Green cheek died suddenly

[Maccassie]

I woke this morning to find my conure died suddenly overnight. This is the 4th one we have had in 5 years that has died. One got sick, one fell and got his wing stuck and ended up having a heart attack, and one actually passed out in his water and drowned. This one I am baffled by. She was completely fine last night. We covered her cage when we went to bed. When we pulled the cover back this morning, she had passed away in her bed. Nothing new in the cage...food and water bowls were fresh. Any help would be greatly appreciated. My 8 year old son is devistated...this was his baby.

 

[Flboy]

This is awful! I am so sorry! Little more details please, what area do you live in? How long have you had your baby? What type of diet did she have? And what is the cage?

 

[SailBoat]

Very sorry for your recent loss!

Thank-you, for coming to the Parrot Forum for help in this moment of need.

At this point, I would recommend that you consider not getting another Parrot until you have determined what caused this more recent loss and look at making other changes that would avoid the issues that you have faced in the past.

I would take this Parrot to an Avian Vet or an Avian Qualified Vet and have them determine the reason for this loss. Parrots are extremely good at hiding a illness and it is why it is so important to have them seen regularly by an Vet.

As my Good Friend has indicated it takes far more information to determine what possibly may have caused this loss.

Again, very sorry for your most recent loss.

 

[wrench13]

You have our sincere sympathy. Please do as Sailboats suggests Do not adopt another parrot until you know why this one passed away.

 

[Mom2Oatty]

I'm so sorry for your loss...my heart is with you during this time of healing.

...Nikki...

 

[Maccassie]

This is awful! I am so sorry! Little more details please, what area do you live in? How long have you had your baby? What type of diet did she have? And what is the cage?

We live in Northern Virginia and we have had the conure since July. She was born in February 2016. She is in a 5 foot tall corner cage with lots of toys. She is out playing all the time and loves showers with the boys. We fed her Kaytee Fiesta Max for Parrots. She also got bananas and apples on occasion.

 

[Maccassie]

I should also add that I have crushed walnut for the floor of her cage.

 

[SailBoat]

I am guessing that the other Parrots where very young also.

I work with older Amazons who are commonly very ill, have expensive injuries that the prior owner did not want to take care of and all had little want to be around or ever trust another Human. I have never loss four Parrots in as short of time period. The Parrots you are getting are easily 20 to 25 year life expectancy Parrots. To loss so many has to be heartbreaking.

This is a family safe Forum and the type of information needed to define the reason for this Parrot's passing would not be appropriate. Please take this Parrot to an Avian or Avian Qualified Vet to determine why it passed.

There are serious illness out there and before another Parrot is lost, you really need to determine what caused this loss.

Please do not get another Parrot at this time!

Once, you have gotten a determination and if it is not one of the very serious illnesses, we can provide you information that will provide a greater likelihood of a much longer life with a Parrot.

Once of the realities of having a Parrot is that the cost of buy the Parrot is normally the lowest cost item of having a Parrot. When you combine the need for a safe and proper sized cage, the correct size and number of natural branch perches, the proper size and type of toys, the correct diet that includes natural, fresh foods (greens and others), with premium human grade dry foods and pellets, plus regular visits to a Trained Avian Certified or Avian Qualified Vet. The costs of 'doing it right' quickly come to reality. Remember that even the smallest Parrots out live dogs and cats.

 

[Maccassie]

I wasn't coming here to get a diagnosis. I was simply asking for possible opinions. I am taking her to the vet to seek answers. I have been told only to get young birds so they get attached to the family. Maybe that isn't what our family needs. Perhaps we need an older bird that needs a new home that is use to people and being handled? As I said...I didn't expect you to tell me why...I was looking for possible reasons that might make a light bulb go off in my head until we get official results. I am sorry if I have offended anyone for asking today as that was certainly not my intention. I am just left heartbroken as I can seem to comfort my 8 year old who has never shown emotion before today and I have idea what to do.

 

[LeaKP]

It's so sad when the kids hurt! I would suggest allow your son, if he wants to, to be part of the process of going to the vet and getting information. Also, if you decide to, have a memorial for your bird. Perhaps bury remains in backyard? Acknowledging their hurt will go a long way. Once you hear from the vet any possible cause, may decisions about future birds.

I had a GREAT GCC that I rescued. Typical feisty little guy.

Take your time and the right decisions will come.

So sorry for your loss.

 

[itzjbean]

I am so very sorry for your loss. Please don't take the replies you get here as offended or angry, we are simply trying to help you get to the bottom of this. For the safety of future parrots is the reason why others are suggesting to not get another parrot until this is all figured out.

Thanks for providing the information you have so far. It has been helpful. Have you been getting your parrots from the same place? If you are getting them all from the same place and they are dying this young, it could be out of your control and the birds have a prior illness before getting to you. Hoping you get to the bottom of this and can figure out what is going on!

 

[israel_gcc]

Very sorry for your loss!

