My mom had 4 lovebirds that she kept in a room in her house. She has cages, but the birds fly free around the room (which has not been bird-proofed). A few weeks ago, one of the birds died suddenly of unknown causes. She decided to replace the bird so she'd still have an even number. She had the new bird for abt a week, & that one has also died. She wants me to help her train the remaining birds to stay in the cage, but my two lovebirds are quite time & view the cage as their home 1/2
2/2 IDK how to help accustom her birds to the cages. Iâm concerned for the other birds. IDK what the cause of death was (both birds had been eating/drinking, & there was no sign of injury/illness from what she said). She loves these birds SO MUCH & was devastated when the first bird died. But when Iâve tried to give her advice on how to care for the birds, she seems to always have excuses. I live in another city, so I canât visit often, but any advice you offer me would be appreciated.
People can love their birds and still not necessarily do what is best for them. If your mom isnât taking your advice and has excuses each time... well... Iâm not sure if anything we say is really going to help you there.
If your mom keeps non-stick cookware and uses it, for example, that could be causing the sudden death. It could be a similar environmental thing like if she or someone else in her household smokes. Especially since the new budgie seemed to pass away so quickly I am worried it is something like that more than anything that could have done it. However, budgies are also fragile animals and quite overbred so it wouldnât be a surprise if it were something genetic either.
As for making the bird stay in its cage all the time, thatâs not something we should be trying to teach birds. They are really intelligent animals, yes even budgies, and they are not well suited to stay in a cage for their whole lives. If your mom is keeping the birds in their cages for most or all of the day, then there is a good reason they donât like being in there.
As comfortable, as large and as toy filled and stimulated as we can make a cage for a bird, it wonât replace direct interaction and socialization and the novelties of being out. So I canât really recommend that course of action in the first place.
I think you need to sit your mom down and have a real heart to heart with her about these animals. About the care, attention and stimulation they really require to thrive and about setting realistic and doable goals for improving their care. But the main problem is getting her to be receptive to you, and unfortunately thatâs not something we can help with really.I wish you the best of luck in all of this.Jacie (words on birds)