Depressed vs Sick Budgie

[ravenjpg]

Can you tell a difference between sick and depressed birds? One of my angels passed away a couple nights ago, and he seemed incredibly sick for the couple hours I was with him beforehand. My other budgie seemed fine that night, and I had them separated while he was dying, but I'm unable to visit an avian vet to see if she's sick as well. She's seemed fine the past couple days since her mate passed, but has also seemed slightly docile and dazed and has let me go near her (she's completely untamed). This is strange behavior for her and I was wondering if this was a sign that she's sick, or if she's just depressed from the loss of her mate and not enough attention from me.

[suesbird]

I'm so sorry for your loss. They do get depressed but someone will be on soon who can advise you.

[Shirls]

I expect she is grieving for her mate. Do you have any other budgies, or was it just the pair? Understandable if she is now on her own. Try giving her a little more attention, more toys, talk to her a lot, leave a radio or t.v. on if you have to leave her on her own. Perhaps in time get her a friend??

It is also possible, if you don't know what your other budgie died from that this budgie may have the same. You don't say what ages they are, and I am now assuming you just had the two? It may well be worth visiting an avian vet to give her a check up? And of course giving the cage they were both in a good clean as well the perches, toys and everything they used with a disinfectant suitable for pets as F10 would be.

[Hezz]

An experienced owner might be able to tell the difference; much harder if the birds have not been tamed, so that you are not so aware of their general every-day demeanour. As a vet is out of the question, all you can do is keep a very close eye on your other bird, scrub everything that the first bird was in contact with, and not add to the flock for at least another four weeks, in case the other bird is sick as well.