NOT good.

Within a week of having the budgie pair, we lost the cock. Not entirely sure of the cause, as we've hit a very hard time financially and couldn't afford a necropsy. I rehomed the hen and disclosed what had happened. I still have one male budgie, Junior, that I kept with the intention of taming him and having him as a pet, and he looks fabulous and is very active.

So, cue insane cleaning of equipment, OCD-esque washing of hands, and even further quarantine of all birds. All was well for a few days and then I noticed Basil having a rough time breathing.

Immediately separated her from the flock, examined her, got her warm and hydrated and fed and watched her. I am fairly sure now that she is female, I checked to make sure she wasn't eggbound and felt the "stretchy gape" lovie breeders describe when trying to determine the sex of their birds. She looks great in the mornings and then looks rather ill in the evenings... on the perch or on the floor of her cage with tail bobbing with each breath and a bit puffed looking.

Of course I learned that my complex had not only sprayed for insects (uh, what insects?) but had also had the grass cut with a ride on mower that my neighbor said reeked of gas. Fabulous. I am supposed to have warning if they do either of these off schedule, and the birds are kept inside during maintenance.

I'm sure you can imagine how upset and angry I am.

So Junior is currently residing in our room, Kiwi in the second bedroom, and the lovies exclusively outside. Sanitary scrubs are in the bathroom between the two rooms, showers are taken, and the birds are not being handled much at all right now for obvious reasons. I really hope that the sprays and fumes are the reason for Basil's illness and I hope she recovers, and not that we have a respiratory illness on our hands.

Cookie's homecoming is yet again delayed, and we are on lockdown.