Parrot in Mourning

[azflcowboy]

Hello, 2 months ago my Moses (Solomon Island Eclectus) lost his best friend to cancer Moses has been with my Duchess (retired k-9 german shepherd) since Moses was a baby. He has not been the same since October 13th,2023.
I am hoping I can receive advice or suggestions as to how I can help Moses Grieve and Recover. I heard stories that sometimes birds can mourn for years after the loss of a loved one (human or other).
He does not talk as much as he used to talk. He seems to wish to be alone rather than he usually likes to sit with my wife and I and watch TV.
Years ago Moses would not go into his sleeping cage unless his buddy Duchess was in the same room. Since that time he has been sleeping in the same room with Duchess (until she passed away) This is also our very large master bedroom.
Now Moses does not wish to go into the cage and is going to his sleeping cage later and later in the night. He used to go to me for what we call "sleeping time" between 8 pm and 8:30 pm. Now it is getting later and later. I would say about 8pm Moses want to go "sleeping time" and he would hop down and go on my hand and would go to his sleeping cage with no problem. Now he does not do this and prefers to go under the large TV wall unit . He often brings his favorite toy and the "red ball" that Duchess would play with and take it under the TV wall unit.
My wife recently saw Moses feeding the "red ball" that belonged to my girl Duchess
In closing anyone have advice or suggestion to help Moses during this mourning / grieving time?
Thank you and God Bless
Larry azflcowboy
PS i once attached a picture of my k-9 dog Duchess and Moses but had to remove it as dogs were not permitted to be posted.

 

[Brent S]

Hello, 2 months ago my Moses (Solomon Island Eclectus) lost his best friend to cancer Moses has been with my Duchess (retired k-9 german shepherd) since Moses was a baby. He has not been the same since October 13th,2023.
I am hoping I can receive advice or suggestions as to how I can help Moses Grieve and Recover. I heard stories that sometimes birds can mourn for years after the loss of a loved one (human or other).
He does not talk as much as he used to talk. He seems to wish to be alone rather than he usually likes to sit with my wife and I and watch TV.
Years ago Moses would not go into his sleeping cage unless his buddy Duchess was in the same room. Since that time he has been sleeping in the same room with Duchess (until she passed away) This is also our very large master bedroom.
Now Moses does not wish to go into the cage and is going to his sleeping cage later and later in the night. He used to go to me for what we call "sleeping time" between 8 pm and 8:30 pm. Now it is getting later and later. I would say about 8pm Moses want to go "sleeping time" and he would hop down and go on my hand and would go to his sleeping cage with no problem. Now he does not do this and prefers to go under the large TV wall unit . He often brings his favorite toy and the "red ball" that Duchess would play with and take it under the TV wall unit.
My wife recently saw Moses feeding the "red ball" that belonged to my girl Duchess
In closing anyone have advice or suggestion to help Moses during this mourning / grieving time?
Thank you and God Bless
Larry azflcowboy
PS i once attached a picture of my k-9 dog Duchess and Moses but had to remove it as dogs were not permitted to be posted.

I am so sorry to hear that. We had two parrots, a Senegal and an African Grey that were best friends. Last June our Grey had a seizure on her play stand and died in my hands. Horrible experience. Our Senegal saw everything and ran under a table and would not come out. After a few hours we were able to get her up to her cage where she would not come out for two months. In addition she would run from me and not let me pet her. My wife and I both spent allot of time with her and finally she would step up again but would not go down the stairs. It has now been six months and she will go down stairs but will not go into the kitchen or anywhere near her play stand. She is slowly returning to normal. The Senegal is 23 years old and Or Grey was 21 and had spent her whole life with our Senegal. Parrots are extremely intelligent and like us need to time adjust.
U.S. Navy - Fast Attack, Pride Runs Deep.
Brent

 

[azflcowboy]

I am so sorry to hear that. We had two parrots, a Senegal and an African Grey that were best friends. Last June our Grey had a seizure on her play stand and died in my hands. Horrible experience. Our Senegal saw everything and ran under a table and would not come out. After a few hours we were able to get her up to her cage where she would not come out for two months. In addition she would run from me and not let me pet her. My wife and I both spent allot of time with her and finally she would step up again but would not go down the stairs. It has now been six months and she will go down stairs but will not go into the kitchen or anywhere near her play stand. She is slowly returning to normal. The Senegal is 23 years old and Or Grey was 21 and had spent her whole life with our Senegal. Parrots are extremely intelligent and like us need to time adjust.
U.S. Navy - Fast Attack, Pride Runs Deep.
Brent

Hello and Thank you Brent for your reply, Sometimes I see Moses getting back to normal, however I agree with you as it may take a long time if ever to move on to normal life. My daughter even mentioned that yes some bird species mate for life and pass away if the mate dies.
So we continue to love and be patient.
Yesterday some friends came over for a cup of coffee and tea and since Moses being an elecetus is very social to strangers (if he likes them, which he almost always does) he appeared to be back to normal even after they left. We will keep praying for Moses to mourn and move on as we humans should but not always can do in life. I lost my wife to cancer 19 years ago and sometimes i still mourn. Thanks again and God Bless

 

[saxguy64]

Larry, I'm so sorry for your loss of Duchess. What an amazing girl she was! I also lost my shepherd mix, Nuke, to cancer not long ago. My birds noticed for sure, but they didn't interact together, so there wasn't any mourning on their part, but my other dogs were absolutely lost without him. He was the leader. When he suddenly wasn't there, they didn't even want to leave the porch to go out, as Nuke always went first and they followed. Even though we've rescued a new boy, the dynamic in the house is just completely different.

Ekkies... They're so smart and so sensitive, and clearly form strong bonds with their chosen ones. I guess on the positive side, they absolutely don't mate for life in their natural environment. They're year round, opportunistic breeders. Females find their nesting site and won't leave it, so as not to lose it to another bird, and wait for multiple males to come feed and "service" them. Males... horndogs of the parrot world, will spend their days feeding multiple females,in hopes that one or more of them will provide a little action

I'm sure Moses will figure it out. While things won't be the same, it's important to understand what his new "normal" will look like. Establish new routines for that. He'll certainly mourn for as long as he needs, but will adjust to the next chapter. Good on you for recognizing it and supporting him, just as he's doing for you.

Unfortunately, pictures of birds with predator animals, however innocent the situation, can be triggering for some of our members, and that's the reason for the policy, as we've discussed. That said, we'd love to see pictures of Duchess separately if you'd like to share them. She was truly a beauty in every sense.