My Senegal parrot just passed away. Is my TV dinner to blame?

I had my Senegal parrot since I was 17. She was playing and happy and talking yesterday. Moving around a bit today, but I don't recall if she was chatty. I have been in and out between 2 and 11. I heard her moving around after I got home around 11:30, but she's normally very talkative when I settle in. I realized I hadn't heard anything from her for an hour or two and started calling her name and making the noises that she'd normally mimic back and nothing. I looked in her cage and found her on the bottom with one wing spread and her eyes partially closed. She wasn't the healthiest looking bird. She was only 16 years old though. She had a rough molt about 3 years back and ended up with no belly feathers and a bald spot on her back. Nursed her back enough that she got down feathers back, but like I said she's been energetic and chatty. The only thing I can think of is a TV dinner I had. It was on a cardboard tray with some sort of coating on it. I tried to look into what they use to treat those trays, but I couldn't find any specifics. I'm just heart broken. If I ever get another bird, should I add TV dinners to my No no list? I've known about the teflon and nonstick I just never thought about what TV dinner trays are made of.

So very sorry for your loss.

Are you saying she ate some of the container? If you need answers to her passing then the only sure way to determine this is to have a Necropsy performed by your Certified Avian Vet.

No she was in her cage. I'm wondering if the heating process was the culprit.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

I'm afraid I don't know about whether the coating on the TV dinner could be to blame.

I wonder though if she could have had something else going on? If she wasn't in good feather it could have been something she's had underlying for a very long time. Did she have full bloods etc when she had the bad moult? It may have been that it was just her time. Working out if there is a cause is of course a good thing, but try not to blame yourself.

She was a perfectly healthy looking bird before her bad moult. If I had an avian vet I would have taken her there during her bad moult, but I live in a little tiny town in AK. We have veterinarians for larger livestock and dogs and cats. Not much in between. I can't even find a behavioralist to work with my dog. I just thought she was doing so good. It was just in the last year that her bald spots were recovered with down feathers. If she'd been sluggish for awhile I wouldn't be so confused, but she been high energy.

Avian specialty of Alaska, located in Oakley California? Clicked on the link and it looks like it's a wild bird study and rehab center that has worked with loons in the north slope region of AK once. A short half hour short haul flight and 3 hour Boeing 737 flight away. I assure you there aren't any vets that work with domesticated birds near me.

I am so sorry for your baby!
Unless something major happened while cooking, I doubt the dinner was the blame!
The trays are most likely coated with plastic(pet), some what stable when heated normally.
https://myplasticfreelife.com/2007/07/frozen-entrees-bigger-plastic-problem/

I am sorry for your loss. I don't think the TV dinner was to blame, it sounds as though she was likely ill for some time. Being up in Alaska, how much actual sunlight (not through a window, most modern ones filter out UV rays) was she exposed to or did she have an artificial sun bulb for birds? I also know fresh produce is not as readily available in northern climates, so if her diet was less than optimum that could have been an issue too. Parrots are quite good at hiding illness (i.e. seem active and happy until they pass away), especially issues of a non-infectious nature which build gradually over years. Of course, without a necropsy from an experienced bird vet you will never know for sure but it really is highly improbably your dinner was the cause.

My deepest condolences for the loss of your Senegal. Given the heavy molt and subsequent lengthy feather impairment, it is difficult to know whether this was a factor.

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's so hard to say goodby, especially when the bond is deep and long lasting. When we are responsible for the life of another being we take it personally when the worst happens, it's natural to blame yourself but please don't, it's highly unlikely the TV dinner was the cause. Let years of sweet memories comfort you.

I am so sorry for your loss. As Kiwibird and Allee pointed out, it is unlikely that the tv dinner was to blame for your Senegal's passing. They are indeed good at masking illnesses, and the longtime issue with the molt (possible plucking?) may have been a symptom.

The best chance of knowing for sure would be a necropsy, but without an avian vet in your area this isn't really a viable option. The window for a necropsy is very small. Even 3 days (with refrigeration) would be pushing it.

Please don't blame yourself. You couldn't have known.

One thing, though. I wouldn't get another bird unless I could first locate a certified avian vet in the area. Having one available is an absolute necessity.

I have nothing more to add except my sincere sympathy.
So very, very sorry for your loss.

I am very sorry for your loss.

My son made the mistake of heating up a Hot Pocket for 20 minuets instead of the 2 minuets it was suppose to get. Hot Pockets come with a browning sleeve that has some kind of a coating on it.

It made a lot of smoke and both my Orange wing Amazon and Red Lored Amazon were never completely healthy after that. They always had some breathing trouble.
Now both birds have passed away. I don't think it played a major part in there passing but I sure feel bad about it.
What's done is done. Just have to try to learn from our mistakes.

I like Stouffers frozen stuff that comes in that black plastic containers. That is probably not good even for people. I just try to keep it as far away from my FIDS as possible.

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