devastating post must read now! Teflon

PickleMeDickles · Oct 27, 2018

Hello All,

I hope you and your fids are doing well. I haven't been to this site in a quite a while, and for a reason. Actually, I should have gotten on this forum right after the nightmare but to say I was grief stricken is an understatement.

My husband "knew" about the dangers of Teflon, but only because I gave him a list of do's and don'ts many years ago when we brought are 3 babies home. Pickles, my sweet sweet GCC was just weaned and I hand fed my Sunnie goofs for 6 weeks. All 3 were, and will always be, our babies.

The morning of the accident my husband cooked an egg. An egg... He just plain forgot about the Teflon warning and was just finishing up his egg when he glanced at Pickles and notices that she was at the bottom of her cage. He grabbed her and came running to me. At this point she was aware but not moving much. As I hadn't seen her since the night before my first thought was a respiratory disease. New Castle is going around and we have chickens.

At this point I ran and looked at the Sunnies. Lady was drawing in her last few breaths. Winston tried hanging in there. My husband rushed him outside but he died within minutes in our hands.

At horrendous as this was, it gets worse. I had a brooder full of Serama Chicks in the laundry room and all but one died, so I had 3 dead Conures and 9 dead chickens. I have no idea why the one Serama made it, she is a Frizzle so perhaps it's a gene, or more likely, a fluke.

TEFLON KILLS! THROW THE STUFF OUT. BELIEVE ME, IT IS NOT WORTH IT. WATCHING YOUR BABIES STRUGGLE TO BREATH AND SEEING THE LIGHT JUST DISAPPEAR FROM THEIR EYES WILL CHANGE YOU FOREVER.!LEARN FROM MY MISTAKE, PLEASE!

To say I went into a depression is an understatement. I would wake up every morning thinking my tears MUST be dried up by now and I'd start sobbing. I blamed my husband and said horrible evil things to him! I gained 15lbs and lost 20lbs. I basically lost interest in life. My kids, birds and my dogs are my babies. Fur, feathers, or skin!

Months went by and I just couldn't snap out of it. The person we got our other fids from called last week to ask us a question. He had a female one year old double headed yellow amazon parrot. This little girl was to be "his" bird. He hatched her and has brought her up to be the sweetest thing, and when at his house..she talks and sings and dances. As a long time breeder he was pretty set with his Amazon until his wife got pregnant. It was supposed to be impossible so I don't blame him. Oh, and he had some Turquoise and Pineapple babies that my husband couldn't resist. Now I have to figure how to train two bonded to other birds babies. It was easy with my Suns as I hand fed them. We NEVER had a biting issue, we were so blessed. Time will tell with our odd trio.

The Amazon is still adjusting to a whole new house so she is just starting to get vocal. She loves to grab your finger and rub her tongue up and down the entire length. You could say we are ALL building trust! I thought Sunnies had big beaks.

Unfortunately I have roosters, guinea hens and sheep right out the window she's at. If she starts to honk like my qunieas we are having Guniea bar-b-q. I couldn't get another Sunnie. They all look so alike to me that I just saw my Lady and Winston in every Sunnie we looked at and the same with Pickles, I am fine with the Turquoise and Pineapple (color has never meant squat to me personally), they look nothing like Pickles as she was a very dilute cinnamon.

So, you all will be seeing me around with our two little girl GCC monsters. And I guess I'll hop on in on the Amazon forum as I am sure I'll have a ton to learn. They are all girls. PLEASE, again, warn EVERYONE to just TOSS the TEFLON!

-Jen

Flboy · Oct 27, 2018

I am so sorry for your nightmare!

noodles123 · Oct 27, 2018

Thank you so much for sharing. I cannot imagine what you are going through but I wish we could pin this post to the main page because PEOPLE JUST DON'T GET IT...Now, I don't mean everyone, but lots of new bird-owners (especially) tend to think that if the bird is in a different room or if the windows are open that this is a non-issue.

My parents constantly act like I am crazy when I visit with the bird and tell them what they can and can't use around her...They just cannot imagine that something so common could be so deadly and in-turn, they act like I am a paranoid person who needs to just relax...I obviously do not, but this is why..

