Sad News

robin · Post by **robin** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:21 pm

It's with a very heavy heart that I have to inform the forum members who helped us over the past week that our 2 fledglings died, one yesterday and the other today.

I feel shattered and terribly sad about the whole affair. The one with the full plumage of feathers started to accept the hand feeding yesterday and all morning and early afternoon she was bright eyed and flying around the cage as happy as could be. After the 3rd feed she was still her usual self then just 1 hour and a half later she was lying on the floor of the nesting cage dead.

The other bird the little guy with the missing feathers on his back took to hand feeding straight away and the past week he was having regular feeds. Today he was as hungry as ever and I did what I always did made sure the feed wasn't too runny, too thick, too hot, or too cold and made sure I fed him properly making sure I didn't give him too much and allowing sufficient time between feeds. The cage and nest was cleaned out every day and food wise there was soaked millet and bird mixture plus water in there in case he decided to investigate. The room that he was in was kept at the right temperature not too cold, not too hot. He was even more bright and chirpy than his sister and I managed to stroke him and cuddle him in my hands all day till early this evening. About 5.00 p.m. I noticed he came to the cage bars towards me and was very quite, without warning it looked like he had a seizure. I took him out and he was fighting for his life. Seizure after seizure and all I could do was look on in horror as this little baby fought to stay alive over serveral minutes and after struggling to stay with me he finally let go.

I failed them all.

I don't feel like saying much else, but thanks to everybody who tried to help us here.

Ravyn · Post by **Ravyn** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:40 pm

Oh, hon, you didn't fail them. You did everything you could. Sometimes nature is just...hard like that. It wasn't your fault. Believe me, I can relate to how you're feeling with everything I've been going through with the gouldian clutch. It's really difficult at times. But you didn't fail them.

*big hugs* Lemme know if there's anything I can do, ok?

jabo322 · Post by **jabo322** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 12:40 am

I'm sorry to hear this, I know how devastated you must feel. You did everything you could, but sometimes bad things happen and there's nothing anyone can do. Don't beat yourself up about this. Peace.

Post by **Sally** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:10 am

Oh, robin, so sorry to hear of your loss. You did not fail them, you did everything you possibly could do to help them. These things are out of our hands sometimes. We all try so hard to help our babies, but we are not always successful.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 7:41 am

I am sorry to hear you lost your fledglings....how sad! But it was not your fault....Mother Nature makes the final decisions.

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:24 am

Im so very sorry the babies didnt make it but please do not think you failed or blame yourself in anyway.
You truly did all you could and were feeding them and caring for them well.

Im sorry for your loss. but as stated you are not to blame

hilljack13 · Post by **hilljack13** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 12:33 pm

I too am sorry for the loss, and like the other said, you definatly did not fail them. It's very hard to hand feed finches and you at least gave them a shot. If you decide to let your zeb's breed again you shouldn't need to worry as zeb's are like people and get better with experiance.