Three parakeets, Snowy, Ivy and Kiwi

[Aquila]

So I went away to Nashua, NH to see my family. I had left Thursday after work, and returned today. I left my birds in the care of a friend (who said she had birds in the past.) I told her she just needed to change the food and water, every other day, but preferably every day if she can. I left her explicit instructions, food labeled and set aside.

I got a call Tuesday that three of my birds are dead. I couldn't understand how, and she said maybe something got in the cage or the food was bad. Unlikely, but I told her to take them to my vet for a necropsy just in case. I wouldn't want to put my other birds in any danger if it was something bacterial or viral. Talked to the receptionist, she's very sympathetic and promises they'll call me asap.

Next day, vet calls me himself. He's determined that they starved to death. I'm in shock. I feed them twice a day! They get Prime in the water, plenty of fruit and veggies. Starved? No. Impossible. He tells me they can starve quickly, in as little as two days. He said they were all at 20 grams, and should have been around 30-35. He asks me when I left, and he agreed that my friend never checked on them.

She denies it, I told her to call the vet herself. I come home today, she had taken my two conures and my last parakeet to her place, so I went to check on them. One had the completely wrong food, I don't know where she got it from. She says it's what I gave her, I said it was impossible. We argued about it. I can tell Berry isn't eating, and Buttercup definitely isn't with the wrong food. My last parakeet is huddled up in a corner, and she said he hasn't moved.

I get home to see Sydney, and he's got a bowl full of treats and no food. Feathers all over the floor, and he's missing some on his back. I lost my temper on her when I saw that. A bit ago I looked in my other parakeets' cage and it's obvious that there was no food or water in there since I left, not to mention my place was ice cold.

Be careful who you trust with your birds. Even someone you think is a good friend, can really screw you over. All I wanted was for her to admit that she did wrong, not lie over and over. I would have found someone else to take care of them.

 

[jendaymumma]

I wish there was something I could say. I was told my conure (a rescue) had to eat.If 24 hours had passed w/out BOB eating, i'd have to take him back or he could have starved. Whatever her reasoning was, I CANNOT believe/fathom her carelessness. Please accept my deepest sympathy. MARGE

 

[noblemacaw]

I am so sorry for you loss. Such senseless loss. I hope your surviving parrots bounce back and get healthy again. I am sure you will supply lots of TLC and will have a very watchful eye on them.

If the remaining birds tolerate hand feeding the hand rearing formula I would do that until their weights are more stable and they pick up in health. When I first got Valentino he was very lean at 402 and with the stress of coming here even though he was weaned I picked up his hand feedings to three times a day and was able to quickly back off to only the before bed feeding.

12 years ago when I purchased the house I am in now I had my best friend who also kept parrots take care of my Noble macaw Mihijo and Joaquin my Solomon Island Eclectus for two weeks while I was in the throws of the move. I asked her to hand feed him before bed but she thought I told her that he would "ask or beg" to be fed to let her know he would want the hand rearing formula then. I was fortunate to be able to stop by to be with my parrots because I knew I could not go two weeks without seeing them.

Two days I noticed Joaquin was a little thin so I weighed him. He lost 25 grams so I immediately hand fed him and asked her if he was taking the feedings from her. She told me he was not asking for it so she was not feeding him his formula. I asked her to feed him every night and to let me know if she was having trouble with him taking it. Miss communication was the deal here and I was fortunate I was able to visit them to check up on them and take care of them myself.

In my opinion no one will take care of my parrots as well as I. This is because they are mine and I have such specific ways they are to be cared for. My friend had her ways of taking care of her flock but her ways are not my standards. My birds ended up alright but your story touched me. I understand where you are coming from and I hope your remaining parrots bounce back quickly and get healthy again.

 

[Birdlover11]

So sorry . One bird is hard enough , three ? I agree, she should at LEAST say sorry and admit she killed them .

 

[MarciaLove]

oh I am so sorry!! That is just awful I hope your other birds get healthy again soon!

 

[chippy]

Oh, my goodness.... I am so very sorry for your loss. I can't even imagine how horrible that must have been and then to have it topped off with her insisting she did all you asked of her even when you have evidence to he contrary must have just made it that much worse.

 

[goalerjones]

first, I am very sorry for your loss, and secondly, thank you for reminding us all that trust has to be earned and our babies depend upon us to make those choices for their safety.