My Little Girl

[zERo]

I’ve never talked about Falkor before. She was so special and I regret every day that I couldn’t do more. It’s been or will have been 2 years since she passed in May of this year.
It’s hard to believe and I feel like I still haven’t accepted it?

Me, my dad, and sister had went to a pet store we’d never been to, at first I didn’t see the budgies, they had lots of fish and rodents, a few reptiles too.
Then there was a sad macaw, B&G, bare cage, poor diet etc.
Then I saw the budgies behind him.
OMG.
I’d never seen and haven’t seen since, such deformed birds.
4 birds in all, being sold as male, 3 were the rainbow mutation, their nostrils were either too small or too large as were all of their eyes.
They had ruined tail and we’re just unhealthy in general.
And then there was Falkor, she stood there, a foot sticking out to the side.
My dad and sister said I should get her, at the time I only had Striga, Grim, Ryuk, and Sheer Khan, so I agreed.
They put her in a cup cake box and said her leg was normal and forced it down which I know hurt her, and they said she was male. She was at least a year old when I bought her.
I brought her home, put her in a small cage away from my other birds.
She was scared but not terrified.
At first she didn’t want anything to do with me, once she met the other birds though, things changed.
She started responding very well to recall training and became amazing at it!
She would let me pet her head and lay in my hands like a conure.
Her favorite place was on my chest, she’d kiss my chin, I’d trained it as a trick but she just started doing it all the time.
The other budgies would bully her sometimes, I should’ve gotten her her own cage but I didn’t have any money of my own at the time hardly.
Then she got sick, maybe 2 months after I brought her home.
It was a respiratory infection, which we treated.
She was so small, just 25 grams.
I think I’d have weighed her more I could’ve saved her.
I didn’t even have a clue, this was another 2 months later.
I came home, started making dinner for the birds and I saw her laying on her belly on the cage floor, I picked her up, she was alive but so cold.
I held her in my hand and breathed on her trying to warm her, but she was leaving this earth.
She opened her wings a little and closed her eyes, then relaxed on my hand, while I pet her, she died in my hands a minute later.

How I cried, I didn’t even suspect a problem when I left that morning.
Id made her a bowl of food without thinking afterwards, that killed me a little inside.
I was depressed, but I think I became numb to the loss.

I don’t mean to share a sad story, she brought me so much joy!
She lived with me for just 5 months but those were amazing months!

Her leg was twisted in its socket, I saw a green wing macaw with the same problem and that surgery was very tedious so I knew surgery for her wouldn’t have been possible without removing her leg.

Anyways, she was a special needs bird, but she got around with mostly normal perching options.
I had a few rope ladders for her though.

I have pictures of her just not her permanent setup.
When she came home!

In my sleeve!

Don’t mind my poorly died blue hair, it was a phase! Lol

 

[LaManuka]

Oh @zERo, I’m in tears, what a bittersweet story! Thank you for sharing Falkor with us, I’m so glad you have such bright, beautiful memories of her, what a gift and a blessing you were to each other! I’m so sorry she was not with you longer, but the precious time that you did have together was clearly filled with so much love, and as heartbreaking as it is to witness and experience, in my opinion it’s better that they pass in the hands of the one who truly loves them. You gave Falkor a wonderful life that she never would have known if not for you, and I know she watches over you with love now, like all of our feather babies do, until we meet them again at the Bridge.

 

[Terry57]

Bless you for all you did for Falkor, what a beautiful soul she was.
Some birds become our heart birds before we even realize it, forever loved, missed and remembered. You gave her the chance to be loved and taken care of, something that no one else had ever done for her. That is no small thing.
I believe she waited for you so she could say goodbye while wrapped in the warmth of your love.

Thank you so much for sharing her story.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I’ve never talked about Falkor before. She was so special and I regret every day that I couldn’t do more. It’s been or will have been 2 years since she passed in May of this year.
It’s hard to believe and I feel like I still haven’t accepted it?

