Kiwi this will cheer me up. I really miss her. It’s hard to walk in the door and not hear her screams. I’ve had a little time to adjust before she passed as she stopped screaming, and contact calling with her mate for the most part. When myself or my husband heard her scream at the end we thought it was a sign of improvement.