Loss of a pet parrot: 6 tips to help you cope

We know the loss of a pet is not the nicest topic, but as much as we wish our parrots were immortal, all good things must eventually come to an end.

Parrots can have incredibly long lifespans, which means that we’ve got plenty of time to enjoy our feathered friends. However, the loss of a pet parrot after decades together can be extra difficult. Let’s discuss 6 things you can do to help you heal if your parrot has passed away.

1. Remember that the loss of a pet parrot can cause real grief

Our pets, including our parrots, are daily parts of our lives that we can become strongly emotionally connected to. That’s why it’s a pity that the loss of a pet is sometimes still seen as something to just ‘get over’ without taking the time to grieve.

It’s okay to be sad or have trouble coping. The fact that you’re grieving now is a testament to the amazing bond you had with your bird. And remember: grief has no timeline.

2. Work through feelings of guilt

It’s already hard enough when a pet parrot passes away due to old age: seeing them slowly decline can be very painful, but at least we know our feathered friend lived the fullest possible life.

It can be even worse when a parrot passes away unexpectedly. This especially applies in cases of an accident that may have been avoidable, like if your parrot escaped (in which case we’d also like to direct you to the article on what to do when a parrot escapes). You might also feel guilty about euthanasia.

It can be difficult, but it’s important to try not to blame yourself. You loved your pet and would have done what you could to prevent what happened, but life can throw things at you that you didn’t expect. Parrots especially are wildly accident-prone due to their curious nature.

3. Don’t ignore your feelings

When dealing with unpleasant emotions like sadness due to the loss of a pet, us humans have a tendency to stick our head in the sand.

Sure, sometimes you have to compartmentalize your feelings for a bit because life doesn’t stop, but it’s important to give that grief the chance to come out. Otherwise, you’ll just drag out the healing process.

4. Reach out

Also part of human nature is that we are extremely social beings (that’s why we keep tame birds in our house in the first place!). We analyze and solve both practical and emotional issues through interaction. What we’re trying to say here? Reach out!

If your family and friends are not understanding about your loss, don’t despair. You might find that people who also keep parrots are better at providing solace and advice. There are plenty of spaces out there on the internet; for one, you are absolutely welcome to share your loss in the Parrot Essentials Facebook Group.

5. Rituals & remembrance

The practice of holding a funeral has been present ever since humans first started roaming the earth. Every single culture out there has death rituals. There’s a reason for that: rituals like funerals can help greatly in giving death a place.

You might find it helpful to bury your parrot in your garden, have it cremated or to come up with some other type of ritual. It can also be soothing to print a nice photo of your late feathered friend or keep some other mementoes close.

6. Don’t forget your other pets

Unfortunately, as we noted before, the rest of our lives don’t stop just because we are grieving the loss of a pet. This especially applies if you have other pets.

Parrots are very social beings that can be affected by the loss of one of their flock mates, so while it can be hard, it’s important to do your best to maintain some normalcy and still provide plenty of attention. With a bit of luck, focusing on your other birds also helps provide some much-needed distraction and closeness.

Conclusion

If you’re currently going through the loss of a pet parrot, we are so sorry. Hopefully this article has provided some pointers on ways to deal with your grief. Feel free to leave a comment below to tell us about your late feathered friend!