Me, my dad, and sister had went to a pet store we’d never been to, at first I didn’t see the budgies, they had lots of fish and rodents, a few reptiles too.
Then there was a sad macaw, B&G, bare cage, poor diet etc.
Then I saw the budgies behind him.
OMG.
I’d never seen and haven’t seen since, such deformed birds.
4 birds in all, being sold as male, 3 were the rainbow mutation, their nostrils were either too small or too large as were all of their eyes.
They had ruined tail and we’re just unhealthy in general.
And then there was Falkor, she stood there, a foot sticking out to the side.
My dad and sister said I should get her, at the time I only had Striga, Grim, Ryuk, and Sheer Khan, so I agreed.
They put her in a cup cake box and said her leg was normal and forced it down which I know hurt her, and they said she was male. She was at least a year old when I bought her.
I brought her home, put her in a small cage away from my other birds.
She was scared but not terrified.
At first she didn’t want anything to do with me, once she met the other birds though, things changed.
She started responding very well to recall training and became amazing at it!
She would let me pet her head and lay in my hands like a conure.
Her favorite place was on my chest, she’d kiss my chin, I’d trained it as a trick but she just started doing it all the time.
The other budgies would bully her sometimes, I should’ve gotten her her own cage but I didn’t have any money of my own at the time hardly.
Then she got sick, maybe 2 months after I brought her home.
It was a respiratory infection, which we treated.
She was so small, just 25 grams.
I think I’d have weighed her more I could’ve saved her.
I didn’t even have a clue, this was another 2 months later.
I came home, started making dinner for the birds and I saw her laying on her belly on the cage floor, I picked her up, she was alive but so cold.
I held her in my hand and breathed on her trying to warm her, but she was leaving this earth.
She opened her wings a little and closed her eyes, then relaxed on my hand, while I pet her, she died in my hands a minute later.

How I cried, I didn’t even suspect a problem when I left that morning.
Id made her a bowl of food without thinking afterwards, that killed me a little inside.
I was depressed, but I think I became numb to the loss.

I don’t mean to share a sad story, she brought me so much joy!
She lived with me for just 5 months but those were amazing months!

Her leg was twisted in its socket, I saw a green wing macaw with the same problem and that surgery was very tedious so I knew surgery for her wouldn’t have been possible without removing her leg.

Anyways, she was a special needs bird, but she got around with mostly normal perching options.
I had a few rope ladders for her though.

I have pictures of her just not her permanent setup.
When she came home!
View attachment 48119
View attachment 48120View attachment 48121View attachment 48122View attachment 48123
In my sleeve!
View attachment 48124
Don’t mind my poorly died blue hair, it was a phase! Lol
View attachment 48125View attachment 48126

She was a beautiful little girl and you made the last months of her life so happy. Right now she's "At The Dance" where all our beloveds eventually go and where someday you will see Falkor again.

 

[zERo]

Oh @zERo, I’m in tears, what a bittersweet story! Thank you for sharing Falkor with us, I’m so glad you have such bright, beautiful memories of her, what a gift and a blessing you were to each other! I’m so sorry she was not with you longer, but the precious time that you did have together was clearly filled with so much love, and as heartbreaking as it is to witness and experience, in my opinion it’s better that they pass in the hands of the one who truly loves them. You gave Falkor a wonderful life that she never would have known if not for you, and I know she watches over you with love now, like all of our feather babies do, until we meet them again at the Bridge.

I remember reading the story of your Lilly, gosh, had me crying! Those stories are so important to share and remember. Thank you for your wonderful words!

Bless you for all you did for Falkor, what a beautiful soul she was.
Some birds become our heart birds before we even realize it, forever loved, missed and remembered. You gave her the chance to be loved and taken care of, something that no one else had ever done for her. That is no small thing.
I believe she waited for you so she could say goodbye while wrapped in the warmth of your love.

Thank you so much for sharing her story.

When I read your story about Phoe and Jax, it was so bittersweet, but I’m happy to have read it!
I think she waited on me too, I’m so happy she did.

She was a beautiful little girl and you made the last months of her life so happy. Right now she's "At The Dance" where all our beloveds eventually go and where someday you will see Falkor again.

I can’t wait to see her, thank you for your kind words.

 

[ShellyL]

I’ve never talked about Falkor before. She was so special and I regret every day that I couldn’t do more. It’s been or will have been 2 years since she passed in May of this year.
It’s hard to believe and I feel like I still haven’t accepted it?

Me, my dad, and sister had went to a pet store we’d never been to, at first I didn’t see the budgies, they had lots of fish and rodents, a few reptiles too.
Then there was a sad macaw, B&G, bare cage, poor diet etc.
Then I saw the budgies behind him.
OMG.
I’d never seen and haven’t seen since, such deformed birds.
4 birds in all, being sold as male, 3 were the rainbow mutation, their nostrils were either too small or too large as were all of their eyes.
They had ruined tail and we’re just unhealthy in general.
And then there was Falkor, she stood there, a foot sticking out to the side.
My dad and sister said I should get her, at the time I only had Striga, Grim, Ryuk, and Sheer Khan, so I agreed.
They put her in a cup cake box and said her leg was normal and forced it down which I know hurt her, and they said she was male. She was at least a year old when I bought her.
I brought her home, put her in a small cage away from my other birds.
She was scared but not terrified.
At first she didn’t want anything to do with me, once she met the other birds though, things changed.
She started responding very well to recall training and became amazing at it!
She would let me pet her head and lay in my hands like a conure.
Her favorite place was on my chest, she’d kiss my chin, I’d trained it as a trick but she just started doing it all the time.
The other budgies would bully her sometimes, I should’ve gotten her her own cage but I didn’t have any money of my own at the time hardly.
Then she got sick, maybe 2 months after I brought her home.
It was a respiratory infection, which we treated.
She was so small, just 25 grams.
I think I’d have weighed her more I could’ve saved her.
I didn’t even have a clue, this was another 2 months later.
I came home, started making dinner for the birds and I saw her laying on her belly on the cage floor, I picked her up, she was alive but so cold.
I held her in my hand and breathed on her trying to warm her, but she was leaving this earth.
She opened her wings a little and closed her eyes, then relaxed on my hand, while I pet her, she died in my hands a minute later.

