My Budgie died

[Kathy]

Sigh, Cry, Bawl....

It happened so fast. 7:00am noticed she is on the bottom of the cage, with her one wing out. Figure she is hot, but thought it was wierd, because it isn't her normanl wing stance when hot. Temp in the room is 80. Put an oscillating fan in the large open room at low.

7:10 Feeding the birds. She looks normal now and perched.
7:15 She is eating.
7:35 She is dead.

OMG what happened? She was only 4 years old! Baz, the male is ok. Never had a bird die. Everything looked ok at the bottom of the cage as far as normal droppings. One thing I noticed, was there was some orange where the lower beak meets the neck. I never saw this before, but then I never had her upside down like that. Everything physically looked ok, vent, cere etc...

Thanks for reading, I called a non bird friend... they just don't get it. Say a prayer for my son, he is taking it real hard, as she just loved him and he her.

[Rue]

I'm so sorry to hear that...my condolences...

[birdsnthings]

I believe only bird people can understand our loss at times like these. So sorry to read your budgie has passed away.
The only way to know what happened is to have a necropsy done. You may have an answer but then you may not have a difinitive answer.
With budgies and keets there is so much inbreeding that these birds generally do not have a long life and they are prone to cancers and tumors. There may not have been anything that you have done wrong.

[Kathy]

Thanks for your kind words. I go to bed wondering and wake up wondering.

Yesterday when I came home I said hello to my fids. By mistake I called the one parakeet Shaheen. They stopped chirping suddenly and started to look around. it was amazing.

Baz, her male companion, seems to be doing ok. I showed him her dead bdy and he has not been calling out to her, like he would have when they have been seperated. They were never a pair and just regarded each other as room mates.

Yesterday when I went to replace their divided food bowl, I noticed that one half was never touched. It was as if he had set the table and was waiting for her. :icon_cry:

[danforth3]

I'm so sorry to hear of your budgies passing. Your family is in our prayers.
Here is a poem that may help your son with the passing of the budgie.

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

[The Outlaw]

Hmm. That's really strange and very, very sad. I know you are grieving and I totally understand. Sometimes, with budgies and other smaller birds, there is a lot of inbreeding. This often causes premature death. Perhaps that is what caused her early demise. I agree, however, that the only sure way to determine the cause of death is a necropsy. However, even with a necropsy, you may never know for sure.

THE OUTLAW

[PArRoT_CrAzy11]

Tis true what the outlaw says. For years breeders attempt to acheive their desired color mutations by inbreeding. Very rare that you could find a wild colored budgie. Many are found to have genetic abnormalities, and all have a shortened life span compared to the 15 yr life span of a wild budgie. All this inbreeding may be the cause of your budgie's early demise.

[Monica]

I'm not sure how long the average life-span of a budgie in the wild, though I'd guess 5-12 years because they constantly have to deal with drout, hardly any food, predators, heat, etc. The average lifespan for budgies in captivity I'd say is around 2-6 years, max around 9. If however these birds are fed a proper diet and givin a large cage and/or lots of excersize they have the chance to live 15-18 years about. There will always be an exception, however...

Inbreeding has however done a lot to destroy many budgies...

[tootercat]

I am SO very sorry for your loss. I am a budgie mom and have lost two babies...one to unknown and one who got loose. I still miss them both and Vanna's been gone since 2001 and Skyler (the one who flew away) just since last June. I send my biggest hugs to both you and your son. It is very hard losing someone (human or animal) you care for deeply. If you can it might not be a bad idea to get a new birdy. (he/she will be a companion companion for your Baz and will get a home instead of being in a store.) (When I lost Skyler and could not get him back I went out and came home with BB as the void was too tremendous. She will never "replace" Sky but she has brought so much joy and laughter with her love and personality that the pain is less crippling)

Take care,
Pam

[dino24]

Sorry to hear of your birds passing. My thoughts are with you and your son.