Unknown budgie death......?

[domharris]

Hi, i have a bird aviary in my garden where i recently had 6 budgies, 3 male and 3 female. I introduced 3 nest boxes a few months ago where they got all excited and squabbled over who had what box. Well after weeks of this squabbling a pair finally got it on and the female has got 6 eggs in her box to which she is looking after rather well. Now her partner (who died yesterday) spent alot of time with her in the nest box to which i thought was strange but in some cases perfectly normal. He did collect food for her and like i said spent alot of time in the box. I found him yesterday on the bottom of the aviary very weak and unable to fly. He let me pick him up which was always a challenge for general checks etc. He died approx half an hour later in a cage spread out on the bottom. I just need your views on how he may have died suddenly, thanks.

[carlton23]

What age was he, and was the cage out of draughts?

[boxtops]

Perhaps it was just exhaustion from looking after Mrs Bird - perhaps he'd not fed himself enough.

[mrs.chappie]

Sorry to hear about the wee budgie. Was there any soiling around his cere and/or vent?

[domharris]

He was two and a half and actually lived in an aviary for a year. He died in our hospital cage indoors. The aviary is heated in the winter.

[carlton23]

He was very young as budgies live for many years, so sorry for your loss. I lost a budgie many years ago through a draughty gap in the window.

[mike11111]

I think this is redolent of the human position. Women aren't satisfied till they've worked a bloke to death then collect on the pension.

[domharris]

Thanks boxtops - that was what I wondered, but would he starve himself to death? There was some soiling around his vent. He had been spending so much time in the nest box that we had not noticed it.

[mrs.chappie]

Ideally you should have a post mortem done to determine the cause of death, dom, especially if there is soiling around his vent, as infections can spread to the other birds in the aviary and that would be very sad.

Birds are very good at hiding illness. Often, before you notice something is wrong, it's already too late. :o(

(Sorry to sound negative here....I speak from experience).

[Chaffinch]

I've not advice Dom, but am very sorry for your loss x

[Chaffinch]

*no*

[domharris]

Im going to have a clean up later just in case it was an illness. I personally think the soiling was where he was in the box all that time!
Thanks chaffinch that is touching.

[mrs.chappie]

I hope you're right, dom.

[domharris]

Thanks everyone who posted a comment, i will let you know if the eggs hatch!