Help please!! Shadow is sick!!!

[fhgwgads]

I know I have read several posts several times about sick birds.. and the symptoms, what to do, etc... but now my mind is completely blank. My boy Shadow (who is with his mate and has been since I got them) has been pretty quiet all day.. not his usual singing all day self. I noticed it today and thought it was because I gave them sliced grapes for the first time and sometimes when I give them new things they are scared of them. I just went into the kitchen to check because I hear a noise and he was on the bottom of the cage in the corner. He is puffed up.. wings are drooping.. I started talking to him and he really didn't move much. I changed the water and put some vitamins in... it's all I have.. and I made him a little bed with tissues and put it in the corner.. he usually sleeps next to Kuri on the swing up at the top. He went and sat in the little bed I made for a few moments but then went back to the swing with Kuri. I can't get him to a vet right now and honestly don't know if I could even afford one. All the stores are closed. His symptoms are also very vague and generic. Once he was on the swing he remained puffed up and every few moments would move as if he was taking a gasp. I don't know if he is.. or if he is just moving that way? I don't hear any breathing issues, he has a clean vent, he was eating and drinking today although he didn't touch the broccoli, there's no drainage from his nose or eyes. He just looks really fluffy and sleepy with droopy wings, and hops around kind of weak. I don't know what to do!!!!!! And it's probably near impossible to tell what this could be!!!

[fhgwgads]

Well I don't think he is going to make it.. it's 4:30am for me and I just went to check on him and he's in the food bowl. They have three eggs in there.. but I am sure he is sitting in there because he can no longer stand on the swing. When I went to check he moved around a bit as if he was trying to get up but couldn't. I want to hold him but he isn't accustomed to it and I don't want to scare him. I feel so helpless right now.. and sick to my stomach.. it really seems like he won't make it at all.I really don't know what else to do... I guess I just have to leave him be so he isn't scared and is as comfortable as possible. I can't stand this....

[debbie276]

So very sorry, wish I knew what could be wrong
A little extra heat may help make him comfortable, wishing you well

[fhgwgads]

I already have some heat for him. I am just baffled because he really doesn't have any symptoms. And it's so sudden... as most bird illnesses are. The only thing I ever noticed with him was a tiny bump he had a while ago on his eye that he would itch but it went away. And other than the track record with their breeding history. They have still been trying to breed up until two days ago. I also do not know how old he really is. I only got him in April. I did think to myself the other day that he did look older. Not necessarily scruffy, or weak.. his feathers just looked a little lighter. He is usually very active, social, etc. I just wish I could help him. All I can do is lay here trying to fall asleep, having anxiety, feeling nauseous and scouring the internet. I just wish I could hold him. I apologize for the numerous large posts but I am going crazy right now. I love my baby boy so much... poor mama already looks freaked out and depressed. She has been with him since I got them and they got along amazingly well.

[Ginene]

fhgwgads
OMGosh, Ashley...I'm so sorry . Is there a change in his droppings at all??? When Ernie was puffy with droopy wings, I noticed his droppings were loser than usual. I wound up treating him for 10 days with a broad spectrum anti-biotic and he got better. They use to sell it at my local bird store, so I had some on hand. Can you put electrolytes in their water. That may perk him up some. Also, Soverign Silver is a Natural Anti-biotic that you could give to him. They sell it on amazon.com. But don't give him that with another antibiotic.

[fhgwgads]

Ginene he was too sick. I mean I fuss over every little thing.. but he was such a happy little boy and such an alpha male that he was DAMN good at hiding his illness. I mean it went from him being his usual self.. to him looking a little quiet but very alert.. to bam.. bottom of the cage, seriously fluffed, lethargic and wobbly, barely keeping eyes open. He did try to act ok for a bit after that.. but I had a feeling it was too far along. My poor baby... I just got up and he had obviously passed away. Mama was calling.. I guess trying to get him to respond.. so the rest of them were calling. She looks really confused.. but is sitting on the three eggs she has in her food bowl. I feel so bad.. I wish I could have helped. My poor sweet little boy, RIP baby boy.

[Ginene]

fhgwgads
OMGosh, Ashley!!! I am SO SORRY!!! I know how much you ADORE your babies... You gave him such a beautiful life with Kuri and his sweet babies. Sending you much love and many hugs too...

