Budgie lifespan and Budgies’ friends

[carolc26]

Hi all
This isn’t a really happy post. Just looking for reassurance from other budgie enthusiasts!

We’ve lost 2 budgies in less than a year…
Unsure about Paco’s death (she was almost 4) but Binky (only about 3) definitely got a cold and never recovered…
It’s made me unsure whether I’m good at keeping budgies!

Paco came to us as a young bird, she latched on to us and she was our funny friend straight away. Miss her! Our kids were quite young then too and really interacted with her. She used to ride on Playmobil pirate boats!!!
Feel like we didn’t get to know Binky enough… He preferred Paco’s company than ours.

We’re left with Coco whom we welcomed in January 2022. He’s been on his own for a month. He’s not tame at all. Very reluctant to come on our hands even with a bribe of millet.
He happily sings when in the same room as us though. But seems stuck to his mirror when in his cage. I don’t see him using his foraging toy as I don’t need to clean mess from it anymore…

So of course I’m thinking about getting a new bird but I don’t want the same cycle happening… Get one, then lose one a year after… Silly maybe!
Any encouraging thoughts from you?!

[tweetiepiesmom]

They are such sweet little birds and its so difficult when they go. I've read that the average life span of the typical Australian type is about 7 years while the typical exhibition type is about 5 years. However, just like us individual budgies may be more or less hearty and may have longer or shorter life span than the 'average'. Sometimes a budgie gets ill and just can't seem to recover full health like your Binky. Similarly some are just more tame and friendly to humans. The best care for them involves a well rounded diet, clean environment, free flight time and interacting with them.

Did you get your budgies from the same pet store? You might try getting one from a different place. I would try spending more time trying to tame Coco. If he just doesn't seem to warm up to you, then you might get him a budgie friend. You'll find the people here ae more than willing to help you. I would suggest you take the mirror away from Coco and see if that helps him bond more with you. If after a few of days, he seems frightened or scared, you can give it back to him.

[carolc26]

Thanks for this!
Tiny little birds who leave much bigger holes in hearts!!!
We’ve had Coco around us much more this weekend and hope this is setting the tone from now on!
I’ll take the mirror away and see!

[Marianne Marlow]

It's heartbreaking losing them isn't it. I have lost 3 in the last year and it's been awful

I hope Coco comes round eventually and interacts with you.