any spare light you can send to my Domingo, for a gentle passing, would be appreciated...

[magical thyme]

Domingo came into my life some 19 years ago. She is a beautiful sun conure, and at first was a wonderful companion for me, who would spend hours on my shoulder preening my hair, my eyebrows and even eyelashes. Then she fell in love with my love bird, Joey, and suddenly lost interest in me. We lost Joey some years ago, but then she bonded with my other love bird, Sage, who had lost his fischers love bird companion, Papaya.

She's at the end of her life span, which has been filled with much interspecies love, many eggs to sit on, some travels, constant play time and flirtation with Jerry, my senegal parrot in the digs next door, .

This morning I found her huddled in a corner floor, with her beak hooked over a bar to stabilize her. I picked her up to check on her, and realized then how weakened she suddenly is. Her legs barely hold her and she clearly can't perch at all. I've put her back in her corner, but sitting now on a tissue nest which I thought would be more comfortable for her than the cage grate.

Sage is gently chirping to her while trying to feed her. That is what hurts the most to see...

[antiquie]

1. <<<>>>

[warrior1]

2. I'm so sorry.

[In_The_Wind]

3. ~

[img][/img]

[SammyWinstonJack]

4. So sorry

[riderinthestorm]

5. Oh what a sad day, to lose such a friend....

(((((hugs)))))

[irisblue]

6. ((Domingo)) &((magical thyme))

may the wind be soft, warm and take you to the summerfields Domingo. ((magic thyme)) for loss and love again

[rug]

7. I bet she's a lovely bird.

But only your words could describe who she is.

Sorry for your sorrow.

[LiberalEsto]

8. May she fly in Light

[Solly Mack]

9. I'm so sorry.

I'm glad she has so much love around her.

[MiddleFingerMom]

10. Vibes to Domingo and you.

.
.
.
May she find herself in a place with luscious noms, sweet song and warm gentle breezes.
.
I believe she will.
.

.
.
.

[mike_c]

11. that's always so hard....

I'm terribly sorry.

[graywarrior]

12. Hugs to you and your little chirper

[LeftofObama]

13. Poor baby!

{{{}}} Sending her vibes for a gentle passing and a for you.

[magical thyme]

14. well, apparently she's determined to hang on...

I suspect she had a stroke. Her right foot is nonresponsive, and the right wing and eye are weak. I held her on my shoulder for about an hour last night...at one point she reached over and nibbled my chin.

I thought she would pass during the night, so was surprised to find her a little more alert looking this morning. Although she isn't interested in eating on her own, she lets Sage feed her. So I picked up some gaterade this morning and am also feeding her a little of that mixed with raw egg. Sage is too small to be able to feed her all on her own.

She occasionally gets restless and drags herself a round a bit using her beak and wings and possibly the left foot. Mostly she rests by hanging off her beak to hold her front end up a bit. That enables her to breathe more easily. (Birds breathe by pushing their chests out. Most of the time, when people think they scared a wild bird to death by picking it up they've actually accidentally smothered it by holding across the chest.)

As long as she's letting Sage feed her and trying to hold on, I will supplement with gatorade and egg. I moved them into the sun room yesterday so she gets occasional rays while napping. That way, too, I can shut the dogs out and leave the cage open. It's easier for Sage to feed her if he stands outside the cage, as opposed to how I found them yesterday, with him hanging off the side and spilling food all over her beak...

[In_The_Wind]

15. Is there an avian vet near you?

Maybe a formula designed for chicks would be the best food for her now.

[magical thyme]

16. No nearby avian vet

My avian vets that I used for a decade+ before I moved here are 6-8 hours away. The drive alone would be horrendous for her, and if my old car broke down, it would be even worse. I don't trust the local vets here --not really avian vets, or exotic vets. And they won't be available on a holiday weekend at all up here.

I don't really expect she has any chance of recovery and even if she survived the trip, avian euthansia is not really euthanasia. It is a heartstick. I had to do it once and will never do that again...

I've used the mix of gatorade and eggs before, with amazing results. If nothing else, it will keep her hydrated and a little more comfortable.

[In_The_Wind]

18. My heart goes out to you. Our featherheads rarely show their health problems.

Will she accept a fruit smoothie (minus the dairy) with powdered vitamins mixed in?

My macaw loves scrambled eggs.

[magical thyme]

20. I just checked on her....she laid an egg.

One last, perfect egg...I can't believe it. When I held her last night, and when I checked her this morning, there was no sign that she had an egg. Usually I can see them protruding.

My avian vets have recommended gatorade as emergency food in the past. Hand feeding has to be liquid and has to squeeze through the eye dropper. She's not accepting anything solid.

[In_The_Wind]

21. Aww,an egg.

May this time with Domingo be peaceful for both of you.

Is she content to relax on your chest with your hand lightly over her wings? Only a few of my little doves enjoy my touch but they all seem to enjoy me being near their cage.

[magical thyme]

23. that was how I held her last evening...

Then she crawled up until she was lying on my shoulder. I will hold her again tonight. Once she settled in, she seemed to enjoy it, and I think the extra warmth was soothing as well.


Since she laid the egg, she is enjoying my hand feeding as well. Before she was resisting. Now she takes hold of the dropper tip and bobs with it as she slurps it down, just like a baby. 2 dropper fulls and then she says no more.

I just picked up a fancy fruit juice mix at the supermarket and added that in. I'm going to increase the egg yolk too...she seems to be gaining energy and strength since she laid the egg. It must have been so hard for her to pass with one side so weakened or paralyzed, but I never saw her straining or trying to lay it. So maybe not...she's had so many over the years. Maybe getting rid of it has made more room now for food.

[auntAgonist]

22. oh my gosh, this is making me tear up. I'm so sorry

for you and for Domingo.

I have such a soft spot for birds and to have had the companionship of one for so long is tremendous.



I have no sage words of advise, nothing adequate to make you feel better.


Know that I care.

aA
kesha

[life long demo]

17. What ever is best for Domingo, that's all any of us

could ask for. Good vibes coming your way for support.

[nolabear]

19. Love from me and Pidge the African Grey.

I know bird love, and its like no other. What wonderful souls they are. There are reasons we depict angels with wings.

Cross easy, Little Soul.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

24. Lighting the way for a safe passage. Peace to you, magical thyme -

[susanr516]

25. Love and light for Domingo nt