I've had my male parakeet for almost a year and bought him a mate a few months ago. I came home tonight and found the female on the bottom of the cage dead. I took her out of the cage and buried her. When I came back he was pacing all over the cage and chirping really loud which is extremely unusual for him. I took him out and have been holding him and letting him roam around my room like he used to when he was alone but I'm worried about him because of his behavior. My mom said we'll buy him a new mate tomorrow but I don't know if that's too soon or not. Is it bad for a parakeet to lose its mate? I know they aren't love birds but his behavior is worrying me. (it's 6:36pm here so...no pet stores and no vets are open so I can't call them)
2007-01-19 13:37:21 · 7 answers · asked by xdeathbyteacupx 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
My mom, my boyfriend and I all believe that she got her wing stuck in the bars of the cage and flayed. When I had her in my hands her neck didn't feel right. Nothing got to her because the only other animals in my room are fish and a guinea pig (on the floor in a cage far from the birds). They are no where near chemicals or germs.
2007-01-19 13:48:15 · update #1
Well, I'm sorry for your loss. He doesn't need a mate.It would be great to know what caused her demise. Perhaps giving your male a diet of pellets with 10%seed and 10% fruits and veggies. Studies show that all seed diets lead to malnutrition.Parakeets do not mate for life. With the sudden change, he may be upset for a few days.Replacement is up to you. Have a tweet year.
2007-01-19 13:44:26 · answer #1 · answered by firestarter 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a very similar situation with a pair of conures. We had them for almost two years when we came home to find the male dead -- no clear cause of death. The female was clearly grieving.....she actually had crawled under the male's wing and would not come out until we removed the body from the cage. It was very very sad. We were very worried about her, so we kept her with us at all times -- on my daughters or my shoulder -- and considered getting a new mate right away. I spoke to my vet and she said we should give Cassie (our female) a few weeks to grieve before we decided what to do.
One thing that we did that I believe really helped was we went out the next day and bought a new cage with new toys and everything. We moved Cassie in the new cage into my daughter's room. We also bought her one of those fuzzy tubes that hangs at the top of the cage and she crawls into it each night to sleep. They also sell "Bird Buddies" which are a kind of security blanket for birds and I read that you should get one the same color as your bird.
Long story short, it has been almost 5 months and Cassie seems very happy -- we still have not gotten her a new mate and we probably will not. Introducing a new bird when your bird is still upset may not be the best thing. Comfort your bird and let him know that you are still there for him.
Take Care!
2007-01-19 14:34:37 · answer #2 · answered by Scooter 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is too soon, but not because of his broken heart. Parakeets will re-mate when they find another female to love. In my aviaries, one of my male parakeets "loved" six different nests of females and had babies by each one at a time.
The reason it's too soon is because you have not found out what killed the female. Was it illness? Was it because you cooked using non-stick pans in the house? Was it because of dehydration? Did an animal get to her? There are several different possibilities.
Until you are sure what killed her, you can not put another female into the cage, because if it's something that is contagious, then it is very possible she will get it, and him also.
I would give it 2 weeks, until the germs settle, or until you are 100% sure what killed her.
I am sure he will recover. He misses her right now, but he is capable of re-mating.
Be there for him. Give him some extra love, and he will get through this.
Good luck!
2007-01-19 13:44:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
in the starting up, sorry about your lifeless parakeet. for the reason that parakeets are flock animals, it would want to be perfect in case you acquire your self yet another parakeet so as that the present parakeet may have yet another one to stay with and it gained't get lonely and depress over the years. you should purchase the recent parakeet ASAP so as that the different one gained't become lonely and depress as quickly because it realizes that its mate has died. -- PA
2016-11-25 21:25:34 · answer #4 · answered by schifano 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contrary to popular belief, your bird does not NEED a mate. You can be a great companion for your bird.
If you choose to purchase another bird, you need to keep it in quarentine for at least 30 days. Please read the following article.
http://www.mickaboo.com/reading-room/bathing-quarantine.html#quarantine - The importance of quarantine
2007-01-19 14:14:31 · answer #5 · answered by Christie D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is chirping loudly because he is calling his mate, hoping she will answer him and come back.
He will grieve, but he will be fine. Give him some extra attention to cheer him up.
2007-01-19 14:35:01 · answer #6 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is so hard for me to answer my cocktiiel lost his mate a few months ago she was eaten by my dog they bred and had a daughter he called for her oftine. let him relax spend alot of time with him if he dont improve get him a new lover
2007-01-19 13:45:29 · answer #7 · answered by Here i am 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