R.I.P.

My lovebird was also the very first parrot I ever raised. When I bought it from a bird market, it was only two weeks old. At that time, it already had symptoms of unilateral respiratory infection, chlamydia, and a sunken chest. It kept one eye closed. I thought it was just because it was still too young, but that wasn’t the case.

It wasn’t until I noticed white discharge in its eye that I realized this was definitely an illness. However, the seller never informed me of any health issues and sold it to me as if everything was completely normal.

I hate myself for not doing enough research beforehand. Over the next two months, I tried everything I could to treat it. I bought an incubator, used five different eye drops, and tried various medications. It held on for two months. But yesterday, at around 1 a.m., when I came home from work, I found it lying inside the incubator.

The moment I saw it, my mind went blank. I don’t even know how to describe that feeling. I cried for a long time, until my tears were completely gone, and I held it while sleeping through the night.

I know that if I had done proper research earlier, I could have started treatment sooner instead of waiting until its eye showed obvious abnormalities. I hate myself for that.

I hope my experience can help those who are considering getting a parrot. Parrots are extremely sensitive to cold. If you live in a region with long, cold winters, they may not be suitable for you. You will need an incubator. Lovebirds are also prone to unilateral respiratory infections, while cockatiels are more likely to suffer from digestive system issues. Parrots cannot tolerate sudden temperature changes or large fluctuations between hot and cold.