In shock.

This morning I woke up... showered, had breakfast, got dressed, then went to take care of the fids before work. I uncovered Tiki's cage and said Good morning to her and then went to the next room to say Good Morning to Cricket.

When I uncovered her cage I found her dead in her little happy hut. I am beside myself. She showed no signs of illness whatsoever last night. The temperature in the room was 70 degrees. She had clean food and water. When I covered her for the night she was happily chirping as she shred newspaper and stuffed it into her tail feathers. I used no cleaning products or anything with fumes. I lit no candles. My breakfast consisted of cereal so it wasn't a cooking fume.... I just don't know what to think.

I was going to take her for a necropsy but I didn't realize you can't put the little body in the freezer which is what I did. It kills me that I won't know what happened to her. My first concern now is Tiki. I have an appointment with my local avian vet to get her looked at just in case. I just spent the last hour disinfecting both Cricket's old cage as well as Tiki's .

Does anyone have any idea what might have caused a sudden death like that? Please help

I have done research on this topic in birds. Many times a sudden death of a bird is cardiac failure. I am so sorry this happened and feel your pain. Remember the rainbow bridge for birds that is posted here in past threads. I send you a forum hug from all of us and know that in time the wound will heal and become a scar. You will always remember.

I'm sorry to hear of your loss... I wish there was something I could say to make it all easier.

This is shocking news. Sorry for you loss also. Perhaps it was cardiac failure since there were no signs of illness or declining health.

Curious, are there any spider webs near by? Just trying to rule out a venomous insect/spider that may have been in the nest.

I am so sorry for your loss and know exactly the shock of losing a loved pet with no warning, we lost one of our cats the same way and the not knowing why nearly drove us crazy. In the end our vet advised us that just like we humans, sudden and unexplained deaths can and do occur in the animal world too.

I'm so sorry for your loss!

I am so sorry for you and Tiki, I'm sure you will both miss Cricket.

I agree with SB, cardiac problems are a big reason for a sudden death. The poor thing. It sounds like you are doing very well at taking care of your birds, I'm so sorry you have to go through this.

On the positive side (for what it's worth): better a sudden quick death and a long, decline of health and then death.

What a horrible day for you today I have search our local forum in our country re lovebirds and it says there that some of the causes of sudden death can be seizure disorder, thyroid gland disorder, heat stroke, and malaria. Also it may ingested the newspaper and have blocked it’s digestive tract causing sudden death.

I’m so sorry for you loss. Hope your necro can answer what really happened to her.

Thank you all for your support. The vet says I can't have a necropsy done because I put her in the freezer. I thought thats what I was supposed to do! Anyway I'm getting Tiki to the vet tom and will update everyone after that.

I am so sorry for your loss. Criket will always live in your heart.

So sorry for your loss, I really feel your pain.
Three years ago, I had an African Grey GiGi, cleaned her cage, went to change the water, on my return, she just fell over and lay there.
I picked her up, realizes she had stopped breathing. I gave her mouth to mouth, she took two more breaths, then stopped breathing altogether.
Also placed her in the freezer, not knowing this was not to be done.
Took her for a necropsy, which they were unable to perform.
The vet still examined her for me, and said it was probably heart failure.
GiGi had visited the vet a week before, said she was healthy.
She was only 13 months old.
I just thank god it was a quick death as well.
Time heals, memories are forever. No other bird can take her place ever, had enough love to share and eventually got Mishka.
Take care and that of our feathered friends !!!

You are in my prayers - Im so sorry for your loss....words couldnt express my sadness for you. A change in tempreture or like SB said, heart failure could of resulted in the death. Your precious Cricket could of not been in better hands and he/she had a wonderful life - that is apparant by your sadness and love for your feathered friend. Keep a record of your other parrots eating habits and charactor - it will help you keep an eye out for any changes in his/her behaviour and also keep you calm when thinking about your parrots health. Your not alone, we are all here for you God Bless!

Thank you all for the kind words. I'm taking Tiki to the vet in a few hours so I'll know more then... Hopefully she has nothing to worry about.

So how did it go?? Did she get a good bill of health?? I hope everything is ok.

She got a clean bill of health I'm really happy about it too. I've been so worried about Tiki for the last few days.

So sorry for your loss, but as said before its better that it was quick, not slow and painfull.

Oh my! I am so sorry for your loss of Cricket.Hope everything is ok with Tiki.