When I was 11 I bred my first baby budgies. I had no idea what i was doing at the time and I was over the moon at the little pink creations that had come into my avary....

 

14 years on.... with lots more experience...

 

I have one bird that i kept from that first clutch - all the others went to good homes.

 

Her name is Whitie. She has developed a deformed beak (not caused by mites) in the last year or so, and she is getting very frail. She is very special to me and i have been dreading this question, but i feel i have to ask now.

 

Is it time for her to go to the vet an visit all the other pretty birds in heaven? :angel1:

Or is it okay for nature to take its course? She IS well. no runny poos etc. she is just old. She is fluffed most of the time (has been for months), but i feel it's only because she feels the cold more in her old age.

 

 

The reason i ask is because, i worry that, catching her, taking her from her toy boy and her home to go the vet in the bright lights and funny smells, to then be "put to sleep" would be a horrible way for her to "go"

 

I dont want to let her suffer (if she is suffering) either........

 

Is it okay for nature to take it's course and let her go peacefully in her home?

 

I dont know what to do and i don't know what is morally right. Please help with any advice.

 

She is in my other avairy where I keep the birds that I don't want mixing with the main flock incase of illness etc.

 

I took these photos today.

 

Whitie having a snack

 

 

She has given me so much joy and I am saddened to think that she is coming to the end of her time.

 

Whitie getting some love from her toy boy hehe

 

 

 

He never EVER leaves her side - where she goes, he goes. The bond these two birds have is gorgeous. He feeds her all her main meals, preens her, snuggles with her..... its very sweet.

 

 

Thanks

liv

Edited August 15, 200816 yr by **Liv**

Let her live her life while she is well and has friends and quality of life. No vets visit at this time

I'd say let her live her natural path of life if there's no illness

Edited February 12, 200817 yr by *libby*

Oh Liv, what a decision to have to make. I'd agree with Kaz and Libby on this one. If she seems fine, I'd let her be. Whitie is a sweetie and it looks like her toy boy is doing a great job of looking after her in her later years. Him feeding her, preening her, keeping her warm etc... is prob making her life all that much better and eaiser. I don't think you should feel bad about letting nature take its cause. I believe, that if there does come a time, when she is physicaly unwell, you will know in your heart of hearts, that it is time, but for now, I'd leave her with her family. Stress for any bird can kill them, and for your old duck, I think it would be the end of her... Bless her dear heart and hugs for you and her. xxx

Edited February 12, 200817 yr by maesie

Euthanasia is always a contoversial topic whether it be human, budgie or other.

I think it is a personal choice, and a decision you alone can make.

 

But if Whitie were my little girl and she was happy, healthy and leading a good life (I love that she has a toy boy! ) and was not suffering in the least, I wouldn't 'put her to sleep', but let nature take its course.

As an add on to my previous post....I had an old girl in the aviary with a tumour. Nothing could be done for her. She had a boyfriend that tended to her every need and she was happy and well looked after. One day I found her dead...her boy by her side. She had died in her sleep, falling from her perch. Her boy had huddled next to her the whole night, keeping vigil over her until I found her. Your girl has a friend just like mine did, and she is showing all signs of being well except looking a little old and "motheaten" just like old cats and dogs do. If things progress, maybe move them into an indoors cage if you feel the need. Otherwise...while she has breath in her body, she has life :angel1:

Edited February 12, 200817 yr by KAZ
spelling

Thank you all so much! It brings me great comfort to know thats its okay to let her be happy in her home with her toy boy, even when she is old and frail. If it wasn't for her toy boy (he's about 3 years old), i don't think she would have made it this far. Great idea Kaz, I will bring them inside when the cool weather starts.

 

Thanks so much again guys. It's been playing on my mind for some time. You answers have given me the confidence to know what I'm not doing the wrong thing by her.

I agree with the above statements (hugs to you).

haha just had to share the story of my little old girl "agatha" who recently passed away... She is quite possibly the ugliest bird i've ever owned/seen... She was the first bird i ever bred (dec 05) and has given me some gorgeous babies She's always had an underbitten beak and in her older age developed a rupture in her under carriage preventing her from breeding any longer.... after that in more recent months she had lost her ability to fly and also her ability to balance well so she was very light on her feet and would topple over often... to add insult to injury she then turned half blind in her old age... The thought never once crossed my mind to put her down, she loved her life in the aviary... She slept with the rabbits for warmth and dawdled around on the floor all day... mindlessly bumping into objects... although some people will probably Say it was a horrible thing to keep this bird alive, i honestly beleive even against all the things she was suffering from that she enjoyed her life... We sadly lost her about 1-2 months ago now But i know she's at peace with no more bumping into things and with being able to fly again I'm glad i didn't think to put her down, It would've killed me to have cut her life short so early when in the end the only thing she died of was old age :hap: And i saw how much she enjoyed her "laid back" life when she was sick... she ate well, ate her greens and had a few friends in my ground ridden disabled birds :hap: Here's a picture of her cuddling up with my bunnies feet :hap: She was adorable! so i hope you don't feel bad about keeping your bird alive... because In the end that's the way we all want to go, from nature not sickness

 

thats an adorable story Libby.

I love Agatha and the fact that she slept with the rabbits :oliveb:

 

We all seem to have that special bird that touches our hearts =D

 

**Congrats on your promotion!!!!** :oliveb:

Please let her have a natural death. dont take her to the vet