My lovebird's mate passed away. Why is he aggressive and stressed now?

That is a lot of questions! And one I don't really have a good answer to. Sudden death can be caused by a number of things including illness, parasites, infections, nutritional issues, etc. It's always a good idea to first make sure the environment your birds are in is kept clean, and that they have access to a balanced diet and fresh water at all times. It is also a good idea to quarantine any new birds for a few days before introducing them to the other birds you own in order to prevent the spread of any illness. Stress from being put with strange birds, recently re-homed, switched to a new cage, etc can also cause a bird to act ill. Making sure they are in an environment that is free from harassment by other pets or people, is in a warm-draft free area, and that all birds can easily access food, water, perches and sleeping space is best. If you suspect one or more birds are ill it is best to separate them immediately into a hospital cage that is kept warm and with easy access to food and water to prevent the spread of illness and to keep any sick birds from being picked on. Seeking veterinary care to check for the cause of their illness is also a good idea.

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your bird. It is possible the male became frustrated, or there was competition over shared resources such as food, water, bedding, etc, that led to a fight and the death of your female if it appears she was attacked by the male. Making sure birds have enough space to move around and access food and water safely is always needed, as well as slow introductions when two birds haven't been together before or in a long time. It would probably be best not to introduce another bird to your male, and to instead focus on enrichment in other ways such as adding in puzzle toys, treats, fun things to interact with, etc, instead of adding a new bird that may stress him out or cause competition.

Thanks for your question about Sunny. I am glad that you asked your question, because abrupt behavior changes are a cause for concern. Often these are related to illness, and this could be occurring even if Sunny doesn’t look sick to you. I would recommend having him evaluated by a veterinarian to see if they find any reasons for the aggression. They may recommend diagnostic testing depending on what they find, or they may prescribe some medications as well. Please don’t give Sunny any human medications at home, as many of these are harmful to our feathered friends. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Losing a mate or part of the flock can be traumatic. Try to gradually reacclimate him to you. Begin by simply sitting by his cage for ever increasing periods of time. Speak softly and move slowly around him. End each visit with a small treat. Once he is fine with that, place your hand in the cage for ever increasing periods of time. He may squawk and flap and move away at first. That's fine. Do not attempt to touch or pet him. Once he settles down, you can coax him closer to you using treats. It will take time and patience, but eventually you should be able to win him over and get him to per h on your finger.

Hi, Your bird may be mourning the loss of his cage mate. However, I am also worried that whatever caused the passing of the cage mate may have been infectious and could be affecting your remaining bird. An exam by your veterinarian would be the best course of action to be sure there isn’t an illness at play.

So sorry this happened :( Yes stress can kill birds. That is often how birds die. They get stressed very easily. That being said, I don't think this type of stress will cause him to die. It is usually stress from transport, moving, illness, etc. There is nothing you can really do except try to keep him calm by covering the cage and maybe play some soft, easy music for him. Some people have had luck using Rescue Remedy. I'm not sure if you can get it in the UK but you may be able to get it from Amazon. That won't give you immediate help but if his companion stays gone it may help over the long run. http://www.petremedycharts.com/Learning%20Center/Homeopathy/Homeopathic%20Remedies/Homeopathic_Remedies/Rescue_Remedy_for_Pets.html You MUST get the Rescue Remedy for pets and not the human one. The human one has alcohol in it which is not good for animals. Hope this helps. I hope your Lorikeet comes back. If he does return you may want to consider clipping his wings so this doesn't happen again! Best wishes.

It's hard to tell if this is a psychological issue or a physical condition, i'm not sure what his companion died from but it could have been something contagious that Bessie has contracted. because of this possibility i strongly recommend taking her to an avian vet specialist and get her checked. if this is a psychological issue he will get over it.