Lost my green cheeked conure last night

seshat97

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Jun 9, 2017
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Hello Everybody I am new to this forum. Last night I found my 8 year old green cheeked conure lying face down at the bottom of her cage. She had just been to the avian vet less than a month ago for her annual check up and she had been given a 100% clean bill of health. I rushed her to the avian vet but they were unable to save her even though she was alert and still breathing when I brought her in. I am totally devastated and at a loss of how this happened and why. The only thing that happened out of the usual routine that day was that I put my oven on a self cleaning cycle. Everything was removed from the oven including the racks and the oven liner before I started the cycle. The oven was not that dirty and it did not emit any smoke or fumes during the clean cycle that I could detect. The oven is around the corner from the living room where I kept my bird's cage. I had the ceiling fan on in the living room just in case to circulate air. I have cleaned the oven just like this before on at least two occasions with no issues to my bird. I am heartbroken and guilt ridden that I was unable to keep my bird safe. Please help.
 

Allee

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Welcome to the forums. I'm so sorry for your terrible loss and I wish you were joining under happier circumstances. There is more than one possibility of what exactly caused your bird's death but it's extremely likely using the self cleaning feature was the source. The heating elements may have a non stick coating that could have produced toxic fumes. Even if there was no chance of PTFE the oven heated to a high temperature could still produce toxic fumes from the residue in the oven, ventilation also makes a difference. Most of us never use the self cleaning feature on our ovens. I'm so sorry, I wish you could have known this sooner. Lemon juice, baking soda and lots of scrubbing is the safer choice.
 
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seshat97

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I NEVER would have used this feature of my oven if I had any idea it would hurt . Like I said I have used it before without any adverse affect on my bird. I am so angry at myself.
 

plumsmum2005

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Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
I am so sorry for your loss. You obviously loved her a lot.

Please have a look at the stickies in this section of our forum for help with what is OK and not OK for parrots.

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/

The best you can do for her memory and yourself is to make sure that you are informed better for your next feathered baby.

Your thread will hopefully help and remind others who use this forum.
 
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wrench13

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Ohh, I am sorry that you baby passed like that. What was her name?
 

Ladyhawk

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Sadly, my cousin lost a bird to a self-cleaning oven. Crazy as this is, I actually have my stove unplugged and the circuit breaker off so no one decides to do me a favor and clean the stove. I use the microwave exclusively. I don't allow non-stick cookware in my residence.

I don't know what recently killed my DYH, but I feel a lot of guilt, too. Guilt seems to be a normal part of the grieving process and I've filled in the "cause of death" with a bunch of stuff that could have been my fault. Do I know for sure? No. Would I have done differently had I known for sure? Yes! I'd give anything to have Gabby back in my life. I'm already in love with my hand-feeding baby blue front, but she isn't Gabby. She will develop her own unique personality.

You did not mean for this to happen. Had you meant to kill your little bird, you would not be this miserable. Regardless, you're probably going to feel quite a bit of guilt over this. Eventually, you have to forgive yourself. You didn't know this would happen. Also, you cannot change the past no matter how much you beat yourself up. I tend to feel guilty about everything. In the past I've wasted so much energy feeling guilt and shame it has kept me from having energy for the things that really matter, thus leading to more guilt, etc. All we can do is forgive ourselves and strive to change. At some point, guilt is no longer useful and we must discard it in order to become better people. Guilt can be useful to a point, but when it becomes dysfunctional, it's time to move on.

In the meantime, you have to deal with the grief in some way. The vet saved some of my bird's last feathers. My mother and I created a really nice casket for him and finally buried him on Monday (he died on February 22). He'd owned a certain bell since he was a baby. My mother rang it once for each year of his life. I rang it the way he used to and said some of the things he used to say while ringing that bell. I still want to paint his memorial stone and make a video covering his life and another dealing with his death. Gabby was a part of the family and his loss left a huge hole.

Finding a way to memorialize your bird may help. Maybe he'll meet Gabby on the Rainbow Bridge.
 
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seshat97

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I am so sorry for your loss. You obviously loved her a lot.

