Hi,

 

On Sunday night, i had to put my 3 year old female budgie Sky to sleep because she had developed a tumor in your chest and throat which was causing her to not eat and not breathe very well. It was extremely distressing and i still feel horrible about the whole situation.

 

Now my male budgie Cloud, whom i got at the same time, seems really sad and it breaks my heart to see him like this. During the day he was talking crazy to the mirror and eating and seemed okay, but when he couldn't see in the mirror anymore, he just sat there on a perch like he was thinking, he used to sit on the swing with Sky when it was dark but now he is just sitting there.

 

I want him to be the happiest he can be, do you think it is best to get him a new friend? My partner says hes okay, but i can see that he is not happy. He is getting more food because Sky used to pick on him a bit, so i was thinking i should get a male budgie, but i don't know what to do. I still feel distraught about having to put little Sky down .

 

Can anyone help?

Hi Krista,

 

I'm sorry for your loss.

 

I think it would be normal for Cloud to go through an adjustment period where he misses Sky. But that doesn't mean that he won't get over it and be perfectly happy being an only budgie. It would be perfectly fine to wait a while and see if that happens.

 

Besides, even if you do decide to get him a new friend, you should quarantine the new bird in a different room from him for at least 30 days, to make sure it doesn't bring in any illness to Cloud. So he would have a period of time to get used to being alone, anyway.

 

I would say, don't feel like you have to rush right out and get a new budgie. Give yourself some time to think about it.

Hi Finnie,

 

Thankyou for your help. I have noticed that he is starting to act a bit more like his old self, i just felt so bad about the whole thing even though i did the right thing for Sky.

 

I am just going to let him be on his own for a while , he has many mirrors and he seems to be having a grand time talking to himself and telling his reflection whos boss lol, and maybe later down the track i will get him a friend.

 

Thankyou for your help again, it has put my mind at ease

 

 

 

Hi Krista. I agree with all that Finnie has said. Don't rush into anything. Both you and Cloud have to be able to mourn Sky and you will both take your own time doing that. Cloud will probably get on with living life faster simply because he is animal and not human and survival doesn't allow for long periods of depression.

 

The two of you may find that you will now build a beautiful friendship but if you feel that you wish for him to have another birdie friend, I would definitely go with your idea of a male. I know that some hen are great and make beautiful pets but it seems they are more the exception than the rule, especially when there is another budgie involved. If Sky was a the dominant bird, then all the more reason for Cloud to have time to consider whether he wants a friend or not! :unsure:

I'm sorry for your loss.