How I cried, I didn’t even suspect a problem when I left that morning.
Id made her a bowl of food without thinking afterwards, that killed me a little inside.
I was depressed, but I think I became numb to the loss.

I don’t mean to share a sad story, she brought me so much joy!
She lived with me for just 5 months but those were amazing months!

Her leg was twisted in its socket, I saw a green wing macaw with the same problem and that surgery was very tedious so I knew surgery for her wouldn’t have been possible without removing her leg.

Anyways, she was a special needs bird, but she got around with mostly normal perching options.
I had a few rope ladders for her though.

I have pictures of her just not her permanent setup.
When she came home!
View attachment 48119
View attachment 48120View attachment 48121View attachment 48122View attachment 48123
In my sleeve!
View attachment 48124
Don’t mind my poorly died blue hair, it was a phase! Lol
View attachment 48125View attachment 48126

My deepest sympathy for the loss of sweet Falkor. She sounds a lot like my splayed leg budgie, Stormy. Stormy can't perch due to the severity of her disability. Even so, she sings her little heart out every day and loves being a part of a flock of six birds, all of whom are much bigger than she is! She brings so much joy. I truly feel blessed to have her and I can imagine that you felt that same way about Falkor
Here she is. Pretty cute huh?

 

[zERo]

My deepest sympathy for the loss of sweet Falkor. She sounds a lot like my splayed leg budgie, Stormy. Stormy can't perch due to the severity of her disability. Even so, she sings her little heart out every day and loves being a part of a flock of six birds, all of whom are much bigger than she is! She brings so much joy. I truly feel blessed to have her and I can imagine that you felt that same way about Falkor
Here she is. Pretty cute huh?View attachment 48152

Thank you so much!
What a lovely girl you have

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Thank you so much!
What a lovely girl you have

She's just a baby! Can she fly, at least?

 

[ShellyL]

She's just a baby! Can she fly, at least?

No because she was clipped before she came to live with me. I am hopeful that she will learn to fly once she molts. I often think how flight would be an improvement to her quality of life (but I can't dwell on that!).

 

[DonnaBudgie]

No because she was clipped before she came to live with me. I am hopeful that she will learn to fly once she molts. I often think how flight would be an improvement to her quality of life (but I can't dwell on that!).

Birds have a pretty strong instinct to fly because it's their natural way of getting around. When her flight feathers grow back I think she will get the urge to fly especially when she sees all your other birds flying. What I wonder about is how she's going to land when her "landing gear" doesn't work. Will she do belly-landings"? Have you tried putting birdie handcuffs on her legs to train them to to a proper position or is it too late for her? When Rocky was a tiny baby I bought birdie handcuffs just in case her legs got splayed but I never had to use them.

 

[Keet_Krazy]

I have a huge soft spot for special needs budgies

Have you tried putting birdie handcuffs on her legs to train them to to a proper position or is it too late for her? When Rocky was a tiny baby I bought birdie handcuffs just in case her legs got splayed but I never had to use them.

It's probably too late. Splay leg correction needs to happen as soon after hatch as possible to be effective, while the bones, tendons etc. are soft.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I have a huge soft spot for special needs budgies

It's probably too late. Splay leg correction needs to happen as soon after hatch as possible to be effective, while the bones, tendons etc. are soft.

That's what I heard. Sad that it could have easily been corrected at about 14 days old when they start to walk around a lot on their cute oversized feet.

 

[ShellyL]

Birds have a pretty strong instinct to fly because it's their natural way of getting around. When her flight feathers grow back I think she will get the urge to fly especially when she sees all your other birds flying. What I wonder about is how she's going to land when her "landing gear" doesn't work. Will she do belly-landings"? Have you tried putting birdie handcuffs on her legs to train them to to a proper position or is it too late for her? When Rocky was a tiny baby I bought birdie handcuffs just in case her legs got splayed but I never had to use them.

