Post by elsnow on Jul 10, 2011 22:23:03 GMT -5
Hello, I'm new to this board but need some advice.
I've had pet birds almost all my life, but mainly budgies. Four years ago my middle son, who was working in a vet clinic while in school at Auburn, brought me two "abandoned" cockatiels for Christmas. They were a mated pair.
Long story short, I fell in love with them and they live in a big nice flight cage in my upstairs den where they have plenty of windows and are up high. Also, my vet helped me discover that the male is 19 and the female 11.
They both just had a checkup in June and all was well, but my female was breathing heavily and staring when I went in to feed them this evening. She had no interest in food. She lay on my chest and later died. I am very sad, but now I am also very worried about the male. I have never been able to even get one out of the cage without the other; they just panicked. He has just now quietened after two hours of her being out of the cage. He is covered in a dark quiet room.
I have an excellent avian vet whom I will call in the morning for advice, but I'd really appreciate some owners' expertise about whether or not to try to put another female in with him, or possibly a budgie or two. Or should I just leave him alone and give him plenty of attention. I don't work the month of July, so Ill be home most all day every day for the rest of the month.
I will be most appreciative of your advice!
Elsnow
I've had pet birds almost all my life, but mainly budgies. Four years ago my middle son, who was working in a vet clinic while in school at Auburn, brought me two "abandoned" cockatiels for Christmas. They were a mated pair.
Long story short, I fell in love with them and they live in a big nice flight cage in my upstairs den where they have plenty of windows and are up high. Also, my vet helped me discover that the male is 19 and the female 11.
They both just had a checkup in June and all was well, but my female was breathing heavily and staring when I went in to feed them this evening. She had no interest in food. She lay on my chest and later died. I am very sad, but now I am also very worried about the male. I have never been able to even get one out of the cage without the other; they just panicked. He has just now quietened after two hours of her being out of the cage. He is covered in a dark quiet room.
I have an excellent avian vet whom I will call in the morning for advice, but I'd really appreciate some owners' expertise about whether or not to try to put another female in with him, or possibly a budgie or two. Or should I just leave him alone and give him plenty of attention. I don't work the month of July, so Ill be home most all day every day for the rest of the month.
I will be most appreciative of your advice!
Elsnow
, I would get another cockatiel only if YOU want another one. By the sounds of it you loved your birds and this would not be an issue. However in a few years you will likely run into the same problem again when he gets older. You also don't know if the bird you have will like the new bird. You have to take it slow and go one day at a time. 30 to 45 days quarentene in separate air space [another room] and then one day at a time out of cage time on neutral ground. I wish you all the best, blessings Ruth [State Coordinator for Mine] 