Please have a look at the stickies in this section of our forum for help with what is OK and not OK for parrots.

General Parrot Information - Parrot Forum - Parrot Owner's Community

The best you can do for her memory and yourself is to make sure that you are informed better for your next feathered baby.

Your thread will hopefully help and remind others who use this forum.

She brought so much joy to my life. I acquired her when I retired 7 years ago and she was with me everyday. She was my first bird and I did a ton of research on having a pet bird before I got her.. I knew all about toxic fumes being harmful. I consulted an avian vet the week I got her to make sure I could keep her safe. I had used the self cleaning oven feature several times over the course of her life with no ill affects. Not sure why it hurt her this time it wasn't even that dirty was just cleaning it because we are trying to sell the house. I never expected to become so attached to a little bird she was my best friend kept me company every day. Should of could of would of..
 
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seshat97

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Sadly, my cousin lost a bird to a self-cleaning oven. Crazy as this is, I actually have my stove unplugged and the circuit breaker off so no one decides to do me a favor and clean the stove. I use the microwave exclusively. I don't allow non-stick cookware in my residence.

I don't know what recently killed my DYH, but I feel a lot of guilt, too. Guilt seems to be a normal part of the grieving process and I've filled in the "cause of death" with a bunch of stuff that could have been my fault. Do I know for sure? No. Would I have done differently had I known for sure? Yes! I'd give anything to have Gabby back in my life. I'm already in love with my hand-feeding baby blue front, but she isn't Gabby. She will develop her own unique personality.

You did not mean for this to happen. Had you meant to kill your little bird, you would not be this miserable. Regardless, you're probably going to feel quite a bit of guilt over this. Eventually, you have to forgive yourself. You didn't know this would happen. Also, you cannot change the past no matter how much you beat yourself up. I tend to feel guilty about everything. In the past I've wasted so much energy feeling guilt and shame it has kept me from having energy for the things that really matter, thus leading to more guilt, etc. All we can do is forgive ourselves and strive to change. At some point, guilt is no longer useful and we must discard it in order to become better people. Guilt can be useful to a point, but when it becomes dysfunctional, it's time to move on.

In the meantime, you have to deal with the grief in some way. The vet saved some of my bird's last feathers. My mother and I created a really nice casket for him and finally buried him on Monday (he died on February 22). He'd owned a certain bell since he was a baby. My mother rang it once for each year of his life. I rang it the way he used to and said some of the things he used to say while ringing that bell. I still want to paint his memorial stone and make a video covering his life and another dealing with his death. Gabby was a part of the family and his loss left a huge hole.

Finding a way to memorialize your bird may help. Maybe he'll meet Gabby on the Rainbow Bridge.

Thank you this post got me crying again. I saved all of Eebee's feathers over the past 7 years I have them in a gallon ziploc bag. I got rid of all my non stick cookware before she ever entered my home. I outlawed candles and incense burning in the house (much to me husband's disappointment). She had an annual checkup every year by an avian vet, one of only two in my state. Nothing was too good for her and yet I still failed her and she paid for my mistake with her life. Thank you for your kind words you did help me feel better. My vet is having an autopsy done then we will cremate her and keep her ashes alongside my dog that past several years ago. I loved my dog too but my bird's death is hitting me so much harder.
 

Josiegirl

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I'm so sorry for your loss. She would not want you blaming yourself. She will see you on the other side xxx
 

wrench13

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I made a donation to Cornell University's Vet program, directed to be used in the Avian studies an programs, in EeeBee's name. Again I, with the rest of the board, comiserate with you on your loss.
 
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seshat97

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I made a donation to Cornell University's Vet program, directed to be used in the Avian studies an programs, in EeeBee's name. Again I, with the rest of the board, comiserate with you on your loss.

OMG thank you so much. The support I have received in the short time I have been in this forum is amazing. I should have joined sooner. Thanks again.

P.S My father went to medical school at Cornell.
 