I don't think anyone here was offended, just wanting to make sure that you get as much information as possible right now. Not every pet owner goes to the vet for a post-mortem, and right now that's your best bet for figuring out what's going on. Make sure your vet knows the history from the last 4 years - it might give him/her some clues as to what tests to run.

I could speculate now about some possible causes (radon, carbon monoxide, mold, stress, etc.) - but I don't think it's going to do you any good at this point. Please do let us know what the vet says, and once you have more information we can help you come up with a list possible causes and hopefully also ways to check them.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

I'm so sorry .Clean with bleach and water as much as you can
.Makes you think it was something that was tranfered somehow.Best wishes to you and your future.

 

[SailBoat]

I wasn't coming here to get a diagnosis. I was simply asking for possible opinions. I am taking her to the vet to seek answers. I have been told only to get young birds so they get attached to the family. Maybe that isn't what our family needs. Perhaps we need an older bird that needs a new home that is use to people and being handled? As I said...I didn't expect you to tell me why...I was looking for possible reasons that might make a light bulb go off in my head until we get official results. I am sorry if I have offended anyone for asking today as that was certainly not my intention. I am just left heartbroken as I can seem to comfort my 8 year old who has never shown emotion before today and I have idea what to do.

The market has long suggested that getting a younger Parrot is best for the Parrot to become quickly attached to the family. And, there is some truth in that statement. That said, there is just as much likelihood of an older Parrot quickly attaching to a family 'if' the Parrot is allowed to choose! This concept is very different and not easily understand by Pet Store Staff who is more interested is selling a Parrot that has the color that has your interest.

Regarding my comments. As you provided more information, it was becoming more real that this Parrot pasted because of something that was likely not simple, like a walnut shell caught in the air passage and more likely an illness. There are some very serious illnesses out there and hence the push for a Vet's evaluation.

I cannot believe the pain your family is experiencing from the number of losses that you have experienced. It has my heartbreaking! I have lost more than my fair share of Amazons and each one had been very difficult.

 

[Scott]

My deepest condolences for the loss of your beloved Green Cheek Conure. I cannot imagine the heartache you and your family must feel.

Please understand the frequency of loss has us very concerned. Not at all an indictment against anything you have committed or omitted, but rather a deep passion to help you understand and make your next parrot a very long lived companion!

An avian vet can do a necropsy to help understand why she passed. Sometimes it is a matter of physical examination, and tissue samples can be sent to a lab. Your conure will be returned so you can memorialize as desired. It is possible there is something hazardous in your local environment or home.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Sincere sympathy.
I wish you luck in figuring out what's going on.
Good for you for reaching out for solutions before getting another bird.

 

[promethuschow]

I'm so sorry for your loss, do consider what Sailboat has said and suggested. I just bought a GCC yesterday, which was an accidental buy. Her name is Eraboti and she is already showing those feisty attitudes but I love it

Again, sorry for the loss.

 

[wrench13]

Maccassie, what was your conure's name? As a token of my sympathy and in the interest of furthering parrot health, I usualy make a donation to Cornell University, a well known vet college, in the parrots name. But I need his name to do that. You can tell your son about this donation, his parrot will be memorialized at a famous school to learn about why he died. My love for these birds is unbounded and it is a small thing to do for you and your son.

 

[Kentuckienne]

Macassie, I'm so sorry.

It could just be a coincidence that all the birds died, but there could also be some environmental factor. For example, a space heater being used (some of them have teflon coating on the coils), nonstick cookware, something cooking off the oven or furnace, some pathogen on the cage from before, some cleaning product...even things like radon gas or carbon monoxide, things that might not be noticable to humans but birds are so much more sensitive. Is there a water softener...any old toys or perches that might be harboring something toxic...sometimes homes have been sprayed in the past with what are now banned pesticides or fungicides...are you using any foods left over, say in the freezer, from before that might be contaminated...there are so many different things. If the vet can determine a cause it would be reassuring, because then at least you could deal with the situation.

As far as young vs. older birds...a young bird is sweet, you can have a big hand in their socialization, but when they hit puberty they can turn into monsters and have complete personality changes. Older birds, they may have baggage from poor treatment or they may be total sweethearts, but you usually get a better sense of their personality, and they may already have changed into whatever they are going to be. Many times a parrot winds up in a rescue or shelter because the first owner wasn't prepared for the responsibility and "burden" of a parrot, and they might have no issues at all. Some of the most difficult birds, over time, can become the sweetest. It's like adopting a random kid from the orphanage, you have to just take your best guess and go in with all the love you have.

 

[snowflake311]

environmental factor was my first thought too as to why you can't keep a conure.

Did all the parrots live in the same cage?
Did they use the same food dish?
Did they all use the same toys?
Did you clean all cage and toys before adding new bird to it?
Did all the birds come from the same breeder or store?

What room did the birds live in?

Did you ever take the birds for a wellness check up? If This happen to me I would look into having the birds body tested and checked to find the cause. That is just too many birds to loss is such a short time.

I am so sorry.