FINCHforum

Well after recovering fully from her injury Shy Pie was doing much better. I had her seperated with her mate enjoying the quiet life. I started to notice some balding on her head and she was starting to rest on her breast again instead of on her feet. I removed Shy Guy and well the balding got worse with no actual damage or irritation to the area so I put her man back for comfort. She started to spend all of her time hanging out in a seed cup. This went on for a couple of days with me giving liquid calcium and all the wonderful foods she loves more often then usual. Shy Guy was in heaven and im pretty positive may have over indulged.

This went on for 2-3 days before I bit the bullet and took her to a vet. Diagnoses: old age
Honestly it did not surprise me as I have often wondered if she was older. He offered to euthanize her or I could take her home and make her as comfortable as possible until the time came. I brought her home. We are in this for the long haul and if its that time its my duty to do right by her.

So back into her seed cup she went with Shy Guy perched on the edge keeping an ever watchful eye out for her and enjoying the benefits of being housed in the hospital cage.

Arama

Oh my dear..... there is no cure for old age, sigh.
You haven't had her all that long, have you? She must have been a bit of a senior when you got her.

She can still enjoy life though. She has her companion, she has comfort and warmth, and her favorite foods.

Enjoy her for as long as you can.

awh one of these days this will be me too. I have an old bird, a beautiful sweet old bird.....sigh.

Arama
Bittersweet story....we will all end up like your sweet Shy Pie....hope we all get the loving treatment you are offering your girl. Pay it forward...

I have a very old star finch and you do the best you can for them. My star finch can't fly much but he loves his mirror, tweets to the other birds, listens to the radio and sees outside. You will know when the time is right...

God bless...

Zebrafincher

Thank you everyone for your words. Shes still meeping away with her mate and talking to everyone in the kitchen. She gets the cozy spot in the dining nook.

Unfortunately, finches don't have long life spans like parrots or other birds, so we are often faced with keeping them comfortable through their declining years. At least in captivity, these birds can enjoy some senior time, while out in the wild, these would not last long at all.

I applaud your taking her home and deciding to give her comfort and spoil her. It's very compassionate of you.

I know how you feel, I recently said goodbye to my 13ry old male gouldian. I did like you... kept him with the others, with his young girlfriend, next to a window with a good view. I provided open nests for him thinking at some point he might be too old to perch. But that didn't happen until right before he died. No clue what he died of but he was 13 so it wasn't exactly a tragedy but difficult saying goodbye to a pet that old.

His passing opened up a spot for another secondhand bird who needed a home though.