Flboy

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It is so hard when an accident like this happens! Little over a year ago, something was spilled in my oven and I didn't know it, turning the oven on, the house quickly filled up with heavy smoke! I opened the doors, windows and turned on the fans! When the smoke got worse, I tried to move JoJo from his indoor cage to his outdoor cage to get him out of the house! He slipped out of my hands and flew straight out the door! Fortunately I have him visit my neighbors often, and that was where he went! But I still cried like a baby for over an hour!
What you were doing, you had done many times before and felt it was completely safe! Do not blame yourself!
In time, please be open to bringing another companion into your life! There are many many needy parrots that are really in need of a good caring home!
 

Ladyhawk

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Kizzy - (most likely) female blue-fronted Amazon, hatched on May 1, 2017; Gabby - Male double yellowheaded Amazon, hatched, April 1, 1986; died February 22, 2017
Sadly, my cousin lost a bird to a self-cleaning oven. Crazy as this is, I actually have my stove unplugged and the circuit breaker off so no one decides to do me a favor and clean the stove. I use the microwave exclusively. I don't allow non-stick cookware in my residence.

I don't know what recently killed my DYH, but I feel a lot of guilt, too. Guilt seems to be a normal part of the grieving process and I've filled in the "cause of death" with a bunch of stuff that could have been my fault. Do I know for sure? No. Would I have done differently had I known for sure? Yes! I'd give anything to have Gabby back in my life. I'm already in love with my hand-feeding baby blue front, but she isn't Gabby. She will develop her own unique personality.

You did not mean for this to happen. Had you meant to kill your little bird, you would not be this miserable. Regardless, you're probably going to feel quite a bit of guilt over this. Eventually, you have to forgive yourself. You didn't know this would happen. Also, you cannot change the past no matter how much you beat yourself up. I tend to feel guilty about everything. In the past I've wasted so much energy feeling guilt and shame it has kept me from having energy for the things that really matter, thus leading to more guilt, etc. All we can do is forgive ourselves and strive to change. At some point, guilt is no longer useful and we must discard it in order to become better people. Guilt can be useful to a point, but when it becomes dysfunctional, it's time to move on.

In the meantime, you have to deal with the grief in some way. The vet saved some of my bird's last feathers. My mother and I created a really nice casket for him and finally buried him on Monday (he died on February 22). He'd owned a certain bell since he was a baby. My mother rang it once for each year of his life. I rang it the way he used to and said some of the things he used to say while ringing that bell. I still want to paint his memorial stone and make a video covering his life and another dealing with his death. Gabby was a part of the family and his loss left a huge hole.

Finding a way to memorialize your bird may help. Maybe he'll meet Gabby on the Rainbow Bridge.

Thank you this post got me crying again. I saved all of Eebee's feathers over the past 7 years I have them in a gallon ziploc bag. I got rid of all my non stick cookware before she ever entered my home. I outlawed candles and incense burning in the house (much to me husband's disappointment). She had an annual checkup every year by an avian vet, one of only two in my state. Nothing was too good for her and yet I still failed her and she paid for my mistake with her life. Thank you for your kind words you did help me feel better. My vet is having an autopsy done then we will cremate her and keep her ashes alongside my dog that past several years ago. I loved my dog too but my bird's death is hitting me so much harder.

Please forgive yourself. You loved that little bird and you did everything in your power to make sure she had a good life. Supposing it was the self-cleaning oven...well, you wouldn't have used it had you known, now would you? Beating yourself up accomplishes nothing except perhaps depriving another bird in need of a wonderful human companion. All that energy we waste on extended guilt trips has better uses. The longer you blame yourself, the more harm it will do to you. You won't get around to honoring Eebee's memory. You won't be able to move on. In order to be a functional person, to do better in the future, we need to understand that the function of guilt should be to ensure we become better people. When guilt turns into shame, it loses its purpose. We can't become better people if all we do is blame ourselves.

Please accept a cyberhug from me. I am so sorry you lost your little bird! :smile019::smile019::smile019:
 

YUMgrinder

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3 little busy Budgies
so sorry for your loss. don't be a stranger if/when you decide to become another parront!
 

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