Tragedy

mh434

New member
Oct 28, 2014
473
9
BC, Canada
Parrots
Yellow-naped Amazon "Sammy"
Love birds (4)
Green-cheeked Conure "Skittles" - now, sadly gone from my life
Blue-Crowned Conure "Tequila"
African Grey "Reno" - sadly, now gone from my life
Last night, all 6 of our Lovebirds were having a great time, making lots of racket, chattering happily, chewing up toys and generally just being Lovebirds.

Today, Teddy (male) and Niblet (female, the very first baby we raised, who's had babies of her own, since) were both dead in the bottom of their cage, huddled tight together as always, as though they were sleeping.

Niblet was only about 4 years old, and Teddy was 3.

We have no idea what happened! The other Lovies seem fine, and the only thing out of the ordinary in Niblet and Teddy's cage was what appears to be a completely chewed-up plastic toy.

I'm devastated. I've had to bury 3 of my feathered friends in the last few months, including Paulie, my beloved Lilac-crowned Amazon, and now it will be 5. It's so hard to cope with yet another loss, much less two at once.

We'll be taking them in to our avian vet for a necropsy, as I'm very concerned that they might have contracted something that could spread to the rest of the flock.

God, I hate the thought of having to bury two more of my little friends. And more tears. Lots of tears.
 

Kiwibird

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2012
9,539
111
Parrots
1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
I am so sorry for your loss of Teddy and Niblet:( I hope the vet is able to find out what happened.
 

Allee

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Oct 27, 2013
16,852
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Texas
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U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
I'm very sorry for your sad losses. I know you must be heartbroken to lose two of your lovies so soon after the others. I hope the necropsies can tell you what caused the lovebird's deaths and I hope it isn't anything contagious. I wish there was something I could say to help ease your pain. My thoughts are with you.
 

Hawk

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Dec 5, 2014
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5 Parrots, 8 year old Blue-fronted Amazon, 2 1/2 yr. old African Grey, 2 3/4 year old Senegal. 5 month old ekkie, 5 month old Albino parakeet. Major Mitchell Cockatoo, passed away at age 68.
So sorry to hear about your loss. Some Plastic toys are really not made for the parrots or any bird, they are toxic. The chemicals in some plastics can be very harmful if ingested. Such as ISO Cynide, when combined with heat or hot water.

Then it may not have been the plastic...But would have been my first guess.
 

MikeyTN

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Feb 1, 2011
13,296
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Antioch, TN
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"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
Very sorry to hear about your loss!!!! Hopefully the necropsy would bring you some answers soon....
 

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
14,233
190
College Station, Texas
Parrots
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
I am so very sorry for your loss. I've had the pain of losing 3 before, but the last one a budgie this year, was a shock to find and see him dead in his cage. The initial shock, the exclamations, and the tears. Lots of tears. I know.

Terribly sad to see huddled together :( it broke my heart to read that. That does point to acute poisoning from something, like they both all of a sudden felt sick together at the same time, not gradually like a disease. Hang in there as hard as it is. I hope the necropsy holds an answer for you.
 
OP
mh434

mh434

New member
Oct 28, 2014
473
9
BC, Canada
Parrots
Yellow-naped Amazon "Sammy"
Love birds (4)
Green-cheeked Conure "Skittles" - now, sadly gone from my life
Blue-Crowned Conure "Tequila"
African Grey "Reno" - sadly, now gone from my life
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #8
Thank you all for your kind thoughts. It's been a hard time for us. During the night (I haven't slept, of course) I got up to check on the birds, and found our GCC Skittles on the floor of his cage, lying on his back, not moving. I picked him up, with no response from him at first, and after a few moments he perked up and acted completely normal. This morning he seems his old mischievous self. I don't need to tell you how terrifying that was.

The Lovebirds have been downstairs for the past week, while their corner was getting a good vacuuming etc. (they're such messy little creatures), and the rest of the flock have remained upstairs. I don't dare move the Lovies back upstairs until we find out, hopefully, what killed Teddy and Niblet.
 

