...cockatiels are nice birds, really intelligent too.

I should say there is something about my wee blue budgie, the cere was blue and it looked like eventually all the blue had come off, I googled and it says the cause of this was some kind of mite (Knemidokoptes.)...but it affects the eyes too so I am not sure if he had that, also the other birds cere's and eyes are fine. But wonder why the color of his cere changed color. I wonder if that was to do with old age, o does that sound silly?

There's a lot of variation in lifespan depending on how the bird is kept and whether it's an American or English budgie. The American budgie lives longer because it's closer to the original wild bird and has fewer problems introduced by selective breeding. This page says the lifespan is 15-20 years: http://www.budgerigarparakeets.com/budg ... -lifespan/ That might be a bit extreme though. This site is probably more realistic: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/budgies-life-span.html It says the average lifespan is 10-12 years under ideal conditions, and more like 2 to 7 years under non-ideal conditions. An average is right in the middle of course, so quite a few budgies must live longer than 12 years under good conditions.

Seed alone is an unbalanced diet that tends to cause liver problems. If you can persuade your little friends to eat some vegetables every day (and fruit too if they'll accept it), and a nutritionally complete pellet in addition to the seeds, they'll have better nutrition and will probably be with you longer as a result. The overweight budgie will benefit from getting more exercise - nothing too extreme, just a nice healthy activity level.

Thank you for the info, I remember a long time ago I read something like birds can't digest certain foods, so I have tried to keep them eating anything other than seed just to be sure.. but I have never fed them veg, it sounds like I should try and get some lettuce, I can imagine them nibbling on that.

Got up this morning and it seems so hard to believe that bird is not there now, so used to seeing him every day..I think it seems like my birds are in not bad conditions at all though, because they are definitely living beyond 7 years. Someone mentioned that they think my blue bird had a digestive problem, I think that is probably true as he was a bit smaller than he was and when he died I noticed he had seed round his beak. I guess I will never know exactly why he died but I am going to miss him I will tell you that.

Leafy greens are a great food for birds. Iceberg lettuce is low in nutrition (it's mostly water) but other kinds of lettuce are high in nutrients. If you have access to chemical-free lawn grass with unripe seed heads on it, they'll really love that. Grass seed is a major part of their wild diet, and unripe seed has a different nutrient balance than mature dry seed. They'll enjoy chewing on the grass stems too, even if there's no seed on it.

(Chemical free means that it hasn't been treated with herbicides or pesticides, and didn't grow right next to a road or any other place where it would pick up a lot of contaminants).

Most foods that we can eat are safe for birds - there are a few exceptions. Just generally encourage them to eat healthy foods not junk food.

I just read this thread, I am so sorry that you lost your beloved birdie
Not knowing why he died surely doesn't help, but you still have two babies to care for, maybe that will help a bit to get over your loss.
You already had excellent advice on their diet, adding veggies will give them a great boost!
If you are worried about giving them a veggie that's not good for them (and you are right, there is quite a few), you can find and print a list of good and bad veggies-fruits, I have one myself stuck on the side of the fridge.
Fly free, little birdy, you're much loved!

I'm so sorry you lost your budgie. It's so hard to loose them. I hope your feeling better today.

Barbara, that is right it is kind of torture not knowing why he died because I wonder if it is anything I did wrong, or something I should have done and didn't.
A friend of mines asked me today if I had grit for my budgies, I have never bought grit for my birds but I wounder if that is why he died.
I would hate to think it was my fault he died but when this happens it makes you realize how much you should treasure your little friends, because they won't be there forever.

Haim, thank you but to be honest I am not feeling great, it is really sad...looking at pictures of him you could believe he was still there.. I hated seeing him dead too. His feet were stretched out and stiff, I wish I never seen that, it is horrible. I wonder where he goes that wee person. IT is hard to believe he is completely gone and is nowhere..which is the same with people actually.

I remember when my first bird, a blue budgie, died from a horrifying prolapse. Her cloaca was literally visible. It was too sad. But I was assured she went to Heaven. Your budgie may not be here physically, but he is still with you. Just remember that.

Yes he will live on forever in my memory. It is how we keep our pets alive ...but poor wee bird. I wish it didn't happen but it has..it is not easy because I really love my wee birds..they are great wee things.. I know them coming to my home is a great thing for a wee budgie because some people will let them out of the cage now and again....my birds are rarely in the cage, even the food and water dishes are hooked on tot he outside of the cage and they are quite active my birds so I reckon that has helped to prolong his life but as someone else said I wish I knew why he died but I will never know now.