Riley

Remembering Riley on what would have been her second hatchday with us.
We found Riley on the Humane Society site. She was found outdoors with a horrible, disfiguring mite infestation.
After treatment from the vets, she was deemed suitably for adoption, so we brought her home. In her brief time with us, she had several visits with our avian vets for beak trims and for the recurring growth on her face.
Sadly, she began to decline. Labs showed kidney issues and probable cancer. It was likely she had a flare up of avian gastric yeast as well.
I wish we had had more time with her. Riley was just coming into her own. She was stepping up, eating her veggies, taking baths and playing with her toys. She took a liking to Emmy, and was her little shadow. She loved her out of cage time with the budgies.
Smiley Riley gave us a lot of joy in the short time she was with us. She was a beautiful little budgie.
If you are looking to add a budgie to your family, please consider adopting and giving a budgie like Riley a second chance at a happily ever after.


Farewell, Riley

On Friday evening we said goodbye to our Smiley Riley.
She had been ill and had been in and out of the vet’s office quite a few times (including an overnight stay) in May. Lab tests showed an infection, an elevated white blood count and kidney issues. Our vet also determined that she was an older budgie. Riley was losing weight and jut picking at her food. She was put on various medications, but continued to lose weight (despite hand feedings). The night before she passed away, she seemed to turn a corner, but then crashed the next day.

Although we only had Riley in our lives a short time, she was a treasured member of the flock. She overcame so much in her life, from the horrible mite infestation that she had previous to our adopting her to her frequent vet visits for her overgrown beak to her recurring facial “bump”. But she never let any of her physical ailments prevent her from being one of the flock. She loved shadowing Emmy, taking baths, and flying around the room with the budgies. Every day she was becoming more curious and adventurous. She didn’t let her small size prevent her from keeping up with the flock and was even becoming a little bit of a bossypants.

I wish we had more time with Riley – a year was not enough. She was a tiny little bird, but she left a huge mark on our hearts. Rest in peace, little love.

Out and About

Some photos of Riley out and about and with the flock.

Sunny, Felix, Ozzie, Riley and Emmy (Sunny is in the condo).

Riley is Emmy’s shadow.

Hanging out in the flight cage.

Riley seems to be doing well with the flock. We still need work with moving her around. She has no problem stepping up, but she steps right back down when you try to move her. We’ll get there…

Birthday Budgie

Today we are celebrating Riley’s 1st hatchday with us. We don’t really know how old she is, so we’re starting her at 1.

Here she is next to her present. She actually took a little nibble. Yay!

She took more than a nibble of her hatchday millet.

(Like Mariah Carey, Riley likes to be photographed from her right side.)
Happy Hatchday Riley! We hope to enjoy many, many more with you. xoxo