Our budgie died today :o(

[ShinyHappyPeopleHoldinghands]

Actually he was DS1's budgie, but I looked after him. He was only 3. I don't know why he died; he was fine last night, tweeting away. This morning I noticed he was asleep on his perch with his head under his wing at a time when he is usually awake (when the house was full of noise) and early this afternoon I noticed he was sitting there looking all puffy, dull-eyed and miserable.

DH took him out to look at him and we could see he was unwell so I planned to take him to the vet this evening when I had got back from visiting my dad in hospital. We had trouble getting him back on his perch but he went on eventually. Then, while I was out, he fell off. DH held him in his hand and within a few minutes he died. I have no idea why.

The kids were so upset when they got home; even DS2 age 6 (who is a boy of few words due to his SN) asked if "Spike had gone to heaven". Sob!

DS1 has buried him in the garden. It's so quiet here this evening; his cage was above the pc and he would tweet away going "88! 88!" (we never knew why!), "Pretty boy!" and "off to Tescos!" while I sat here Mumsnetting.

Rest in peace Spike.. you were such a character.

poor you, poor dcs.

awwwww - sympathy - I had lots of budgies as a child and was heartbroken every time they died. One lived until he was 17!! RIP Spike

Please don't think that I am scaremongering but it would be worth checking all of your gas appliances and if you have an old boiler, it would also be worth checking carbon monoxide levels. Birds are very sensitive to gas. I'm sorry to mention this when you're already sad, I hope you don't mind.

Hope you get another feathered friend soon

Poor you and your kids, I hope they are feeling a bit better now.
Just wanted to say that once a bird looks as ill as you say he was (especially not being able to perch) there is not much left that you can do. They only show illness when they are on death's door as it is a sign of weakness in the wild.
If you had gotten him to a vet there is most likely nothing he could have done so I would be happy that he died with someone he loves and knows holding him rather than in a cold and miserable vets surgery.

Hope this helps you feel a bit better. I lost a lovebird myself a few weeks ago and I know how crappy you can feel questioning it.