Parakeets are very social creatures, and losing their loved ones can greatly blow their lives. How, then, can you help your budgie in this sad moment?
We have seven tips on how to grieve a parakeet that will help you and your bird get through the loss and return to everyday life.
1. Give Extra One-On-One Attention
Even without grief, parakeets love attention from their owners. However, your attention and affection are most needed during this sad time.
Leaving your bird to stay alone when she is used to being with a mate can be distressing. Try scheduling ten to twenty minutes of daily interaction to keep her company.
Maintain close social contact with your budgie, sing for her, talk to her, and play with her. All these are ways to comfort your bird in her time of grief.
Make the interactions a daily routine, as it helps keep your bird calm in times of uncertainty. This can help them feel less alone and more loved.
2. Organize a Staycation
New surroundings can stimulate your bird and ease her grief. Allow her to rest on your shoulders while exploring new places in your home. Let the bird try walking on different surfaces, for example, at the top of a nightstand or table.
You can also move the parakeet’s cage near a window. This provides a fantastic point from where to enjoy the outside view. Always keep the windows closed and avoid exposing your bird to direct sunlight.
3. Use Distractions
Yes, distractions are effective in taking the mind of your budgie off her loss. They bury the pain of loss beneath every activity you can add on top of it.
While distractions aren’t healthy in the long run, they can be a great relief to free the bird’sbird’s mind from the present grief.
You can use toys to distract your parakeet and prevent boredom. Playing keeps the bird busy and allows her mind to relax and come to terms with the loss.
Treats like honey sticks can also perk up your budgie and ease some of the heartaches of losing a companion.
4. Consider Getting a New Companion
Parakeets are naturally social and prefer staying in groups or pairs. In this case, consider getting another bird.
Most parakeets typically accept a new friend very quickly. It is, however, advisable to introduce the friend slowly.
Move their cages close together to allow them to familiarize themselves with each other’s voices. Keep a close eye to determine whether they are interested in each other.
If the budgies tweet and chatter back and forth, you can take them out of their cages for supervised play. Again, please pay attention to whether they are playing together or pecking and fighting.
Only let birds share a cage if they seem ready. If you see a disconnect, cage them separately but in the same room; the birds will still appreciate it.
5. Allow your Bird to Say Goodbye
You can let your parakeet see her deceased friend one last time to help her grieve. By understanding the finality of the occurrence, seeing her dead friend helps offer some closure.
To some bird owners, this may sound cruel and morbid because of the tight bond budgies share, but it is better than seeing your budgie calling and searching for her friend in vain.
Suppose it is impossible to allow your parakeet a personal send-off. In that case, evidence exists that you can reduce her stress by placing a picture of the deceased parakeet outside the cage, where the surviving budgie can easily see it.
6. Give the Bird Time
Budgies can mourn a loss for longer than expected; therefore, you need to be patient and provide extra support.
Don’t get impatient and begin shouting and yelling at the bird, or she may get defensive. Take her grief as her way of paying her final respect to her departed companion.
7. Visit the Vet
If your parakeet still exhibits signs of grief after trying the tips above, it is time to seek professional help from an avian vet.
It would be better to confirm whether mourning has ended than to guess. Some illnesses have symptoms similar to that of a grieving budgie, so there is no room for assumptions.
The vet will provide the correct diagnosis and treatment for any underlying disease and additional support and guidance.
Final Thoughts
Grieving can be complicated for any animal, including parakeets. It can also be difficult for owners to watch their parakeet grieve the loss of a companion.
That is why we have come up with this article on seven tips on how to grieve a parakeet.
We look forward to bettering your knowledge about budgies and the best ways to soothe their heartache.
It’s important to know that every parakeet is different, and what works for one may fail for another. Be patient and try the other approaches until you find what works best for your parakeet.
