Loss of one of our two new babies

[littlebirdie32]

I am new here. We have had a Sun Conure for 2 years, no problems. A week ago we purchased a Miligold and a Blue and Gold which were hatched 5/7 and 5/9 and were pretty bonded already (thus we took both). Booboo (miligold) passed away last night and we are so incredibly crushed, devastated is more like it. I've never cried harder for a pet. We have done everything we knew to keep a safe environment, but in hindsight, I wonder if something was wrong from the time we came home. Booboo always had fluffed neck feather and bobbed and cawed and did the one wing twitch. We thought it was because she was so young. I didn't feel she was eating very well either so I was watching her, we saw her eating pellets occasionally and I would make sure she had some nuts and grapes every night. Her feet always felt a little cold and she wanted handled ALL the time. Last night i came home and all at once she seemed EMACIATED and I hadn't noticed any weight loss to that degree previously. I fed her some baby food and she ate quite a few peanuts. Since it was after vet hours, I was going to take her in today. Too late. Yogi (b & g) is extra loving lately, and doing a LITTLE of the head bob, caw, wing thing now. We took him in today and are awaiting lab results. They put him on antibiotics and yeast medication and are doing a necroscopy on Booboo, but I'm wondering if anyone else has any thoughts about what this could have been/sounds like?

[trtldove76]

Littlebirdie32 I am so very sorry for your loss. I don't have much experience but first (I )would take the baby who died to the vet for a neocropsy. That will tell you why your baby died. I would also watch the other birds or take them also just for a reassurance check up. Good luck to you! I am thinking of you!

I am sure someone will be along soon to give Idea's to why this happened?

[Lisa B]

sounds like he was begging to be fed.
Babies will do that and revert a bit when brought home if not properly weened.
I am sorry for your loss.

[littlebirdie32]

Yeah, we thought about the possibility of early weaning or reversion, but Booboo seemed to be eating and had eaten well enough the night before that I would have thought, even if she wasn't doing well, she would have had enough nourishment to get her through the night. I'm still waiting, but I'm wondering about PDD....I didn't really think their poops were problematic, they looked like my conure's does a lot, and some were looser, but most appeared ok to me...now I'm wondering if they were looser than they should have been....sigh....everything in hindsight. We're just hoping whatever it is, that Yogi doesn't have it or if he does, he can get over it....

[Lisa B]

you should contact where ever you purchased them from to let them know of what happend. they should also want to know if there is/was a problem on their end. some places have a guarentee of health as well. Should the necropsy come back, and it wasnt a feeding issue, they should want to make good in some way.

[Monica]

I hate to say it but I've heard that some macaws don't wean until they are 5 months old... and some take longer. Not only that but many will revert to wanting to be handfed again when they are brought home.... which is why it is important to get a gram scale and weigh them frequently if they are newly weaned or brought home... to ensure they are eating.

I hope you find out the cause!

[littlebirdie32]

Our vet did a necropsy on Booboo last night and found in her crop and her gullet, bruising on her face and totally black feces. She asked if I'd noticed a change in the poop, but I said no. Its always been dark so I had alwayas attributed it to something in her diet. She is thinking possible polyomavirus, but is sending in tissue samples for a histopathology. In the meantime, Yogi is eating peanutbutter, pumpkin and water and he made it through the night I am relieved to say (was SO worried about going to bed and SO worried about getting up). I checked his poop and we had brown and dark green this morning. He is sleeping in normal position and has not gone or fallen to the bottom of the cage (he was sitting on the bottom earlier last evening. His bloodwork should be back from the lab today and we should know a little more...meanwhile, i keep watching our Sun.....thanks for all the replies... I'll keep you posted....

[littlebirdie32]

Vet found food in her crop and gullet, undigested.

[Lisa B]

thank you for the update. It is important for your vet to send out the samples to investigate further because that is a contagous disease as well. Do you know if anyone was vaccinated against it?

please let us know the other results, and we are thinkin of you.

[2horse]

Sorry for your loss. I would think the problem started at the breeder or petshop.