My second budgie who I only bought 6 months ago, died about an hour ago. She started being weird on Friday morning, when she was at the bottom of the cage when my flatmate woke both of the budgies up from their roosting cage. My flatmate put her gently in her day cage, but didn't close the door. She got out and I couldn't find her for 20 minutes, eventually finding standing next to the fridge in the kitchen (and she never flies to the kitchen). She was having trouble standing on her left foot, so I thought she might have injured herself. I called the avian vet and planned to take her as soon as they opened (about 30 minutes later). IN the meantime she started trembling and making strange noises - having seizures. I raced her to the vet and they did their best to stop the seizures and to find out what was wrong. They stopped it by the afternoon and I picked her up the next day, and she was looking much better, not chirping but more like herself. She ate a bit that day, but the next morning she took a turn for the worst and didn't want to eat or drink. I put a heat lamp on her cage and gave her warm sugary tea with a tube every couple hours, but nothing seemed to work. She started losing her balance and sitting at the bottom of the cage. I didn't know what else to do until morning when we planned to call the vet. When I came back into my room after about 2 hours, she was on the bottom of the cage unmoving and stiff. At least she's no longer suffering, she seemed so uncomfortable and unhappy today it was awful to watch.

 

Now I need advice as how to help my first budgie cope with her absence!!! They lived together in relative happiness for the past 6 months, always being together. They did squabble but they also made up quickly and were very affectionate with each other. My first budgie Minotaur is very energetic smart bird, and I'm expecting him to be a bit frenetic over the next few days looking for her around the apartment. They used to sleep in a second roosting cage, but I'm reluctant to use it for a while since that's where she died. Any advice from others??

The same thing happened to me Pretty died suddenly and Merlin was left all alone. I debated about getting a 2nd budgie but decided to work with Merlin on bonding. The first 2 weeks was rough because he called for Pretty all the time and then we had a period where he was just very very quiet. I kept an eye on his eating habits, behavior and such and now it has been 9 months later and Merlin is still a sole budgie and is doing great. He has done well and he become very bonded to me now. If I ever get a 2nd budgie it will be one that is in need or I find needs a home and I am ready. Merlin is a character he talks, comes to me all the time and such...

 

I think what you will find is your budgie will settle down and end up bonding to you greatly.

Hi Elly, thanks for your message. I have a pretty strong bond with Minotaur as it was just him for the first 9 months and he loves hanging around me and my 2 flatmates, so hopefully that will get him through the next few weeks, but it's good to know what to expect from other's experiences. I spoke with the vet just now and he thinks I should keep Minotaur's routine the same, so I will put him in the separate roosting cage tonight. Luckily I showed him B2 yesterday when she was in that cage really unwell before she got first, so he understood a little about where she was as the vet says they can get really confused and distressed about their friend leaving suddenly. This morning Minotaur was calling out for B2 just like your bird was. I'm pretty hesistant to get a second budgie too! Will just have to wait and see over the next month.

When you get a 2nd budgie you will need to quarantine this budgie for 30 days before you put them together as to ensure your new one is healthy and doesn't pass any illness on to your existing budgie. Honestly almost a year later I am very happy with having just Merlin .

:hap: Sorry for your loss and use the time now to bond with Minotaur and give him lots of attention. You will know when it is time to get another companion or maybe fate will step in, just be sure to quarantine! And don't be shy about enquiring about rescue birds, you never know what little treasure will be in store for you!

Hi, sorry for your loss. All I can tell you is what happened with me.

 

Harley and Queenie had been together for about three years and really good friends, when Queenie died the next few days Harley took a nose dive and we had to go back to the vets. It was the vet that recommended that I get another Bird. I bought Blue about a week after Queenie died as I was having to force feed Harley and he had dropped weight. As soon as Harley heard Blue he attempted to get to him, he started eating again and perked right up. To the extent that he escaped from his cage and got into Blues (which was in another room). Blue and Harley are not buddy buddy like Queenie and Harley where but they have more of a Big brother / Little Brother relationship. Blue bugs Harley and Harley tells him off.

 

I am glad I did this, I do not think Harley would have survived if I had not gotten Blue. Then again Harley does not like to be handled so he had no bond with me.

 

I am not sure I was really to get a new bird when I got Blue (which I think effected the bonding of us) but it was the best thing for Harley.

 

Hope that helps you make the decision.

 

Best of luck