I got the flu...

[Rach]

It started Friday afternoon. It has been so hot here in LA - high 90's with humidity. It was 88 in my apartment!! I was freezing cold, blankets piled on me, and I couldn't get warm. Along with that, a pounding headache where lights only made it worse. I closed the blinds, turned off all the lights. Next thing I'm in the bathroom ... and what do I hear coming from the other room.... Indy whining!!!

Indy has been so good this weekend - even when it was dark in here and I'm sleeping during the afternoon - he quietly plays by himself. And the whining - it was like he knew I was not feeling good.

So now I’m curious - do any of you have birds that know when you aren't feeling well?

Oh yeah, I read on the boards here that birds can't get the flu. He hasn't been getting his normal every day kisses and I'm not handling him like I do. But when I get better - he will be getting lots and lots of kisses!!

[Valo's Moirana]

when i'm sick, valo is usually the best behaved boy that there is - contrary to the normal every-day life. i guess they can sense it when we're feeling bad.

hope you'll be better soon.... and no, birds can't get our flu - so whenever you feel like snuggling, i'm sure indy wouldn't mind the kisses :)

[Rach]

Thanks Bee! I'm still not feeling that great but Indy is getting lots of attention and kisses with me being home all the time.

He certainly helps in lifting my spirits when I don't feel good!!

[Stasia]

Hope you start feeling better soon! The flu is so awful :( Nice that Indy is being so helpful though- in being content AND in feeling your pain :)

I definitely do think birds can sometimes sense that we are sick or not feeling well. We used to have a little parrotlet who I felt could really tell one time when I was sick. I had been not feeling well for so long and was just miserable and not getting answers I needed from seeing Dr.'s and tests and all that and was lying on the couch one day and couldn't help but sulk a bit and had a few tears well up. Well, my little p'let who was playing near me on his play gym looked over at me, stared for a minute, and then started over towards me (which for his size was quite a journey from his playset over to the couch and all the way up the couch side to me). It cheered me up just to watch him venture over. When he got to me he came right up to my cheek and started kissing me just as if he knew I needed it. :)

I also have a 'tiel that seems to sense illness in other birds. Right before our p'let that I just mentioned passed away, out 'tiel started screaming for days before hand!! It got so bad I took her to the vet because she just wouldn't stop ALL day long which was unusual for her. Vet said she was fine so we took her home, and I admit we were getting irriated with her. Then a few days later, our p'let had a stroke and we took him to the emergency room, When we came home without him, our 'tiel just stopped. Didn't do it the same way like that again (of course still has cranky tiel days :). Until our conure got sick just recently... She screeched for 3 or 4 days straight until I noticed my conure wasn't quite right. Ever since he's been receiving care and treatment from the vet, the screeching has halted.

I always joke with my husband that if ever we have only the tiel and she starts screecing like that with no other birds around, I'm going to have to run to my Dr. for a full body scan!! They'll think I'm crazy when I tell them my bird can sense sickness!!

[ROYJOY]

my birds too, are on their best behaviour, when im sick. thats realy good cause who wants to deal with a needy bird if ya dont feel good.