[Nerien]

I am so very sorry that he has gone.

Fly high and free, little Shadow. You will be missed.

[debbie276]

So very sorry for your loss

[Sally]

So very sorry for your loss. As with many of our birds, they hide their illness so well that we have no idea they are sick until they are almost past the point of being helped.

[Colt]

Sorry to hear you lost him Ashley.

[chirpy]

Such a sad news to wake up to I am so sorry for your loss.
I know how much your little Zebbies mean to you... You lived him so much he was extremely lucky to have somebody like you.

Will you be keeping the eggs? Hopefully there will be a boy in there so you'll have two boy offsprings. (Hugs)

I will miss his funny tales with Kuri.

[fhgwgads]

Ginene Nerien debbie276 Sally Colt chirpy thank you all for your kind words and condolences. I am still devastated... I didn't even want to look at the forum today. Kuri is so depressed. When I got up earlier and found him.. when she was calling for him to get up I had taken him out and laid him in a little shallow container with some tissues.. and she kept calling. I went over and looked at her.. and I started crying.. and then she just looked at me.. went over to her food bowl that I had put new food in.. and placed her 3 eggs back in there.. and she sat it in and was quiet. She didn't move for much of the day. I felt bad and decided I would try to give her nest back.. so I filled it with soft material, and little pieces of tissue.. (at this point she had laid another egg) and I put her eggs in it and she went over and looked at it but wouldn't go in. I took out some cotton fluff (that they absolutely loved.. I know I know.. it's bad for them. I have never had a problem and I shred it.) I tore it apart into small pieces and she seemed to perk up... but she went over and took a piece out of the food bowl where I placed it and she started looking for him. I forgot that every time I gave them fluff... one of them would grab it.. and the other would pull it apart and they would shred it together. I felt so heartbroken.. so I just took all of it and put it in the nest and walked away. I went back a few moment later and she was sitting in her food bowl again. I decided to just take out the nest. I put her eggs back in the food dish with the fluff. For the past 2 or so weeks.. she had been laying eggs in her water bowl after I took apart their "nest" in the food dish.. and every day he would go in the food dish and make his cuddly noises.. would rip little pieces of paper from the bottom and put them in, would drag his toy that's on the perch and put the end of it into the dish.. and continually try to convince her (or seemingly so), "No, here! This is a good spot! Here, I found you a nest! See??". Broke my heart even more. She stayed in there for the remainder of the day.. and then she went back on the swing.. where she always slept with him. She's in her "spot".. but looks so sad and confused. She isn't "comfy". I was thinking of trying to see if the eggs are good but she doesn't stay in the food dish at night.. and doesn't seem to want the nest. I don't have a way to incubate them. I am just so upset over this. He was such a happy boy. He would greet me every day and talk to me.. would sing his little head off. Before I just took come cardboard to make a little box to bury him in. I picked up the tissue he was laid in and sat for a few moments looking at him, stroking his feathers. He looks so perfect. He is so beautiful. I gently put him in the box and closed it up securely and will bury him tomorrow.. thankfully it was around 60 degrees today and is supposed to be tomorrow.. I was worried about not being able to dig a hole. Other than that.. I don't know what to do for Kuri. I have felt nauseous and depressed all day.. have had a knot in my throat. I am just beyond devastated. He was the one I had bonded with the most out of all of them. He was the one that would socialize with me the most. And he was such a character. He had such a vibrant personality. I can't think about this anymore... I'm starting to feel sick. Sorry for such a long post... I just felt the need to get all of this out. And right before Christmas.. right before my Dad is supposed to come visit me.. and he was the one that got them for me. I at least have some solace in the fact that he was in the food dish and not on the bottom of the cage. At least he was in his "nest". Nothing is the same without my sweet baby boy.

[Angela&Shalamar]

I'm so sorry to hear Shadow didn't make it

[Nanajennie]

what a sad story... I am so sorry.. I too lost my favorite most wonderful male... I know it hurts and I hope you are ok. Charlie flew out a window just after laying eggs with Lucy.. the eggs didn't hatch.. Ugh.. my heart breaks for you...

I am so sorry for your loss.