Stress and Budgie-bonds

[Hezz]

This a question for those of you with budgies who have formed strong bonds with another who has passed away - has anyone noticed the left-behind budgie going in a moult after losing a friend?

Sparky is having quite a heavy moult at the moment. It may just be coincidence, but I wondered if it may have been triggered by him losing his best friend, Bluey. He has also become very skittish the last couple of days - I am sure this will pass as he settles down with Smudge.

[budgiefriend]

Poor little Sparky. He misses his friend. Budgies are amazing. They are so aware of what is going on around them. And they have such feelings.

[Marianne Marlow]

I guess that the stress could have triggered it Hezz.

When Monty's Pal Eric died (there were just two of them back then) he was silent for a whole week and only started singing when I brought home Roswell and Snowy.

They definitely grieve.

I'm sure you and Smudge will help Sparky through this.

[sweetpea]

Yes, they can be very sensitive in that way. When Raspy was ill, Atilla got an infection & the vet reckoned it was brought on by the stress of seeing her sister ill... I hope Sparky feels better very soon.

[stace]

I'm sure they grieve, and I'm sure that stress would easily prompt a moult.

[Hezz]

Thank you kind friends. I know he is feeling the emptiness where Bluey should be. He has this little chirp that almost sounds like "bluey?" as a question. He gives that and then is silent (as though he is waiting for an answer).

He and Smudge have been building a friendship with Smudge even allowing Sparky to (seemingly) offer her food, so I know all will be okay in a while. I feel the extra stress of the moulting isn't really something he needs right now - Smudge is soft and fluffy, Sparky is all hard body and muscle. He doesn't have any bare patches, so I will just keep trying to entice him with eggfood.