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This lovebird we got, he's become such a part of our lives. I grew up raising birds, but have never known one so sweet. He'll be chirping and running around like a maniac in his cage, but then as soon as we get him out he puffs up, closes his eyes and SNUGGLES with us. Grant was really ambivalent about getting a bird, I had to be rather...perseverant? But now I go in the office and catch him working there at his desk with the bird in his shirt pocket, or on his shoulder, all the time. He lays down on the couch to watch tv with him on his chest, and wraps him in the bottom of his shirt so only his head is sticking out.
Anyway. The kids love him. We've named him Sammy. And this morning he's clicking as he breathes, and acting REALLY lethargic. Grant and I were looking at each other and thinking, oh no. We took him up to The Aviary, this big old bird shop where they also clip wings and sex birds for you and whatnot, and had him looked at, and the lady told us it sounds like a respiratory infection. She said birds hide their sicknesses until it's almost too late, because they're flock animals who'll be kicked out of the group if they are obviously ill, and he looks bad. I mean we took him in as SOON as he acted even a little weird, but sometimes they don't act weird until they're about to die. She gave us antibiotic tablets to dissolve in his water, but was honest and told us that it looks like he could use stronger antibiotics. Unfortunately the only avian vet in the area charges like $600 for what would be an "emergency visit", since this is the weekend, and she gave us the $4.99 antibiotics she had there for free. Told us to keep him calm and non-stressed, and warm (like 85 degrees).
So now he's in the office, where the central ac doesn't go and we have the wall unit turned off (it's 84 outside here today). With his antibiotic water. And it's very 50/50, from things I've read online and what we were told.
As goofy as this sounds, if you pray, please pray for our bird. We've been dicing fruit for him and getting used to the idea for him hanging around for 15 years or so.
Anyway. The kids love him. We've named him Sammy. And this morning he's clicking as he breathes, and acting REALLY lethargic. Grant and I were looking at each other and thinking, oh no. We took him up to The Aviary, this big old bird shop where they also clip wings and sex birds for you and whatnot, and had him looked at, and the lady told us it sounds like a respiratory infection. She said birds hide their sicknesses until it's almost too late, because they're flock animals who'll be kicked out of the group if they are obviously ill, and he looks bad. I mean we took him in as SOON as he acted even a little weird, but sometimes they don't act weird until they're about to die. She gave us antibiotic tablets to dissolve in his water, but was honest and told us that it looks like he could use stronger antibiotics. Unfortunately the only avian vet in the area charges like $600 for what would be an "emergency visit", since this is the weekend, and she gave us the $4.99 antibiotics she had there for free. Told us to keep him calm and non-stressed, and warm (like 85 degrees).
So now he's in the office, where the central ac doesn't go and we have the wall unit turned off (it's 84 outside here today). With his antibiotic water. And it's very 50/50, from things I've read online and what we were told.
As goofy as this sounds, if you pray, please pray for our bird. We've been dicing fruit for him and getting used to the idea for him hanging around for 15 years or so.
