Hi alle bird lovers! It's a long time since I visited!
We lost Merlin yesterday. He was in a bad condition since the Summer, had hurt his head by flying into a wall (?), probably because he was blind on one side. I was certain he would die then, his head being bent and such, but he lived through the year until December when I discovered a lump behind his other eye, that became infected. We managed to hold the infection down but it came back so the vet tried to open, hoping it was an lump of pus. Unfortunately it was a tumor so he was put to sleep. I feel this is for the best, he had been on hold for some time now and I am glad he isn't suffering anymore.
But then, this leaves Nova. She hasn't said much since his passing, and only began to fly a little this evening. However I know she will become lonely, and since she isn't tame, she goes and tries to flock with other birds. Her flock was Merlin, and Pichu (parrotlet) from a distance, since Pichu believes he is human and doesn't want to have the other birds near him. Nova has tried to hang on the outside of his cage before and she had been told this was not allowed, so she had stopped. But then, at bed time this evening, she went there again.
I'm afraid this is going to be a problem. Pichu is mostly afraid of her and he hides in his cage, showing clearly he wants her gone. So far he has never been aggressive, only displaying how big and scary he is, but I know lonely budgies can be very insistent and intrusive so I am prepared to see this happen more and more.
If it comes to it, I am prepared to find a new home for her but not just yet. She just lost Merlin and I don't want her to lose her home too, but I know of a former breeder who has a beautiful aviary where the birds can be both inside and outside. Since she isn't tame I feel this would be a nice place to be, it is a plan B if she becomes unhappy on her own in our home, but this can't happen before the Spring. It is very cold her in Winter and she has been an inside bird so far.
My focus now is to help her through the loss and keep her entertained so she won't plague Pichu and risk being injured. Any idea?
We lost Merlin yesterday. He was in a bad condition since the Summer, had hurt his head by flying into a wall (?), probably because he was blind on one side. I was certain he would die then, his head being bent and such, but he lived through the year until December when I discovered a lump behind his other eye, that became infected. We managed to hold the infection down but it came back so the vet tried to open, hoping it was an lump of pus. Unfortunately it was a tumor so he was put to sleep. I feel this is for the best, he had been on hold for some time now and I am glad he isn't suffering anymore.
But then, this leaves Nova. She hasn't said much since his passing, and only began to fly a little this evening. However I know she will become lonely, and since she isn't tame, she goes and tries to flock with other birds. Her flock was Merlin, and Pichu (parrotlet) from a distance, since Pichu believes he is human and doesn't want to have the other birds near him. Nova has tried to hang on the outside of his cage before and she had been told this was not allowed, so she had stopped. But then, at bed time this evening, she went there again.
I'm afraid this is going to be a problem. Pichu is mostly afraid of her and he hides in his cage, showing clearly he wants her gone. So far he has never been aggressive, only displaying how big and scary he is, but I know lonely budgies can be very insistent and intrusive so I am prepared to see this happen more and more.
If it comes to it, I am prepared to find a new home for her but not just yet. She just lost Merlin and I don't want her to lose her home too, but I know of a former breeder who has a beautiful aviary where the birds can be both inside and outside. Since she isn't tame I feel this would be a nice place to be, it is a plan B if she becomes unhappy on her own in our home, but this can't happen before the Spring. It is very cold her in Winter and she has been an inside bird so far.
My focus now is to help her through the loss and keep her entertained so she won't plague Pichu and risk being injured. Any idea?
I am very sorry for your loss. 
