As a famous artist once wrote.
“A candle in the Wind”.
That would be how I would describe Lady a Lutino Cockatiel I bought at a yard sale in June 2013. I got her with what I feel sure was a sister that we named Pinky.
lady pinky by wes mcfaden, on Flickr
I only had her for a short time. Between 6 weeks and 2 months.
She was a beautiful girl who brightened my live so briefly.
At the time I got her (pre-forum days) I was still looking for female Cockatiels so I could raise babies. After a short time of having her she started laying eggs. To say I was excited would be an extreme understatement.
She was taking care of the eggs when I went on a 1 week vacation and left her and the rest of my flock in the care of my wife and Son.
When I returned I was told that they thought Lady had gone blind. When I went to check her out I saw that she was not blind but her head was tilted over at a….unnatural angle and was having trouble walking and perching. Lady could only walk around in a circle. She was still eating and drinking but I could tell she was suffering.
I took her quick as I could to a vet that would see birds (not an avian certified vet, I did not know better at the time).
The vet told me that the 2 most likely reasons for this behavior was.
Head trauma from hitting a wall or window in flight. She had not been let out of the cage since I got her so that was out.
Tumor in her head due to genetic defects/inbreeding. I think this was a high probability because her sister has a malformed toe.
In the end I felt it best to end her suffering. This decision still haunts me to this day. She is gone but I will never forget her.
This is the last photo of her I took in the vet’s office and may give you some idea of the reasons for my choice.
lady last photo by wes mcfaden, on Flickr
Fly free Lady.
texsize/Wes
“A candle in the Wind”.
That would be how I would describe Lady a Lutino Cockatiel I bought at a yard sale in June 2013. I got her with what I feel sure was a sister that we named Pinky.
lady pinky by wes mcfaden, on Flickr
I only had her for a short time. Between 6 weeks and 2 months.
She was a beautiful girl who brightened my live so briefly.
At the time I got her (pre-forum days) I was still looking for female Cockatiels so I could raise babies. After a short time of having her she started laying eggs. To say I was excited would be an extreme understatement.
She was taking care of the eggs when I went on a 1 week vacation and left her and the rest of my flock in the care of my wife and Son.
When I returned I was told that they thought Lady had gone blind. When I went to check her out I saw that she was not blind but her head was tilted over at a….unnatural angle and was having trouble walking and perching. Lady could only walk around in a circle. She was still eating and drinking but I could tell she was suffering.
I took her quick as I could to a vet that would see birds (not an avian certified vet, I did not know better at the time).
The vet told me that the 2 most likely reasons for this behavior was.
Head trauma from hitting a wall or window in flight. She had not been let out of the cage since I got her so that was out.
Tumor in her head due to genetic defects/inbreeding. I think this was a high probability because her sister has a malformed toe.
In the end I felt it best to end her suffering. This decision still haunts me to this day. She is gone but I will never forget her.
This is the last photo of her I took in the vet’s office and may give you some idea of the reasons for my choice.
lady last photo by wes mcfaden, on Flickr
Fly free Lady.
texsize/Wes