Male budgie died

[ravenlock]

Hello,

A bit of background. I’ve been keeping and breeding finches, doves and canaries for over 20 years, now retired. I have the left over breeding pairs as pets now with 12 birds left. I also have a green cheek conure named Zoe. 3 years ago a client of mine(I’m a PSW) developed Alzheimer’s and needed to rehome her budgie as she wasn’t remembering to feed and water her. Her name is Pipa. She had never been tamed so I got a male budgie from a rescue and named him Piper. They have been together since, quite happy.

On Sunday there was a terrible accident. The budgies were flying around the bird safe room, as they have for 3 years. For some reason they got startled and flew quite quickly back to their cage. Piper hit the edge of the cage door, bounced off and landed on my arm. I knew he was injured immediately so I was holding him to assess what happened...and he died 2 minutes later. I am gutted. I don’t even know what happened!! Pipa has been calling and calling for him, even Zoe has. I feel terrible. They have a large 4’ by 2’ by 2’ cage, but I let all my birds out to...actually fly. I know it was an accident, but I feel so guilty

So I guess my question is how long do I wait until I get another male? I’ve never lost a parrot before. Do I allow her time to grieve? Will she accept another budgie? I honestly never thought of this happening. He was only 4. I’m leaving happy budgie videos on the tv for now, to try and calm her.

Thanks for any advice

[Jane]

Oh I’m so sorry to read this ravenlock. I don’t know the answer to your question, but others will so you will get an answer. I just want to offer my condolences. What a terrible accident and such a shock for you.

RIP little boy and fly high 💙xxx💙

[suesbird]

So sorry for you, fly high little guy. Someone will be around to help you, very quiet tonight.

[helenmat]

Sorry this has happened to you. You can introduce another budgie as soon as you wish but remember any bird that you bring in will need to be quarantined in a separate cage and room for 4 weeks to make sure the new bird isn't carrying illness. This is usually a good time to train and tame your new bird. Your other bird will know there is another bird in the house. Then you can slowly introduce the cages together and if they get on let them share a cage. Good luck.

[clt80]

How awful, I'm sorry this happened I hope you are ok. Agree with what has been said, as soon as you are ready buy/rehome a new bird and quarantine. Keep us updated, I love seeing new friendships and romances between our budgies.

[Hezz]

I say as soon as you are ready to bring another into the house, do so. Quarantine gives you all good time to get used to another bird being in the house and usually by the time it is over, the birds can't wait to meet each other. There is no right or wrong answer to this; you really just have to trust your instincts.

[ravenlock]

So, am I right in thinking it should be a make? I’ve heard 2 females will fight. Is that something I have to worry about? These are my first budgies. Pipa is a bit of a bully, but Piper was easy going and didn’t care. Should I rearrange the cage when I finally introduce them? Keep them together in a different cage? Not sure how to do this with budgies
The rescue I got Piper from has a going male, I’m going to see him on the weekend. He has already been quarantined for 6 weeks

[Hezz]

Never introduce a new bird into a hen's cage. This will cause untold amount of grief for both you and the new bird. Two hens can get on, just as two of any other gender can get on. Mostly it depends on the personalities of both birds. Hens are notoriously bossy, which is why most people don't recommend two hens only, together.

If the new bird is a hen, put your resident hen (Pipa?) into the smaller of the two cages and let her get used to being there. The new bird in quarantine will be in the bigger cage. Once you are ready to introduce them, have the cages side-by-side for at least a few days, giving them separate out-of-cage time, and when you are able to supervise, allow them to be out together. Once you are confident they are getting on reasonably well, allow them to go in and out of each other's cage but don't shut them in together. Only when they have gotten to know each other should you attempt to house the two together. The same applies for a male bird as well, but generally the time line is able to be contracted. You really need to take your cues from the birds, as for when to move from one stage to the next.

[ravenlock]

Ok, so basically the same way I introduce any bird to a new partner. I’m going to see a male this weekend. Hopefully I’ll be able to get him. I have another 4 year old male I can go see as well. Thanks for the help!

[Hezz]

Not quite the same as introducing a male into the mix, not at all, because you what would need to do is introduce your resident hen into the newbie's (big) cage rather than the other way round. That is very important.

Good luck.

[ravenlock]

Hello! Ok, so I got a 10 month old male budgie named “Pixel”! He’s semi trained and very friendly. He came with his own cage, so I’ve kept him in there for now

So about introducing them, I think I’ve changed my mind about the cage “Pipa”is in. I have a spare parrot cage that I’m thinking I’d like to move both budgies into and turn ”Pipa’s” cage back into a finch flight cage. How would I go about that? It would be a new cage to both of them then. Would I let them get used to one another, as you said, and then put them both into the new cage at the same time? Put the male in first, then add her? Thanks for any advice

[Hezz]

I'd put them both in together, at the same time, once you are sure that they seem to be getting on well outside the cage.

Check the bar spacing on the parrot cage, though. Nothing more than 15mm is acceptable for budgies, and 12mm is better.

[ravenlock]

The bar spacing is 1/2 inch. The cage used to be for my greencheek “Zoë” before I upgraded her. I won’t try it until they are very obviously friends and I’ll bring the cage in for a week or so to let them get used to it. Thanks for all the help!