Hi Mike,  I'm very sorry for your loss.  I'm writing because I strongly disagree with some of the advice that has been given to you regarding how to proceed with your existing bird, and any bird you may bring in.

It is not wise to randomly treat with ivermectin and tetracycline in the absence of a confirmed diagnosis of illness.  These drugs do have serious side effects, particularly the ivermectin, which is toxic to a bird's liver in too high a dose.  Also, dosing one bird via the water method is not recommended when the bird can quite easily be dosed by hand.  Dosing in the water is the least accurate way to dose a bird, and is generally used for large flocks of birds only.  To dehydrate a bird by withholding water, and then offering medicated water is not a good method of treatment, especially when you would be treating for illnesses you don't even know the bird has.

Parakeets die suddenly for many, many reasons.  Since no medical diagnosis was made on the death, let it go and move on.  A lipoma, or fatty tumor, on the chest is a very likely cause of a young budgie death as lipomas are extremely common in budgies from inter-breeding.  As the tumor grows, it presses on air sacs and causes restricted breathing.  This places a burden on the heart, and eventually the bird dies.  This is a much more realistic diagnosis than air sac mites, which actually, are not that common.  If your remaining bird begins to exhibit breathing problems, take him to a vet (preferrably avian, or one that specializes in exotics)  for an exam and diagnosis, and then treat as he recommends.  Otherwise, you may well kill your existing bird trying to help it.

Yes, do get another bird for your budgie.  I've had budgies for years and they are, by nature, very accepting of companions of either sex.  You may try adopting a bird through a local bird club or bird adoption organization (these are usually health checked).  If you buy another bird, pick an active, healthy one and yes, keep it separate for a while for observation before introducing it to your remaining bird.

The best diet for budgies is a quality small pellet such as Harrisons, a quality seed mix, such as from Golden Feast, and a daily mix of fresh spinach and romaine lettuce, broccoli, a few kernals of plain frozen corn, a little grated carrot.  Budgies don't usually take to fruit.  Do not feed iceberg lettuce, or lettuce other than romaine, as they cause loose droppings and have little nutrition.  Always keep a cuttlebone in the cage, or a mineral block with iodine.  Budgies require iodine (not the liquid kind--that's poison) such as the kind in iodized salt, or they will develop thyroid problems.  If you feed a quality pellet in small amounts, that will have iodine in it.

Your birds will need flight to remain healthy.  Try to put them in a cage that is at least 3 feet side to side, 1 and a half feet to 2 feet deep, and tall, so they have to fly up to their perches (good exercise!).  Put their food on the bottom of the cage on some paper towels (not beneath perches, or droppings will contaminate it) so they have to fly up and down.  You don't need an expensive cage for budgies, and there are ones like I've described, with thin bars that have 1/4-1/2 inch spacing that are not at all expensive.  Also, give your birds a variety of small toys.  It's best not to breed, as a variety of problems arise from breeding budgies, including eggbinding and splayleg from improper nesting--be happy with finding a friend for your bird.

Most budgies hand tame easily, with patience.  They often do not like to be petted (fingers are big, and they're delicate), but they do enjoy sitting on your finger, or riding on your head or shoulder.  Hand tame them by NOT trying to touch them.  Offer you hand with a romaine leaf pressed between your fingers, or some corn in the palm of your hand.  Have patience.  Let the birds come to you, nibble, and go away, without interference.  Once they trust your hand not to do anything scary, everything moves quickly.

Finally, keep up with nail clipping (clip the sharp tips only, and be careful to avoid the vein visible in the nail or the bird will be hurt, and bleed--a crumb of constarch on the tip will stop bleeding), as they can get caught up in toys, etc. if the nails are long and curl under.

Good luck!  I hope this helps.  You obviously love your bird, and I wish you the best of luck in finding a healthy companion.

I had 2 parakeets whom I loved dearly.

My boy lived to 9, died of kidney disease. The girl died at 6. She had a tumor.

I ahd the boy 1st. He lived alone w/ us for about 9 months. Sometimes we would be out all day and he would be mad when we got home and not come out and play with us for awhile. We deiced to get him a friend. On the first night they preened each other. They were together 6 years and never did it again.

My boyfriend had bought Snowie- the girl- at a pet store in LA- The Beverly Center. He asked the owner, "Is she healthy?" the guy snarled and siad, "Are you saying I sell sick birds?"  So, he figured she is healthy. Lo and behold about 7 days after getting her, both keets are at the bottom of the cage AND the big Northridge earthquake was that night.  The next day we are rushing them to a vet and spending $100 to make them better. So definitly listen to everyone about keeping them seperate for awhile.  We did call the pet store owner to inform him that he did sell sick birds, he said to return her to him for our money back (after spending all that money at the vet. nice)

Our male bird never did like her. She was so bossy, would bite his feet if he did not pay attention to her. He wanted to be with us, she wanted to be with him.

The vet told us he was a human bird and she was a bird bird.

I honestly think that when she died at 6, he was relieved. I still to this day miss my little guy. He was the best. I tried so hard to keep him alive after the vet said he had days to live. She said as long as he still eats, he'd stay alive. He stopped eatting seeds, millet, parsley.... only 1 thing he could not turn down- cooked spaghetti!  For about 5 weeks I would race home durning my lunch hour, cook some strands of spaghetti, stand and watch him eat, then race back to work. I loved him so. When he was dying, I put him on my chest and he died on top of me as I sobbed and sobbed.

I guess what I'm saying is, you know if your keet is a bird bird. He'll be really lonely if you bought them at the same time and she was his "love"  in my case, I was my birds "love".

Dear Bryon, My heart goes out to you on your loss, I lost my female Baliey last march, she was only 3 and we loved her so much, she knew that you loved her, we were told that Baliey had a tumor on her Liver nothing could be done for her,

I miss her very muich now i have 2 keets and we love them one flew to us last summer the other one we adopted , and they bring joy to us, hope you know you did all that you can do for your keet, Fran

Mites are not usually a reason for having a bird euthanized.

Have you taken your bird to an avian vet for a diagnosis, and treatment?

All types of avian mite conditions can be successfully treated.  Unless your bird has an extremely advanced case of air sac mites, or scaley mites that have deformed the birds beak to the point that it cannot feed itself, it can most likely be successfully treated with medicine from a vet.

Mites rarely infest just one bird.  They infest them all.  We will need more information on this problem to help you.

If we have loved our birds, and given them our time and of our best and they have been happy we should not blame ourselves when they pass.  Even human's don't get any guarantee as to how long they will live.  My parakeets have taught me to appreciate each day...they wake up in the morning, stretch their wings and live for that moment.  They are fed, watered, play with each other and with toys and the one who is tame will also play with me, they have the freedom to fly.  At night they settle down and that is it...they are not thinking of tomorrow or this day...they have just been loved, happy and enjoyed...of course, they do have their little spats sometimes...but that is how it is.  I hope they all live long lives, but I have no idea of their background...I love them and hate for that day but I will not blame myself...I will just feel blessed for having had them in my life.

There is a spray you can by for mites to kill them.  If you go to your pet store, they should be able to help you with that.