This is excellent (and tragic) proof that even a tiny amount of this chemical (when used as directed) can be deadly...Again, I wish I could help. I hope that your story saves lives because too many new bird owners (and even some old) do not truly understand the risk of Teflon and related products..Thanks again for sharing and I hope that life gets easier....so sad....

LaManuka · Oct 27, 2018

How utterly devastating for you, I’m so sorry for your terrible losses!

I know what it’s like to lose a green cheek, I lost my boy to pancreatitis 10 weeks ago and haven’t stopped crying yet. Like yours, he was my baby and it just never occurred to me that I’d lose him. Honestly there’s just something about conures, the way they infiltrate every tiny corner of your heart... and to lose so many plus your chickens too ... I cannot imagine your pain!

Thank you though for sharing your story, it may just inspire someone else to finally dump their Teflon and save a precious life, or several!

Laurasea · Oct 27, 2018

I'm so overwhelmed by your loss! And I thank you for posting about it so new owners and experienced owners owners can avoid this. We had someone post nit that long ago that their parents used Teflon but that their birds were fine in the basement! Despite all of us chiming in of this deadly roulette,they seemed determined to ignore us. So I hope your story will save someone's else this greif,!! On the happiest side congratulations on your new Fids! I hope to hear lits if happy stories!

GaleriaGila · Oct 27, 2018

Oh, my dear God.

YOU re SO BRAVE!

Thank you for sharing.

We stand with you.

Anything that we can do? Anything...?

ChristaNL · Oct 27, 2018

Thank you for writing.

This post made very sad but you also made me smile.

I hope this will be the same for you: let the new birds (and same old hubbie) make you smile again (and don't worry, you will adapt to the beaksize

in a year it will be "oh yes, that beak you mean? " ).

(now I have to go and hug my birds )

SailBoat · Oct 27, 2018

So very sorry for your loses. Warm Amazon Feather Hugs and Prays headed your way.

When you are ready to talk Amazons, we are here. There are several really informative 'recent' Threads that will likely be of help, plus the two Sticky Threads at the top of the Amazon Forum. Just cause I'm an Amazon Snob, it is very likely that your girl is a Double Yellow-Headed (DYH) Amazon. Welcome to the Wonderful World of Amazons!

FYI: Amazon's Love to be Read Too!

Jen5200 · Oct 27, 2018

I am so sorry for your losses, and you are so brave for sharing with others. I am going to go through my house again and make sure that I have tossed everything out - I am meticulous, but my husband is not and could possibly make the same error despite all of my reminders. I’ve missed seeing your posts - and hope you’ll share some pictures. Many virtual hugs from my flock to yours.

wrench13 · Oct 27, 2018

Oh my God, what a tragedy. And over an egg. Your warning hopefully will go to all new members. We are so sad for your loss. I hope your DYH Amazon helps fill the hole.

Scott · Oct 27, 2018

My deepest condolences for the loss of your beautiful birds. Cannot imagine the horror and flashbacks you must be enduring. I hope some new avian life will ease your burden and bring some sunlight into your hearts.

chris-md · Oct 28, 2018

Im soo soo sorry to be reading this, my most profound condolences

Not to be indelicate, but I think there’s more of a teachable moment. where were all the bird in proximity to the kitchen where the cooking was happening? I think a lot of people would make an assumption that as long as the bird is in the other room, they are safe.

noodles123 · Oct 28, 2018

chris-md said:
Im soo soo sorry to be reading this, my most profound condolences

Not to be indelicate, but I think there’s more of a teachable moment. where were all the bird in proximity to the kitchen where the cooking was happening? I think a lot of people would make an assumption that as long as the bird is in the other room, they are safe.

Based on the original post, at least some were in the laundry room, which just proves that it doesn't matter if your birds are in a separate room. I am emphasizing this because so many people think that a wall or a window will protect their bird and that is not the case.

I think that it is great the the OP had the courage to share and I think this is very relatable. It is SO hard to police the behavior of family members who may unwittingly make mistakes...

I worry about this all of the time when I visit mine...I can't seem to make them (especially my dad) understand the danger of respiratory issues in birds...I hide the Teflon and Bleach, but that doesn't stop them from doing other random things with chemicals (like coming inside covered in Deet and walking over to the bird!!!) or burning food etc! I feel like I am constantly in a state of vigilance and it is exhausting. I worry about how that would work if I had a family of my own living in my house.

