Parakeets (Budgies) Care

Question

My friend has had two yellow parakeets (budgies) for a few years now. They were both living together in the same cage and in good health. She noticed that one of them had a problem with its legs so she took it to the vet to get its beak trimmed and to ask about the leg issue. The vet said that it was pretty difficult to determine the problem and that the bird would probably be okay. Well, a couple of days later the bird died. Now she only has one parakeet and is not sure about what to do next. She wants to keep the bird, but isn't sure whether the bird is going to be okay living alone since it has had a partner for so long. The bird has only been alone for about a day now and it's been acting strange - very hyper and vocal. We're not sure whether the behavior is positive or negative.

We tried to figure out what to do but there really isn't a lot of valuable information available on what to do if one of the birds dies. So she's wondering if it would be wise to get another parakeet? Or will this bird be okay on its own? She feels bad about leaving it alone (since she's usually not at home during the day).

What is the best solution to this problem?

Answer 1

His change in behavior, the constant calling is him calling out to his cage mate and should subside if a few days. He does not understand so he is calling him to come back to the cage. But being that budgies tend to be colony type bird I would suggest getting him a friend in the near future. He will be happier with a companion.  

Answer 2

birds that have been together for a while are like brother sister - wife and husband.usualy if its partner died he/she gets lonely and dies of lonlyness.it probally is best to get the lutino parrakeet another partner.plus if she is gone most the day and its alone it realy does need another partner.

Answer 3

Was the vet an avian vet?  Regular vets don't always know what goes on with birds; that's why certified avian vets are important.  She should find one (or if that was one, possibly a different one) and take the remaining bird there to make sure it won't die from whatever the other one had.  That is the first thing that needs to be done, that and disinfecting everything the other bird used.  Remember, birds don't show illnesses until they're really weak, so although getting it a friend may be the best idea (not to have them caged together immediately, for quarantine reasons as well as he just may not like a stranger in his cage after having just lost a loved one), that shouldn't be done until this one is proven to be healthy.

Answer 4

it is stressed and looking for it's partner I would get another bird  

Answer 5

Buy another bird immediately.

It will get stressed and will try to put its head through the cage bars and die because its head will get stuck.

Answer 6

the bird is missing his freind he will be ok in  a few days and can actually live a happy life with out a freind , thats if youre freind is willing to spend time with it and become part of his daily activities. just because you get another parakeet to replace the one that died  doesnt mean they will get along.. they could end up fighting , just be  understanding  he has to go through the grieving process

Answer 7

It's distressed about the missing bird and is calling for it.  I've seen birds start plucking or actually grieve to death on the loss of a mate or companion.

By all means she should get another companion bird, especially if she has to leave them alone a lot.  Throughly wash the cage so the birds don't pick up something left by the deceased bird. (When a lovebird dies and the other lovebird dies, too, it can be because whatever killed the first also kills the second).

Answer 8

don't get another bird right away and when you do, keep them in separate cages while they get used to each other. Often a bird will see the new one as an intruder and kill it. Parakeets actually do really well as only birds with lots of attention and toys...