Hi everyone, Q from yesterday - if anyone can help ???

[DebsyDoo]

We have just lost our female Kakariki to a respitory infection. Although we are grieving, the male bird is distraught, they had been together almost 3 years.What is the best thing to do for him now, get a new female straight away, or wait ? Or even get a male bird, as he had got really funny with her & was being selfish - not letting her in the nest box, or trying to keep her away from various treats we put out for them. What about the age difference too, as any new bird is likely to be a young one & he's around 4 years old (this is the second female we've lost, although the first one was, I believe Ill when we got her, because we only had her 3 weeks).
Thanx Gingerbird - as you an see I did it !

[GingerBird]

Happy to see that the topic is now in the right thread!

I am very sorry for your loss, and I believe the Kakariki is upset too. I did some research and some papers state that the parrot in the wild will try to find a new partner after he/she has accepted that the former partner died.
If I have been well informed, your Kakariki has a lifespan of 12-14 years, so he is not even halfway. Therefore I think that it is not bad at all to find a new mate for your kakariki. If it is possible, I would try to do what Wolf has suggested in your previous topic:
Take your Kakariki with you when you have found a potential mate.

Regarding to your question how they will cope due to a possible age difference: I won't advise you to buy a baby. Not really sure when a newcomer has the best age, but I would guess a bird which is just before being ready to become sexually interested. (but maybe an experienced forum-member is able to (dis)agree with me for confirmation!)

And when is it best to find another mate? Well, it depends on how fast your current bird is recovering from his loss. It might help to change the environment a little bit, change the toys and clean up the cage really really well so no feathers or scents from the diseased parrot is in the cage.
You know your bird better than anyone here. You already said that you figured that he was grieving, I am sure you will also be able to tell when he feels better, but I think he should be ready within 2-3 months. (maybe sooner)

Hope this helps!

[DebsyDoo]

Thanx once again for your help, I think he is beginning to realise that she is not coming home - everytime we walk through the door he was "creating" & looking to see if we had her with us, now he's just gone quiet & withdrawn. My heart really goes out to him xxx. We have started looking around to serif there are any females that are older than just babies (which most seem to be) Ithink it would. Be Difficult to take him to meet prospective partners, as he's not hand-tamed, & trying to get him into the small cage would stress him out - as the last time we did it with Bubba, she never came back !???

[Pajarita]

Please read my reply to the same question on the Introduction forum.

[DebsyDoo]

Done so, and replied.