4dugnlee

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Apr 27, 2014
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3
Ohio
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Sassy - 13 y.o. Blue Front Amazon, Cisco - 6 y.o. Sun Conure, Peanut - 8 y.o. U2
Fred - 2(?) y.o. Cockatiel, Ginger - 3 or 4(?) y.o. Cockatiel
That's terrifying! So sorry your are going through this! I hope you find out what happened from the necropsy. Thoughts your way...
 

kq_fan

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Jun 26, 2013
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Seattle, Washington
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Lilo - Female Green Cheek Conure ~ Pal - male cockatiel ~ Pheobe - female cockatiel
Oh no! Oh my goodness! I am so sorry for your loss :( I know that must have been terrifying to find your conure there! I really hope you can get to the bottom of this!
 

Terry57

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Nov 6, 2013
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I am so sorry for your loss:( I hope that the necropsy is able to tell you what happened to them. Praying it was an isolated occurrence. You are in my thoughts:(
 

Amanda_Bennett

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Sep 27, 2014
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Gresham, OR
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Zilla 29 Y.O. Orange Wing Amazon
So sad! I hope you find out what happened and it was an isolated incident. You and the rest of your flock are in my thoughts and prayers!
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
Sorry for your loss.

I am also suspecting ingestion hazard.

If it was a toxic event, they'd all be dead. Not just two of them.

If it were illness, there would have been some signs of illness that evening.

I know it's hard, but at least with the necropsy you will know...
 

miloslave

New member
May 17, 2010
408
2
South Africa - Cape Town
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Mustache Parakeet - Milo
CAG - Charlie
I am truly sorry to hear about your loss. It is one of my biggest fears, finding my babies at the bottom of the cage.

My heart goes out to you.
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
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San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Very sorry you are enduring such a tragic loss. The unknown cause coupled with the poignant huddling of Teddy and Niblet is so sad. There are no adequate words but mourning and time.
 
OP
mh434

mh434

New member
Oct 28, 2014
473
9
BC, Canada
Parrots
Yellow-naped Amazon "Sammy"
Love birds (4)
Green-cheeked Conure "Skittles" - now, sadly gone from my life
Blue-Crowned Conure "Tequila"
African Grey "Reno" - sadly, now gone from my life
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #17
Thank you all for your support! There was a lot of paperwork at the vet to submit my babies for autopsy - there's avian flu going around, so...

Everybody else seems hale and hearty, but then, Niblet & Teddy did, too, a few hours earlier. I probably won't hear anything for 10 days to 2 weeks. It will be a long, anxious wait.
 
OP
mh434

mh434

New member
Oct 28, 2014
473
9
BC, Canada
Parrots
Yellow-naped Amazon "Sammy"
Love birds (4)
Green-cheeked Conure "Skittles" - now, sadly gone from my life
Blue-Crowned Conure "Tequila"
African Grey "Reno" - sadly, now gone from my life
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #18
An update - the results from the necropsies came back. According to the pathologist, my babies were frightened to death! We have no idea how this could have happened, as there's nothing remotely frightening in the room, nor were the other 4 Lovies upset. We have had owls try to get to them in the past, which is why the curtains have remained drawn so the Lovies are not visible from outside.

The results have only made us feel worse, I'm afraid.:(
 

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
14,233
190
College Station, Texas
Parrots
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
Oh no :(. Gosh I wish there was a more definitive answer than that. So I'm guessing they found evidence of the chemical or hormones released upon extreme fear? But it just doesn't make sense like you say. I'm so sorry again, and sad for you :(. Time will heal eventually... Take care
 
Last edited:

Sunset_Chaser

New member
Sep 25, 2014
1,000
2
Minnesota
Parrots
Bella (B&G Macaw)
2 Yellow Naped Amazons,
8 Lovebirds,
2 Green Cheeks,
2 Sun Conures,
2 Indian Ringnecks,
2 Quakers
Hmmm, at least you know that it wasn't something contagious that could infect your other fids. Wonder what could have scared them though? Perhaps an owl or something banged into the window?
 

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