Sad Day at the Vets

[Hawk]

Well today was My Grey's check up day at the vet and very quiet as well.
Seemed we were the only ones there, so we thought.

This lady came out of the room with her husband and empty carrier cage.
She seen my Grey and walked over started crying, and ask to hold it.
I thought....well, ok, and Greyson took to her arm. She had tears running down her face as she held him and then gave Greyson back to me and ran out the door.

Confused, I looked up at her husband and Asked "What Happened???",
He explained to me that she had a cup (wax paper cup that had paint stripper in it with a brush), and the bird took a drink of it. Said the bird is used to drinking out of a similar cup for juice and water when he sits with her....Then he left.

The things we take for granted, similar cup...the bird doesn't know it's different. My question is why (In Middle of Michigan winter) would someone want to use paint stripper in the house??? The fumes alone will kill the bird. What were they thinking????????????

It killed their Grey !!!

 

[Christinenc2000]

That is so sad

 

[LadiDy]

Some times we just don't think! I'm always checking and rechecking any and everything regarding the flock, but one thing could be out of order or I just don't know the harm it could cause, and it could be a sad day for me too. So grateful for people like you who share and keep me thinking.

 

[Flboy]

Horrible and so sad!
My daughter and I have standing orders for each other, Question everything, take offense at nothing.
We also do a verbal hand off of JoJo whenever either of leaves the room with him out.

 

[Kiwibird]

That is very very tragic indeed I feel terrible for her. THIS is the reason we have a VERY strict police about chemicals indoors (never, ever happens). Even when I need to use stuff like paint or varnish, I buy it as I need it and it NEVER comes inside. The rare occasion I use bleach, the door to the room the bleach is in is closed, fan turned on and Kiwi is in his cage, no exceptions. Not that Kiwi flies or would ever come in contact, but I need to be 1000% sure he is never even potentially exposed.

 

[BruceV]

What a heartbreaking story. I am very careful about any kind of chemicals in the house. I'm looking into 0 VOC paint for painting the inside of the house. Even then it will be with all the windows open and hopefully the birds outside. We bought some toys and a stand from someone who said they lost their gray to the fumes from GooGone.

 

[Birdman666]

Cage doors only close around here on cleaning day, for exactly this reason.

It doesn't take but turning your back for a second for a tragedy to happen.

 

[MikeyTN]

I put a pad lock on my macaw's cage for that specific reason. They should not be out and about if your not watching. Years ago Willie opened his cage and got onto the floor. Walked to the couch, climb up the couch to get to my cup of wine I had sitting on the end table. I walk back in freaking out watching him sipping down my wine.....Although not funny but very funny in a way, he was one happy drunk bird singing and dancing for the rest of the night.....

 

[Hawk]

Cage doors only close around here on cleaning day, for exactly this reason.

It doesn't take but turning your back for a second for a tragedy to happen.

You and me both....birds are caged when cleaning house....When remodeling, it's done in mid spring early summer....Windows open and birds in their out-door screened Gazebo....

Your right too, it only takes a second. I learned last night just how fast a Grey can make trouble. Had just gotten a glass of Ice water, turned my back just long enough to put My Senni on the perch, turned back around as I heard a crash....and my Grey had come across the sofa, to the coffe table and tipped over the glass of water....in a matter of less that 2 seconds.
That's how fast a tragedy can happen....... made me think twice.

 

[Birdman666]

Mine are actually pretty good about staying in their birdroom, and not waddling aound the house getting into trouble, or I could not do what I do.

If they are waddling around (other than to snatch my flip flops!) it's because they are interacting with humans, or going from one playstand to another playstand.

But I have pretty much bird proofed this place to the extent that toxic hazards exist.

I would have caged the CAG if I were using that stuff, but a lot of people wouldn't have expected something like this...

 

[Hawk]

What a heartbreaking story. I am very careful about any kind of chemicals in the house. I'm looking into 0 VOC paint for painting the inside of the house. Even then it will be with all the windows open and hopefully the birds outside. We bought some toys and a stand from someone who said they lost their gray to the fumes from GooGone.

Wow....googone.....I wouldn't have thought of that but then again, Birds smell things better than we do, and some odors are far more over whelming to birds than what we actually think. Cooking pop corn gives off a strong scent, over powering sometimes, and won't cook pop corn in our house. No scented candles either because those cheap candle imported from china have a lead wick which is toxic.

 

[Hawk]

Some times we just don't think! I'm always checking and rechecking any and everything regarding the flock, but one thing could be out of order or I just don't know the harm it could cause, and it could be a sad day for me too. So grateful for people like you who share and keep me thinking.

Yeah I know, sometimes people don't think period. But in this case it was a matter of common sense here. I feel really sorry for the lady and her poor African grey. But with all due respect, if it was a child, there would be charges brought for negligence. Think about it. It scares me as well, as you learn something new everyday that could potentially happen and it very well could have happened to anyone. I have safe parrot proofed my house, least I hope I did....You have to always be on the alert.

 

[Hawk]

I put a pad lock on my macaw's cage for that specific reason. They should not be out and about if your not watching. Years ago Willie opened his cage and got onto the floor. Walked to the couch, climb up the couch to get to my cup of wine I had sitting on the end table. I walk back in freaking out watching him sipping down my wine.....Although not funny but very funny in a way, he was one happy drunk bird singing and dancing for the rest of the night.....

LOL...Sorry not trying to laugh here, but same thing happened to me and my wife....
My Grey, (Mr. Trouble maker- Greyson)... Drank a good bit of wine...from my wife's glass one afternoon. Someone came to the door unexpectedly and dogs were barking so My wife got up off couch through house, where Greyson managed to get to coffee table and drink ( Guzzle) down some wine. my wife returned and I heard this..." Michael come get your bird, he's drinking the wine!!!!"
Well, needless to say, he was a drunk bird hanging upside down on his swing going weeeeeeeeeeeeeee.....Silly Sod must have been hung over the next day, sat in the corner of his cage... now and then he'd come out and Go " Beep beep"...or "whatcha doing bum bum.."...He's fine after that day. Scary though, but a bit funny. Never again though.