My little Maddie went to Heaven this morning at the Brisbane Bird Vet Hospital. We took her there yesterday as she started breathing heavily & was sitting on the bottom of the cage lots of the time. The avian vet took an x-ray & Maddie had a large liver. They dosed her with the necessary medication, but unfortunately she lost the fight this morning, just after they fed her. I am broken-hearted - such a little bundle to cause me so much heartbreak.

I had rescued Maddie on the 26.01.11 (Australia Day) when I was walking my dog, Molly. She was flying overhead, being chased by crows. She flew down into some long grass & I found her & held her to my chest all the way home, not knowing if she would survive the ordeal. She was bleeding a bit where the crows had attacked her, but she survived, which made me so happy. I grew to love her so much & she seemed to love me too, always getting excited when I approached her cage (she had 3 cages - small for travelling, medium for holidays & going outside with me & a large flight cage).

She didn't like being handled, but she would get on my hand & hop up my arm. And she talked so much & she danced. A happy little budgie with a great personality. She was so beautiful - all white, but with a bit of the most beautiful bright blue above her tail.

I didn't have her for long, but she became such an important & vital part of my life. My heart is broken.

The vet has informed me that bird seed contains too much fat - here I was thinking that I was doing the right thing by buying Maddie a good brand of bird seed & giving her some spinach leaf & apple.

IT IS NOT WELL-KNOWN THAT BIRD SEED IS UNSUITABLE IN A BIRD'S DAILY DIET. There should be more info out there on this, & more birds would live longer.

Farewell little Maddie. I miss you so much & I can't believe that this has happened so suddenly. Thank you for giving me so much pleasure whilst you were here my little darling.

Much love from Mummy. xxx

Let her r.i.p sorry for your loss

I'm sorry for your loss. I think I remember when you were new here and had just found her. You did a great job rescuing her and giving her almost another year of happy life.

 

Don't beat yourself up too much about the seed. Sometimes they become over weight for other reasons. By adding fresh food supplement to her diet, you were giving her a proper diet. They do require some seed after all.

 

She may have lacked exercise, she may have had a genetic predisposition for fatty liver disease, or it could have been a result of her trauma from the wild bird attack.

 

Anyway, since you are such a caring bird owner, have you considered filling the hole in your life with another bird that needs a good home?

Hi Finnie,

Thanks for your kind words. I do appreciate it & it helps to talk to someone who understands & cares.

Yes I have thought of getting another little budgie & will do so after my travels.

Again thank you for your thoughts.

Love the picture of the baby birdies!

It is obvious that you loved her dearly and she will be in your heart for the rest of your life, you are obviously a beutiful soul having taken her into your life and protecting her when she needed it the most. Well done and R.I.P Maddie

Edited August 1, 201212 yr by Pride