Losing a pet can be a tragic and painful experience, and we grieve them just like we grieve the loss of our human family members.
Parakeets are loved for their human-like quality of speech, but how far do the similarities go?
Do parakeets grieve?
The answer is yes, parakeets do grieve. They are social creatures who need time to grieve the loss of their companions. There are ways owners can make this loss easier for them to move on from.
This article will explain all about how your parakeet grieves, and what you can do to help them through this difficult time.
We’ll also talk about many more of your parakeet’s social and mental skills!
Do parakeets die of loneliness?
Parakeets are social creatures, who, in the wild, live in a flock with many other parakeets to keep them company.
If they are deprived of interaction and their social needs are not met, there are serious consequences for their physical and mental health.
As a result of isolation, parakeets can lapse into poor health and even die of loneliness.
Parakeets do a lot better when they are kept in pairs.
If you are keeping a single parakeet as a pet, you need to make sure you’re available to spend time with your bird for multiple hours a day.
How do parakeets feel when their friend dies?
Just like us, parakeets form close relationships with their social circle.
This means that, after a death, parakeets will mourn the loss of their partners.
It can take between a few days and several weeks for a parakeet to accept their loss and for the grief period to end.
Once they have overcome their grief, they may eventually accept a new partner.
How do you know if your parakeet is sad?
There are a number of signs that you may observe in your parakeet if it is grieving the recent loss of its friend.
Here are some common things you should keep an eye on.
Head bobbing is usually part of a parakeet’s courtship ritual.
This means that if your parakeet is head-bobbing excessively, it might be experiencing grief.
It is a way for your parakeet to express that it misses the interaction it used to have with its friend.
Parakeets can also display some other behavior changes when they are grieving.
These include loss of appetite, unusual levels of aggression, feather plucking and an abnormal sleep schedule.
How do you help a grieving parakeet?
It can be upsetting for us to watch our beloved parakeets go through the pain of grief, so how can we help them?
In such a tragic time for your parakeet, it is important to be there for it by giving them extra attention.
Leaving it in the cage alone now their friend is gone will be distressing for it.
Schedule a time each day that you can dedicate to your parakeet so it knows what to expect and feels secure.
It’s also helpful to keep your parakeet’s mind occupied to temporarily distract it from the grief it’s feeling.
You can do this by giving your parakeet a special treat to cheer it up a little.
Remember to do this in moderation as part of a nutritious diet, though.
You can also introduce a new toy to the cage and encourage your parakeet to play with it.
This can help to stop it getting bored and provide a distraction.
You can buy toys or make your own at home.
Should you replace your parakeet’s partner?
After a grieving period, you may want to introduce a new buddy to your parakeet to stop them getting lonely.
Make sure not to rush this process, however.
Your parakeet will struggle to bond with a new bird while it is grieving and might even lash out with aggressive behaviors.
You should introduce a new friend to your parakeet gradually.
A great way to do this is by keeping the two birds in individual cages while they get used to each other.
Do parakeets forget their owners?
Parakeets have good memories and social skills.
They live in flocks in the wild, which means it’s important for them to be able to remember who the members of their flock are.
Parakeets see their humans as part of their flock, especially if they are kept with other parakeets.
Parakeets become happy when they see their previous owners because they remember this long-lost member of their flock!
You can leave your parakeet for several months and they will be able to remember you with ease when you return.
Can parakeets learn their name?
In the wild, it is thought that parakeets name their offspring and can communicate with each other by name.
In captivity, they can recognize simple words as well as a seven-month-old human baby!
This means you can teach your parakeet to recognize its name at home, too!
You need to call their name consistently and repetitively so your bird can learn to recognize the sound.
Over time, your parakeet will tail bob, sway and squawk when they hear you call their name!
Do parakeets like music?
Amazingly, parakeets can be fans of music just like humans!
Sound can be a comfort for parakeets as it can help these social little birds feel more like part of a busy flock.
They might be interested in the sounds of human activity, like the vacuum cleaner, for the same reason.
You should keep the music peaceful and not too loud when playing it around your parakeets.
Many parakeets like classical music, nature sounds, and some pop music. Remember, though, that all birds are individuals and their own tastes.
Parakeets are intelligent birds who share a lot of the same social skills and feelings that we experience.
They do experience grief when they lose a friend, and this can take them some time to get over.
When your parakeet is grieving, you can help it by giving it lots of love and attention, as well as some treats or new toys.
In this article we’ve talked about how parakeets handle grief, how to help them, and some of their other amazingly advanced social and mental capabilities.