Pretty Boy

[Pajarita]

Actually, I use considerably less beans than grains but the benefit of beans is that they have good protein without the fat found in grains and seeds and lower carbs.

[Pajarita]

Pretty Boy will be going back to his father this Saturday. I will miss him but he goes back on a good diet (a bag of gloop and a promise to continue providing it -. this bird had a molt that lasted four entire months from his pellet diet!), detailed instructions on his light (he also molted in the middle of the winter due to a human light schedule), feeding and interaction schedule and two new tricks: 'tickle, tickle' and 'give me a kiss'. He is not going back flying like my other birds but he can now hover and fly a bit and make a U turn to return to his cage which he couldn't before.

[Wolf]

I don't know anything about Pretty Boy's home but I took the budgies in from the people that they were brought here for and then returned them along with instructions and a supply of food. They kept them for maybe two weeks and now The budgies are back with me on a permanent basis. They are the next birds to go in for an exam and although I did not set an appointment I did discuss them with the vet. I will have to wait until I can save enough for the cost of two birds this next time, so I estimate that at about $700.
Sorry for sidetracking, but I was just saying that I hope that Pretty Boy's dad will do right by him.

[Pajarita]

Yes, me too! And don't think I am not worried sick over it, either. I love all birds and would worry even over a bird I've never seen but the ones you care for become like your children and I feel a HUGE responsibility toward their wellbeing even when they are not mine. I already sent him pages and pages of instructions but I don't feel confident he will follow them... and my husband doesn't help things a bit when he keeps on saying: "Poor Pretty Boy, he is going to miss us sooooo much!" every single time he walks by him. He has become such a dear little boy! You should see him rushing to his little ramp when I ask him for a kiss...

[Wolf]

Yep! I second everything that you said and that is exactly why the budgies are back with me. They really seem to be glad to be back here as well.

[Pajarita]

And you have no idea what a great relief those news have been to my peace of mind, Wolf! Those two little ones will do so much better in your home...

[Pajarita]

Pretty Boy is dead. This is the email I received from his owner:

"Bea, while I was hospitalized, despite excellent care by my daughters, Pretty Boy passed away - he was my buddy and I will miss him terribly - do you sell any of your birds? - if not, could you please refer me to a person who might have a conure or similar bird I can buy.

Thanks again for your excellent care of Pretty Boy while I was recovering"

To my answer (short so as not to insult him, not because they did not deserve it but because I was raised the old-fashioned way), putting his daughter and son in law on copy, telling him I don't sell birds and that, given his chronic medical issues, he should not get another parrot, I got the following email from his son in law, later yesterday.

"Bea,
I must express our embarrassment over this situation. When Pretty Boy's passing occurred both Allyson & I agreed that we didn't have the heart or the words to tell Robert and yourself. After you cared for and became attached to Pretty Boy we just it felt better that way. But as with most things in life trying to spare people upset and hurt rarely works out as you plan and for that we apologize deeply.
We have also told Vin that getting another bird would be a grave mistake.
We like to think that Pretty Boy found a paradise with you for the 4 months he was with you and that was more than most of his brethren ever find.
So again we thank you for your helping us out when we needed it and we are sorry things didn't turn out better.
Please show this note to Robert as i am not sending it to him for fear he does not know yet of Pretty Boy's fate"

"Despite excellent care"... now, I ask you, how could a young bird (only 3 years old!), that was in perfect health, eating well for the first time in his short life, beginning to fly and to interact with people, die while receiving 'excellent care'?

I am not only devastated, I am so furious I can't see straight! And after giving a little bird half a life and killing it, the idiotic, self-centered old man wants another bird!!!

[liz]

Pajarita, I am so sorry. The fact that he died must be traumatizing to you after loving him so much. I can not even imagine how awful you feel now.
I don't know those people but I really hate them. They need punished for their crime.

[Wolf]

All I can say on an open forum at this time is I am so sorry that this occurred. Maybe when I calm down and gather myself together I can say more. But I trust that you know pretty much how I feel about this.

[Pajarita]

Both me and my husband feel not only the pain of his passing but terribly guilty for returning him because, deep in my heart I KNEW he wasn't going to be receiving the care he needed (I should have lied and said he had died under my care and just kept him... but that's not us). I knew it because these people had NO IDEA how to care for a bird and despite all my loooooong emails explaining good husbandry in detail and why every single little thing I was recommending was needed for his wellbeing, I had the feeling I was been yessed to death. Oh, they were very grateful and complimentary but I never got the feeling that there had been an AHA moment. My poor, poor baby! He was what most people would think it's the perfect parrot, he didn't scream, didn't pluck, didn't leave his cage... he was just a beautiful thing just sitting there looking pretty. Of course, this behavior was completely abnormal and I set out to change it - and he was doing so well, coming out of his shell, beginning to fly, to like people, eating a good diet, had his bird friends, etc. We always held the hope that he would come back to us... and they killed him in a matter of a few weeks. They are not saying what happened but, precisely because they are not telling, I think it was some type of 'accident', maybe the daughter's dog got him, maybe it was poisonous fumes, I don't know but I do know it's something they did or did not do. And I blame the daughter as much as I blame the stupid selfish old man because she knew he couldn't take care of the bird and she knew she did not know enough to do it herself.