This is not Sunny - no
photos of her were taken
during her brief stay with us.
She had similar markings and
the same colour as the bird in
in this picture
Sonny > Sunny
Soon after Happy left us, Dancer started pulling out her feathers and lacerating the skin underneath. The vet announced what we already expected -- the stress of losing her companion of nine years. He gave her a tonic, some salve for the skin and talc for the feathers.
Not sure who's idea it was to get another budgie, but pretty sure it wasn't mine. I wasn't ready for another bird -- Happy's loss was still fresh in my heart.
Nevertheless, off I went with Greg to the pet store to look at budgies. Greg insisted I choose and name the bird. I chose the one that looked most unlike Happy and named him Sonny. The saleswoman pronounced him to be male -- the cere was still white as he was too young for the colour to change. Okay, a male for Dancer to bond with. We brought him home and Dancer wasn't particularly thrilled. In fact, she ignored him completely. Despite our best efforts to help the two bond, Dancer didn't want anything to do with this strange little bird. It soon became apparent that I couldn't conjure up much feeling or emotion for the little guy either, so Greg was left to tend to him - cleaning, social interaction -- everything was left to Greg. Of course, in his absence I'd feed/water and clean Sonny's cage and even managed to whistle and talk to him sometimes.
Woke up one morning and in the bottom of Sonny's cage were two small, shiny eggs. Wait a minute -- eggs? No wonder Dancer hadn't bonded with him - er... her, but Sunny (as she now became known) had bonded with Greg. Over the next few months, she laid more eggs and then came the fateful day that she became egg-bound.
Our vet was not in, the assistant vet was very busy. He suggested we put lubricating gel around the area where the egg protruded. That didn't do any good...called him again and he suggested holding her carefully and high above a container of steaming water - the steam might loosen up the egg. That didn't work either so we took her to the office. The vet said he'd give her an injection and that should do the trick. He suggested leaving her there for a few hours so we went back home. An hour later the vet called to say that Sunny had gone into distress and expired. He'd dispose of the body and we could come in tomorrow to settle the bill...he was going home. I insisted that he leave Sunny in her cage and put her outside...we'd come and get her right away and bury her at home. His tone made it very clear that he thought I was being a typical hysterical female but said fine, he'd leave her outside.
I wasn't prepared for how sad I'd be at her passing. Mostly, I was sad that I hadn't found it within me to give her the love and attention I gave Happy. If I had, perhaps she wouldn't have bonded so strongly with Greg, she wouldn't have started laying eggs, and her untimely death would have been avoided. Tears still come to my eyes as I think about yet another failure on my part to fully appreciate the precious life of another living creature. Another small mound in the garden....
Not sure who's idea it was to get another budgie, but pretty sure it wasn't mine. I wasn't ready for another bird -- Happy's loss was still fresh in my heart.
Nevertheless, off I went with Greg to the pet store to look at budgies. Greg insisted I choose and name the bird. I chose the one that looked most unlike Happy and named him Sonny. The saleswoman pronounced him to be male -- the cere was still white as he was too young for the colour to change. Okay, a male for Dancer to bond with. We brought him home and Dancer wasn't particularly thrilled. In fact, she ignored him completely. Despite our best efforts to help the two bond, Dancer didn't want anything to do with this strange little bird. It soon became apparent that I couldn't conjure up much feeling or emotion for the little guy either, so Greg was left to tend to him - cleaning, social interaction -- everything was left to Greg. Of course, in his absence I'd feed/water and clean Sonny's cage and even managed to whistle and talk to him sometimes.
Woke up one morning and in the bottom of Sonny's cage were two small, shiny eggs. Wait a minute -- eggs? No wonder Dancer hadn't bonded with him - er... her, but Sunny (as she now became known) had bonded with Greg. Over the next few months, she laid more eggs and then came the fateful day that she became egg-bound.
Our vet was not in, the assistant vet was very busy. He suggested we put lubricating gel around the area where the egg protruded. That didn't do any good...called him again and he suggested holding her carefully and high above a container of steaming water - the steam might loosen up the egg. That didn't work either so we took her to the office. The vet said he'd give her an injection and that should do the trick. He suggested leaving her there for a few hours so we went back home. An hour later the vet called to say that Sunny had gone into distress and expired. He'd dispose of the body and we could come in tomorrow to settle the bill...he was going home. I insisted that he leave Sunny in her cage and put her outside...we'd come and get her right away and bury her at home. His tone made it very clear that he thought I was being a typical hysterical female but said fine, he'd leave her outside.
I wasn't prepared for how sad I'd be at her passing. Mostly, I was sad that I hadn't found it within me to give her the love and attention I gave Happy. If I had, perhaps she wouldn't have bonded so strongly with Greg, she wouldn't have started laying eggs, and her untimely death would have been avoided. Tears still come to my eyes as I think about yet another failure on my part to fully appreciate the precious life of another living creature. Another small mound in the garden....