No... My Tludgy died...

[HareTrinity]

Less than 2 hrs before his vet appointment for his bad leg, I went to check on Tludgy and he had died... I don't even know what from...

His leg had been getting worse, but he could still move his toes yesterday, and there was still no obvious injury to it...

Also, it turns out he HAD lost the extra weight! I guess the exercise programme I had him on had worked and I'd been too distracted by his leg to notice.

That said, he wasn't scarily light, either. A bit lighter than I'd expect, but not extremely so.

He had looked a lot worse late last night, and quite messy (his droppings were runny, but not extremely, still thicker than water), but when I checked on him in the morning he looked better. Cleaned up a little, and was sitting more upright, so I felt relieved.

He had still been vocal (not very cheerfully, but still loud), and able to climb and fly, and hadn't been acting lethargic.

The only thing that really seemed wrong up until last night was his bad leg.

With the weight problem past, I really have no idea why he might have died, but I feel so awful...

I mean, I know I didn't feed him enough fresh food for it to be more than 50% of his diet, and I only had it going on a daily basis whilst the Zebra finches were raising their chicks, and since then it's been once or twice a week max, but it's not like I NEVER give them fresh food...

I've had full-spectrum lighting in my room since the first Zebra chick, too.

Why did it happen?

I know I'm not the best bird owner out there, I've always been better with rodents, and my main skill with birds is that I'm good at getting along with and taming/training parakeets, but I'm sure I'm not the worst bird owner either, so how can my Tludgy have just died like this?

I'm not sure where to go next with my birds, either. I was thinking about spending about £100 on a big cage to move all my birds into one cage, but it was Tludgy who really liked the finches (he loved to go and flirt/talk to the Zebra finches), and Pío isn't very keen at all, so there'd really be little point now since it'd probably just be her bullying the finches.

At least Pío and Tludgy never being close means she won't be too depressed after this, but still... I feel pretty scared about getting another budgie now, but I don't want her to be lonely. Don't know any local bird owners I'd trust to look after her for any long period of time, either.

He wasn't very old and it was only about a week ago that he was doing just fine. He was still pretty active, and eating, and again better today than he looked last night... I don't get how he could have just died...

He was the one visitors to my room liked, too, since he was willing to sit on fingers/shoulders and such... He was a twerp in a lot of ways too, but loved for it.

My poor budgie...


Turns out this photo of him on my hand holding Pío is one of the best I have of him... Not sure why, he was definitely photographed a lot... Thought I'd have more photos than this before he passed away... He was only a few years old, too...

[Xavier]

Prayers to you and your Tludgy... take heart in knowing he has passed over the rainbow bridge...

Have you had an autopsy done?

[Alika]

That's the thing about birds: you have to take them to the vet the first sign that something is wrong, because it may be the last and only sign you ever get. I'm sorry that this was the way you had to learn that.

[Monica]

An autopsy would be easiest to find out why he died, though I am sorry to hear this. Do know though that you tried. It's hard to do things accordingly to what others say, especially if your resources may be limited.

[HareTrinity]

I gather they're vaguely expensive, though, and I felt really weird and giddy for a bit and not very up to suggesting it...

After all, I wouldn't feel comfy burying a pet not in one piece, and much as with larger animals that can probably be easily done, budgies are so light and small that I figured even if the people doing the autopsy were willing to try to... Neaten it after, it wouldn't be very effective, and I'd feel weird with him like that even if I didn't have to see it before burying him...

I should have really at least tried to find out if it was an option, but wasn't thinking clearly enough...

[Alika]

Necropsy is always an option, no matter how small. It would have told you if he died of something that is contagious that might have affected your other bird, which is usually why it's recommended.

[TooLover]

I understand, and am so sorry for your loss!

[jimpierce7]

my heart goes out to you, prayers too.

[birdsnthings]

I am sorry to read that Tludgy has passed away.
Budgies a somewhat more fragile since their systems are much smaller. The only way to determine what caused his untimely death is by a necropsy but then it is possible not to find the cause.
Please don't be so hard on yourself. Many budgies often die at an early age. Genetics are important for them and there is so much inbreeding in these birds that is the cause of shortened life spans, genetic problems, cancers as well as tumors so this can be something unrelated to your care of him and out of your control.

[cfulhage]

I'm so sorry for your loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you.