It could have happened to any of us, but the fact that it did happen is further proof for all those who would downplay the issue.

PickleMeDickles · Oct 28, 2018

Thank you EVERYONE for all of the support! It really does help to share my story and I do agree that this is a teachable moment. The avian lives that were lost are heartbreaking, to say the least. However, if their story can save even one life than all is not completely lost. Yes I am devastated. Yes I was very angry with my husband (at this point I am much more understanding about this mistake). Every single morning, every time I walk to the front of the house, and throughout the day I go to the front of the house expecting my fids to start their squawking to be let out. Now I walk out and I see 3 little strangers that don't really know us yet. The new babes do distract you from the pain, but in no way does the pain actually get better. It is just easier to tolerate. And we had to be ready to allow ourselves to love like a parrot deserves to be loved.

Talking about it both helps and hurts. Our fid family was complete. I had planned parts of my life around theses birds and we screwed up and killed them and they had no choice. They were locked in a cage. I don't mean to be rude to anyone, but if after reading this, you allow a household member to use Teflon and one of your fids dies, you will never completely get over it. I know I won't. I KNEW about Teflon. Knowing didn't help my birds. They are dead. There is no rewind on this nightmare.

The new birds are definitely helping to put a band aid on the void, but I am forever scarred. I go to certain parts of the house, or walk out front expecting the old gang and my heart hits the floor. Just throw the crap out!

The person who asked about location has a very good point, and one that needs to be addressed. We have a 2200 sf single level home. I don't cook. Period. Except a bean/wild rice, Quinoa thing for the birds. I burn Mac and Cheese. So, if hubby wants to whip up an egg he just goes for it. In discussing this incident, I have learned that he has used this pan often and we have never had issues.

It took no more than 5 minutes before he saw Pickle on the bottom of her cage. The front of our home if very open, no small rooms for the birds and we did not have heating or ac running. Pickles was the closest to the pan, perhaps 15-20 feet away and he saw her first and literally ran into the bedroom (back of the house) to enlist my help. By the time I got to the Suns (in a large open room more than 40 feet from the stove next to a sliding glass door that get good ventilation). Lady was already actively dying on the floor of this huge cage and my Winny was alert and still sitting on his perch looking normal. We grabbed him immediately and rushed him outside but to no avail. We just felt him kind of give up and the life leave his little body.

I then remembered my chicks. I had 10 gorgeous Serama chicks and one was a Frizzle in the laundry room, which is next to the kitchen but the door was closed. Every single chick was already dead except the Frizzle who remains healthy to this day. There was no odor, no smoke, no signs. Just dead birds.

noodles123 · Oct 28, 2018

Again, thank you for sharing!

My mom is always (argumentatively) pointing out that my uncle's African Grey survived Teflon throughout the 80s-early 90s (before many people really knew that it was bad for birds). I hate that though, because I am quick to remind her that, although he survived, other birds might not have done the same, and who knows how it impacted his health overall. Her logic is so flawed because it is playing with fire and it is just not worth the risk! Her mindset reminds me of someone saying, I know a person who did tons of crack while pregnant and her kid is fine, so crack is okay for pregnant women...It just doesn't make any sense, yet many people choose to continue taking the risk without truly understanding the consequences.

I am so so sorry for your losses and your story WILL save lives! I already posted a link to it and told a new member to read it...so I hope that is okay. Sometimes personal accounts are the most meaningful. YOU really did the best you could, and its easy to beat yourself up in retrospect, but the fact that you told your husband not to use it is more than many people do.

Laurasea · Nov 26, 2018

Please read this on what Teflon can do. So terrible to loose your birds this way. Teflon is never safe.

Laurasea · Nov 26, 2018

PickleMeDickles said:
Hello All,

I hope you and your fids are doing well. I haven't been to this site in a quite a while, and for a reason. Actually, I should have gotten on this forum right after the nightmare but to say I was grief stricken is an understatement.

My husband "knew" about the dangers of Teflon, but only because I gave him a list of do's and don'ts many years ago when we brought are 3 babies home. Pickles, my sweet sweet GCC was just weaned and I hand fed my Sunnie goofs for 6 weeks. All 3 were, and will always be, our babies.

