Too soon after Safari...now it's Sponge

[crimson]

I just can't believe this, it's unimaginable.

Today I was moving cages around our bedroom, as I was adding another flight cage in there to reduce my smaller cages.

all of a sudden one of the birds knocked over a dish onto the floor, which sent my birds flying in a state of panic. I had my cockatiels, and conures out today.

I was in the bathroom at the time(washing the cages out) and I heard a sound like a bird hitting maybe a wall or something like that.

I went out and did a head count and everyone seemed fine.

later in the afternoon when I was putting all the birds back I could not find Sponge. I looked high and low for him but he was no where....I started to worry.

I called Dave in to help look for him, and he found him, he was on top of a very tall cage, sort of tucked in behind a bunch of toys....she was standing but literally NOT MOVING, JUST BLINKING.

I picked him up gently and there is no movement, what so ever, and he was cold...not dead, but I think he's paralyzed.

I tucked him gently into my sweater to warm him up, while Dave plugged in a heating pad in his cage. I held him and kissed the top of his head, he never moved, just blinking.

I sat there for over 1/2 hour while warming him up, then I decided to try and feed him some hand feeding formula. Sarah held him, while I went to go and make it.

When I returned, he took such a small amount, he could barely open his mouth...so I tried giving him some electrolytes and dribbled it into the side of his mouth,again, not even attempting to take any.

I don't understand why this is happening. this is way too soon after Safari, and now Sponge.

right now he's sleeping on his heating pad, and I've covered him. His breathing is shallow, laying on his side, and I don't expect him to survive.

Sponge was a very young chick when I pulled him from the nesting box, just barely a week old, due to his parents not taking proper care of him, and he also had severe splayed leg. I nursed him back to health, and he survived.

he's just 7 months old, and the sweetest bird.

If you recall I had posted how to help a cockatiel with splayed leg earlier this year, that was about Sponge.
one leg healed perfectly the other one was turned outwards, but he could stand not too badly and was an amazing flyer like his father.

He was fine coming out of his cage today, not a worry about anything.

I just don't get this. somebody must hate me.

 

[crimson]

I just went to check on him, and he died

 

[Terry57]

Oh no! I am so so sorry about Sponge I can't believe this has happened to you again, I have no words for how badly I feel for you. You are in my prayers.

 

[Jewelz]

So very sorry to hear of this loss.....you are in my thoughts......if there is anything I can do from where I sit don't hesitate to get in touch...

 

[QuakerMom]

Oh no I'm so, so sorry

I read about Safari; seems like you're having more than your share of bad luck.. I don't know why bad things happen to good people (and their animals) but I do know how you feel. Really. I've owned 6 horses now (three of them were under 2 years old, just babies) and all three young horses broke their legs in freak accidents. The youngest was 3 1/2 months old. I took her to K State (top vet college in the nation) and even they were stumped.. they'd never seen an injury like it and couldn't even tell me how it might have happened. I was devastated. Each loss tore out another piece of my heart.

After the first loss, I got away from horses for 7 years. I wanted nothing to do with them; I didn't want to endure pain like that ever again. It crushed me. She was my first horse and died at 20 months. After the 7 years without horses, I got brave and bought a lovely Spotted Saddle gelding. I had him for 6 weeks when he went running and bucking around the pasture.. went to spin and turn around on his front leg and when he threw all is weight on it, it snapped like a toothpick. As soon as I heard the dull pop, he went down and I knew... my heart sank.

Another year away from horses. Then I found my Rambo. It was love at first sight.. I saw his picture and I had to meet him. We chose each other and he's the best horse I've ever had. Always kind, gentle, and willing to give it his all. He takes to challenges like a duck to water. He has a heart of gold; I'm going to keep that boy until he's old and grey, Lord willing. He's one in a million. I bred him once to a mare then gelded him. His filly foal (baby female horse for those who aren't horse people!) was the one who was 3 1/2 months old when she broke her leg, mentioned in first paragraph.

Sorry this is lengthy, but the point I want to make is hang in there. Better days are to come though it may not seem like it right now. Maybe soon you will find your "Rambo". Maybe your one in a million is yet to come.

 

[crimson]

seriously thinking about clipping my birds wings...

I just don't get this....

if he was still in the cage today, he'd still be alive, and giving me kisses.

 

[thekarens]

You're right, you've had a serious run of bad luck

 

[crimson]

Oh no I'm so, so sorry

I read about Safari; seems like you're having more than your share of bad luck.. I don't know why bad things happen to good people (and their animals) but I do know how you feel. Really. I've owned 6 horses now (three of them were under 2 years old, just babies) and all three young horses broke their legs in freak accidents. The youngest was 3 1/2 months old. I took her to K State (top vet college in the nation) and even they were stumped.. they'd never seen an injury like it and couldn't even tell me how it might have happened. I was devastated. Each loss tore out another piece of my heart.

