Insights: Parrot Death

I have owned several parrots for years, and have had no significant problems....

A couple months ago, I was asked to take a female Eclectus parrot from an acquantance that could not care for it due to a family health issue. I agreed - perhaps foolishly...

The parrot had been plucking, and has continued to do so. It has been eating fine, and I have managed to befriend the bird over weeks, be able to handle it.

A bit earlier today, I was sitting next to the parrot, eating some pretzels. It made some noises at me to indicate it wanted one too. I gave it a pretzel piece, which it began to eat. A little later, the bird (Gabby) opened her wings wide, arched her back oddly, and then fell over dead - no trashing, no noises.....

Any insight - what happenned? Did she have a heart attack or something? It has been behaving "normally" - I had it out a couple times yesterday, she has been eating, talking, etc. normally...

So sorry for your loss
Poor Gabby gone to Rainbow Heaven now.
Wish I had some answers for you sorry......
I have a AG, I feed her pretzels on the odd occasion, never had a problem.
I reckon an necropsy would give you an accurate answer.
Take care

Oh this is so sad. It must be bothering you because there is no answer as to what happened yet. A vet would do a necropsy to let you know what really happened. I know I would not be able to copy without knowing. Keep in touch and let us know.

Sorry for your loss,

But as other have pointed out, other that having a vet do a necropsy, there is little that could be known.

We can provide empathy, not answers.

I just called the acquantance who's bird it was. The plan as far as I was concerned was I would give her back the bird when her circumstances changed. The "owner" did not blame me for it, but was quite upset ....

I am upset about losing the bird, and upset again by having to call the "owner" and her understandable reaction ...

How are you doing? Have you found out the reason yet? I know I would be devistated.

Like all the others said, you need a necropsy because if the bird had some kind of a contagious disease, your birds could have caught it. Having said that, ekkies don't last. I've never seen or known of an old ekkie from any reliable source. And they all end up with feather destructive and/or behavioral problems.

Ekkies are one of those species that should not be kept by humans because their environment, diet and social structure is way too specialized and complicated for us to even begin to replicate. It can't be done. So they all end up having problems and they all end up dying young.

Beatriz Cazeneuve said:

Like all the others said, you need a necropsy because if the bird had some kind of a contagious disease, your birds could have caught it. Having said that, ekkies don't last. I've never seen or known of an old ekkie from any reliable source. And they all end up with feather destructive and/or behavioral problems.

Ekkies are one of those species that should not be kept by humans because their environment, diet and social structure is way too specialized and complicated for us to even begin to replicate. It can't be done. So they all end up having problems and they all end up dying young.

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Not true!! I know of several that are happy, healthy and way up there in age. They make great pets.

Way up there in age? Like what? 40? 50?

Beatriz Cazeneuve said:

Way up there in age? Like what? 40? 50?

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We see quite a few Eclecte's in our clinic, and since I am the avian and exotic vet technician, it is my job to deal with all of the birds. They range from 2 years old up, with a couple of them being in their 50's. They are in great shape and happy.

Gabby was in the 8-10 years old range from what I understand...