The morning of the accident my husband cooked an egg. An egg... He just plain forgot about the Teflon warning and was just finishing up his egg when he glanced at Pickles and notices that she was at the bottom of her cage. He grabbed her and came running to me. At this point she was aware but not moving much. As I hadn't seen her since the night before my first thought was a respiratory disease. New Castle is going around and we have chickens.

At this point I ran and looked at the Sunnies. Lady was drawing in her last few breaths. Winston tried hanging in there. My husband rushed him outside but he died within minutes in our hands.

At horrendous as this was, it gets worse. I had a brooder full of Serama Chicks in the laundry room and all but one died, so I had 3 dead Conures and 9 dead chickens. I have no idea why the one Serama made it, she is a Frizzle so perhaps it's a gene, or more likely, a fluke.

TEFLON KILLS! THROW THE STUFF OUT. BELIEVE ME, IT IS NOT WORTH IT. WATCHING YOUR BABIES STRUGGLE TO BREATH AND SEEING THE LIGHT JUST DISAPPEAR FROM THEIR EYES WILL CHANGE YOU FOREVER.!LEARN FROM MY MISTAKE, PLEASE!

To say I went into a depression is an understatement. I would wake up every morning thinking my tears MUST be dried up by now and I'd start sobbing. I blamed my husband and said horrible evil things to him! I gained 15lbs and lost 20lbs. I basically lost interest in life. My kids, birds and my dogs are my babies. Fur, feathers, or skin!

Months went by and I just couldn't snap out of it. The person we got our other fids from called last week to ask us a question. He had a female one year old double headed yellow amazon parrot. This little girl was to be "his" bird. He hatched her and has brought her up to be the sweetest thing, and when at his house..she talks and sings and dances. As a long time breeder he was pretty set with his Amazon until his wife got pregnant. It was supposed to be impossible so I don't blame him. Oh, and he had some Turquoise and Pineapple babies that my husband couldn't resist. Now I have to figure how to train two bonded to other birds babies. It was easy with my Suns as I hand fed them. We NEVER had a biting issue, we were so blessed. Time will tell with our odd trio.

The Amazon is still adjusting to a whole new house so she is just starting to get vocal. She loves to grab your finger and rub her tongue up and down the entire length. You could say we are ALL building trust! I thought Sunnies had big beaks.

Unfortunately I have roosters, guinea hens and sheep right out the window she's at. If she starts to honk like my qunieas we are having Guniea bar-b-q. I couldn't get another Sunnie. They all look so alike to me that I just saw my Lady and Winston in every Sunnie we looked at and the same with Pickles, I am fine with the Turquoise and Pineapple (color has never meant squat to me personally), they look nothing like Pickles as she was a very dilute cinnamon.

So, you all will be seeing me around with our two little girl GCC monsters. And I guess I'll hop on in on the Amazon forum as I am sure I'll have a ton to learn. They are all girls. PLEASE, again, warn EVERYONE to just TOSS the TEFLON!

-Jen

Thank again for sharing, you are saving countless lives.

Allee · Nov 26, 2018

Jen, I'm so sorry for your terrible losses. It breaks my heart to think of what you've been through and to know the depth of your grief. Sincerest gratitude to you for sharing this awful experience so that others may learn. Your courage to find a way forward is an inspiration.

I wish you and your new feathered ones a long and happy journey, please continue to share it with us.

clark_conure · Nov 28, 2018

I feel sorry as well, it was thanks to this site I realized (and hadn't realized before for whatever reason) that my George foreman grill was Teflon coated. This was like a month or so ago; (i must have had close calls, but clark is always in another part of the house when cooking going on). I tossed it out that day and got the ceramic version which was certified Teflon free.

It came with teflon waffle things, but I tossed them out brand new.

Thank you for the warnings and the warning I received previously that informed me on getting rid of the old grill.

Thank you and I'm so sorry and you have my best wishes.

*devastating post* must read now! Teflon

New member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Moderator

Well-known member

Supporting Member

Banned

Supporting Member

Well-known member

Moderator

Supporting Member

Well-known member

Well-known member

New member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Wings clipped too short ! Please help

Sqwaking as soon as I leave his sight

Similar threads

devastating post must read now! Teflon