Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Granted, we may not know exactly how budgies technically feel, but if you'll allow, any opinions would be appreciated (or perhaps some of you have experienced either option before and could share what you learned).

If you've done all you can do for a bird (vet care, quarantine, ect..), and it passes, do you think it's better for the mate in the other room to see the body lying in the dead mate's cage or is it better for the other bird not to see anything at all (and wonder where he is, calling out for days for him) ?

What is more "humane" for the surviving bird?

I would say not seeing the body would be the best. I personally do believe that birds will "mourn" their mates or pals. I know some scientists say this is giving human feelings to birds but my beliefs come from experience with birds. I do not know if the mourning they do is more as a reaction to their human counterparts reactions or if it is their own feelings but either way it seems to have the same effect on them. It seems though that when a bird "leaves" whether through death, adoption, etc and is one minute there and the next minute gone that the other birds seem to get over it faster than if one actually dies. We have had many adopted and once in a while even get one in that is in such bad health that even after doing all we can it just can't be saved. In the instances where the bird is adopted out or is removed and dies in the vets office the cage mate or other birds in the same room seem to "look" for the bird for a short time but then seem to quickly go on. In the instances where it is a cagemate that dies of natural causes (after receiving vet care, and is just sent home to live out its days) and has actually been in the same room or cage when it passed on it seems to take a bit longer for the birds to start acting like their normal selves again.

As I said this is only my opinion and in either instance please never bring a sick bird into a room with other birds if it has any illness that could possibly be contagious.