Our budgies have had life spans of about 8 to 9 years. The only English budgie we've ever had is Sky- who will be 11 in a couple of months...
Although my Budgies have an "open door" policy with their cage,they rarely come out and fly around the room. It's a real trip when they do come out for a spin, though...three little buzz bombs diving all around....I WANT to let mine fly around, but I'm waiting for my newly out of quarentine Blu the Blue Bodgie (original, I know) to settle in a little more.
Before he was in there if I opened the gate and waited (all windows covered and shut, no shiny reflective surfaces, small room), they just sat on their perch or played with their toys.
Sorry about your guys.With a poor diet and care, budgies can be seniors at 6 years old.
With a great diet and great care, they may not reach senior age until they are 12+ years old!
Unfortunately, most of my budgies didn't live very long lives. Had one die at 9 years old, and I was his second home. He supposedly died due to an illness found on a farm, according to necropsy. I don't know if it's something I brought home on myself, something that was on their food, or maybe if his body somehow got contaminated by the illness by the place that did the necropsy. He was the only one that got sick with it, and the only symptom of the illness listed? Sudden death. Had another budgie that I think passed away at 10 or 11 years old from testicular cancer. I was his third home.
The others I had died at younger ages due to illness or accidents, except for the last 5 budgies I had (all hens), which I ended up rehoming. (after making sure none were sick) I rehomed 4 first, then the last hen a while later. (different groups of budgies that weren't housed together) Out of those 5 budgies, only two were not rehomes. (bought from a breeder) If any of them are still alive, the oldest ones should be about 12 years old now.
I decided that budgies aren't for me, unless I could have an outside aviary of purple budgies! Exercise alone can help reduce a multitude of health issues from occurring! And sunlight is quite healthy for them! An outside aviary is a no go at my current location.
Sorry about your guys.
I have mine on a large windowsill thing (about a foot across) with the the curtain halfway opened so they get sunlight and shade when they need it, I feed them Zupreem, a little millet and fresh fruit and veg. They also get alot of out of cage time. But, two came from Petsmart and one was from a good feedstore, so we'll see.
@Mr Peepers i don't mind at all that you used the pic of Link
Haha, is that SPX giving the stink eye there?
Even when looked after properly there's no hard and fast rule. Genetics can be your enemy, as JLcribber has said. My Nim was on a good diet, had access to excellent veterinary care and was given every luxury I could afford, but because she was likely from a very inbred line (as most pet store budgies are), she got cancer and died at a mere 3.5 years of age. My vet recommends keeping a close eye on young budgies because that seems to be an age when some birds get tumors. Watch their weight!If you don't look after it very well it's not going to have a long life (hopefully 5 years). If you look after it very well it can live to be 20 years old.
If it comes from a weak bloodline it's will die much younger than a bird that comes from a strong bloodline.
It's all circumstantial. There is no rule.