I have a huge soft spot for special needs budgies

It's probably too late. Splay leg correction needs to happen as soon after hatch as possible to be effective, while the bones, tendons etc. are soft.

Right. She has a strong core and a vice grip in one of her feet. Moves her little self up and down her ladders like a breeze and the flat perches serve her fine.

 

[Terry57]

My deepest sympathy for the loss of sweet Falkor. She sounds a lot like my splayed leg budgie, Stormy. Stormy can't perch due to the severity of her disability. Even so, she sings her little heart out every day and loves being a part of a flock of six birds, all of whom are much bigger than she is! She brings so much joy. I truly feel blessed to have her and I can imagine that you felt that same way about Falkor
Here she is. Pretty cute huh?View attachment 48152

Stormy is a gorgeous girl! I had a Society finch who had a splayed leg and he flew everywhere. He used the feed dishes to land in. My one-legged Lady Gouldian landed the same way.

I'm so glad you have her, she's a lucky girl.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I’ve never talked about Falkor before. She was so special and I regret every day that I couldn’t do more. It’s been or will have been 2 years since she passed in May of this year.
It’s hard to believe and I feel like I still haven’t accepted it?

Me, my dad, and sister had went to a pet store we’d never been to, at first I didn’t see the budgies, they had lots of fish and rodents, a few reptiles too.
Then there was a sad macaw, B&G, bare cage, poor diet etc.
Then I saw the budgies behind him.
OMG.
I’d never seen and haven’t seen since, such deformed birds.
4 birds in all, being sold as male, 3 were the rainbow mutation, their nostrils were either too small or too large as were all of their eyes.
They had ruined tail and we’re just unhealthy in general.
And then there was Falkor, she stood there, a foot sticking out to the side.
My dad and sister said I should get her, at the time I only had Striga, Grim, Ryuk, and Sheer Khan, so I agreed.
They put her in a cup cake box and said her leg was normal and forced it down which I know hurt her, and they said she was male. She was at least a year old when I bought her.
I brought her home, put her in a small cage away from my other birds.
She was scared but not terrified.
At first she didn’t want anything to do with me, once she met the other birds though, things changed.
She started responding very well to recall training and became amazing at it!
She would let me pet her head and lay in my hands like a conure.
Her favorite place was on my chest, she’d kiss my chin, I’d trained it as a trick but she just started doing it all the time.
The other budgies would bully her sometimes, I should’ve gotten her her own cage but I didn’t have any money of my own at the time hardly.
Then she got sick, maybe 2 months after I brought her home.
It was a respiratory infection, which we treated.
She was so small, just 25 grams.
I think I’d have weighed her more I could’ve saved her.
I didn’t even have a clue, this was another 2 months later.
I came home, started making dinner for the birds and I saw her laying on her belly on the cage floor, I picked her up, she was alive but so cold.
I held her in my hand and breathed on her trying to warm her, but she was leaving this earth.
She opened her wings a little and closed her eyes, then relaxed on my hand, while I pet her, she died in my hands a minute later.

How I cried, I didn’t even suspect a problem when I left that morning.
Id made her a bowl of food without thinking afterwards, that killed me a little inside.
I was depressed, but I think I became numb to the loss.

I don’t mean to share a sad story, she brought me so much joy!
She lived with me for just 5 months but those were amazing months!

Her leg was twisted in its socket, I saw a green wing macaw with the same problem and that surgery was very tedious so I knew surgery for her wouldn’t have been possible without removing her leg.

Anyways, she was a special needs bird, but she got around with mostly normal perching options.
I had a few rope ladders for her though.

I have pictures of her just not her permanent setup.
When she came home!
View attachment 48119
View attachment 48120View attachment 48121View attachment 48122View attachment 48123
In my sleeve!
View attachment 48124
Don’t mind my poorly died blue hair, it was a phase! Lol
View attachment 48125View attachment 48126

One of my budgies, Bib, had a seizure, and flapped around the bottom of her cag,ll e, completely disoriented. I picked her up and held her in my hand to comfort her as she took her last breaths. Having Bib literally die in my hands was an experience I will never forget, like your Falkor.

 

[zERo]

One of my budgies, Bib, had a seizure, and flapped around the bottom of her cag,ll e, completely disoriented. I picked her up and held her in my hand to comfort her as she took her last breaths. Having Bib literally die in my hands was an experience I will never forget, like your Falkor.

What a horrible experience for you! I’m so sorry that happened.
Do you have pictures of her?
I’m sure you loved her very much, I can tell by how much you love Rocky!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

What a horrible experience for you! I’m so sorry that happened.
Do you have pictures of her?
I’m sure you loved her very much, I can tell by how much you love Rocky!

The phone I used back then fritzed on me. She was pure white with a blue "bib" and the face of angel.