After the first loss, I got away from horses for 7 years. I wanted nothing to do with them; I didn't want to endure pain like that ever again. It crushed me. She was my first horse and died at 20 months. After the 7 years without horses, I got brave and bought a lovely Spotted Saddle gelding. I had him for 6 weeks when he went running and bucking around the pasture.. went to spin and turn around on his front leg and when he threw all is weight on it, it snapped like a toothpick. As soon as a heard the dull pop, he went down and I knew... my heart sank.

Another year away from horses. Then I found my Rambo. It was love at first sight.. I saw his picture and I had to meet him. We chose each other and he's the best horse I've ever had. Always kind, gentle, and willing to give it his all. He takes to challenges like a duck to water. He has a heart of gold; I'm going to keep that boy until he's old and grey, Lord willing. He's one in a million. I bred him once to a mare then gelded him. His filly foal (baby female horse for those who aren't horse people!) was the one who was 3 1/2 months old when she broke her leg, mentioned in previous paragraph.

Sorry this is lengthy, but the point I want to make is hang in there. Better days are to come though it may not seem like it right now. Maybe soon you will find your "Rambo". Maybe your one in a million is yet to come.

thanks Quakermom- I have plenty of 'Rambos', Halo, which is my very favourite lovebird, Tundra, and Angus,and of course Num Num, all three are my favourite cockatiels, and are super sweet and very loving.
then there is Kahlua my sweet gentle pineapple conure, who has never bit, and loves to cuddle, she really is priceless.

I am just shocked that Sponge is no longer with us, he had such a struggle in life, always being picked on by the other birds, and seemed to be the underdog.

I always watched out for him, Sarah and I took very good care of him.

I guess you just never know when a bird is going to fly into a wall or a window.

 

[QuakerMom]

No, you just never know what might happen or when. Inherent risk of being alive, unfortunately.

I'm so happy you have a few "Rambos". They are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole. Not sure who to cite on that quote, but it holds true for our beloved pets.

 

[QuakerMom]

If you do opt to clip their wings, maybe try clipping just enough so they can still fly but not gain altitude or speed. More like a gentle downward glide to the floor or a horizontal flight from couch to cage if they really try hard. That's how Pipers wings were clipped when I got her though they've grown out now. Which makes no difference since she can't fly anyways. But it kept her from crashing.

 

[kc_y0]

I am so sorry to hear this!! Such sad news

 

[JerseyWendy]

Oh my God, Beth!! I don't even know what to say, my mouth is wide open - this just can't be happening.

I'm hugging you from here!!

WHAT a shock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rest easy, beautiful, sweet Sponge. Watch over your mommy, who loved you so much!! And play with Safari, over Rainbow Bridge.

 

[tab_xo]

Awwwwww Beth, big big hugs!

So unfair that this is happening to you again...

I guess bad things happen in threes, so your bad luck should be over now !


I am sure Sponge will happily be playing with Safari over the rainbow bridge now


<3

 

[Betrisher]

Oh Beth, I'm so sorry to hear this! What a rotten run of luck you've had! Please try to relax and keep reminding yourself that each of these awful incidents stands alone and is not connected in any way to the others. It's nothing you did or didn't do: you're a lovely parront. Huge hugs from me and my Phloque. XXXX

 

[Mayden]

Aw Crimson I'm crying for you here. Life is so unfair. It sounds like maybe it was shock that got Sponge since he was able to move just unwilling. Poor baby. He was obviously loved from the word Go with you though. You've had so many freak accidents and I'm so sorry that you're heart is breaking again. Wish we could bubble wrap them all.

RIP Sponge&Safari

 

[Mike17]

So sorry to hear of another loss for you, Beth. It's heart-wrenching when you hear the thud of a bird hitting something, a worry for us with so many (and so many reasons for them to panic, it seems). All the more difficult for you with Safari's recent loss.

I read of Ned's loss last night before going to bed, now Beth's the first post I read this morning... it's difficult not to become emotional.

 

[crimson]

yup, can't believe it either.

He must have hit the patio door after the bowl tipped over, and fell(spooked)
he could barely move after this happened, and probably landed on top of the cage(the cage is just 4 inches away from the patio door)

just to recap what I have learned from this miserable year...

NO CHAINS ON ANY TOYS(NUM NUM)--LIVED
NO METAL TOYS OF ANY KIND (SAFARI)DIED
ONLY HEAVY BOWLS ON TOP OF THE CAGES SO THEY WON'T BE TIPPED OVER, AND SPOOK YOUR BIRDS(SPONGE) DIED
...those are terrible odds

here are some pictures of Sponge as a baby, I just love the second one the third one taken just 6 days ago,and the last photo of him.

R.I.P. Sponge

 

[DallyTsuka]

hang in there, crimson! i'm so sorry things arent going well for your flock. he was a beautiful baby and i know you take upmost care of your fids. he knows that too.

 

[TessieB]

What a heartbreaking story. Sorry for your loss.

 

[ann]

I'm so sorry crimson, you gave him the best life possible. hugs and prayers for you and sponge~