pair died suddenly, any thoughts???

[sugarbeth]

Do you have a carbon monoxide detector? The heat register has me worried too. Do you have a pic showing where it is located relative to the cage? Also, maybe there is something growing in your ducts.

Can you find out the brand of cage cleaner that you have? I know you said it's bird-safe, but I'm curious what it is.

Sorry about your birds! Hope you find out what did it!

[hugs28]

ok, I am not so sure its the heat register, cause that has not changed really the only difference is, they were on a hutch unit over it and now no hutch unit. The register is under the cage on the floor. I just bought a thing to go over the heat register to devert the air instead of going up. The stuff I used is called Pet focus Ready to use avian formula One step disinfectant. I bought it from bird paradise.

I just had a thought, and I was not thinking this before, I thought I would ask and see what you thought. There was a piece broken on the cage when I got it, it was just one of those little bar things that hold the tray in, my husand grinded it down and welded it on, so the tray would go in. We did not repaint over it. Do you think this could have done it. I have taken the birds out, but I am wondering of this was the possibility and if I paint it with the Krylon, I was told was safe for cages, if it would be ok again? None of the birds that died could have gotten to the weld mark, however they were in the cage that was welded. Any thoughts? thanks

p.s. only other thing I can think of now was that I cleaned the wall with windex multisurface then put the cage against the wall, but I don't think unless they lick the wall they would have touched that?

[dancelady]

I meant to turn off the heat register under the cage -- not the whole house! Just flick the register thing closed and that will help. It won't make much of a difference to the other birds -- they can live in a slightly colder temp.

I don't believe that there is anything that could make two birds die at once, other than heat. If there was, it would affect the other birds.

I would just turn off that register, maybe move the cage a bit, and don't put anyone else in that lower cage. I don't think a necropsy will tell anything other than heat exhaustion. You also have to consider moving the cage upward on a stand or something to raise it -- if you want to use that lower cage portion. I am an engineer so I can attest to the problem with heat. Also the cleaner you used and the area where the cage was broken didn't do it, because the metal would have resulted in a severe poisoning trauma which they didn't have.

[hugs28]

the cage is already on a stand, what if I just use a cover to divert the heat a different direction. I don't really want to turn it off, cause that will make that part of the house colder and that is the dining room, I can try to divert it and if you don't think that will work, then I will either cover it or move the cage. The cage is outside, I am going to clean and sanitize it this weekend, but I am afraid to put them back in it. I lost a lovebird today, but don't know if it was that, or if they were fighting, 2 females with a possible male ?

[dancelady]

My golly, three birds in a couple of days. Have you checked your horoscope about serious disasters! The lovebird could have been because of the other birds -- were there damages to the bird? Did it have serious blood gushes, or a neck that looked broken? If it had nothing like that at all, then you really need to start checking out the behavior of the birds. Are they in other cages while the "multiple" cage is outside? And where are they -- back in the old cage location? You've got to get this problem fixed -- yes, you can divert the heat from the register, but while you're at it, can you read the temp of the air coming out. Is it over 85F? If you could post a picture to show us the way it is all set up, we might be able to help more.

[hugs28]

there were no damages that I could see, quite a few feathers around, but when I looked at him yesterday I thought he was molting. I am a stay home mom so I see and hear what goes on with my birds. They are in the dining room and I am mainly in the living room, 1 floor of living space and I can see them anywhere I go. They were all getting along just fine.

Yes they are back in there old cages, certain birds don't roam the house. The cages are in the spot they used to be. I can check the temp, I have a thermometer I can put next to it. Here is a pic of the way it was set up with the stacker cage. The heat register is under the left half and the birds were in the top left and right and the bottom right half, there were no birds on the bottom left. The birds that died were the ones in the bottom right and 1 in the top right.

Would welding the bar have anything to do with it?


you can see on the left under the cage, the dark spot, that is the register. Of course this pic was taken before anyone passed on

[sugarbeth]

I don't think welding part of the cage would do it, unless he happened to be welding right next to the birds.

3 birds now? You really need to figure this out. Nobody's asked about teflon, carpet deodorizers, febreeze or air fresheners yet, so I will. Using any of those lately? The heat register definitely looks too close to the cage and I would not put the cages there at all. Still urge you to get a carbon monoxide detector - these birds might be warning you of something that could kill your whole family.

[wildirish]

The problem is that any number of things could be wrong here. As stated, heat, maybe, also any chemicals in the house, also maybe. Too many maybes while your birds are still dying.

Is that cage new or was it used. You posted about it being an HQ cage and wanted to know where is was made, made me think this was a brand new one. But you also asked if me if were possible that the people who had it before could have had sick birds. That is also a possibility. The brand and where it is made wouldn't matter as much as knowing more about who had the cage first if it is used.

Once again the ONLY real way to find out what is going on is a necropsy. Then if you find out it is something simple, terrific, if you find out it an illness then your others can be treated. I would hate to be in a position of telling someone that I think one thing is the problem and then find out it wasn't. None of us are there, none of us are vets. We cannot tell you with no doubts at all what is happeneing, we can give you ideas.

One post mentioned that something could be growing in your vents, that is also a possiblity, as certain molds can grow in duct work and can be very toxic to all living there. However before the expense of someone coming out to check your home and ductwork, I would still have a necropsy done, before you lose more irds. At least it will let you know what direction to go.

[hugs28]

the cage is used, I emailed the lady I got it from and she told me she did not have any problems with the cage, no birds died in it and she said she disinfected it. who knows.

I can do a necropsy, however it takes 7-10 days to come back, if it is something that is going to wipe out my birds, it will do so within that time. I am torn on doing that. Its pretty pricey too, however I have ALOT more invested in my birds, so I would do it. If they were able to have it done ALOT sooner.

I am going to get a CO2 monitor tomorrow and put it by the vent and see what happens. Someone told me about a over the counter antibiotic I can buy to give my birds. Do you think this is advisable, just incase? thanks again everyone for your help

[sparkysmom]

If I were in this situation. I would get the necropsy. And while waiting for the results move the cages. recheck to make sure there are no smelly airfreshner stuff, candles or teflon going on (as was mentioned)...fumes poisoning...whatever it may be. But at least if you get it done and it was an illness you know. If indeed human error you learn something. It would be something I could not sleep without knowing. Even if it takes a few days to find out. Even if it is expensive.....buying a bunch of things to find out what it MIGHT have been can add up in price too. Especially when you can go right to the source and have your vet tell you.

It was sorta my understanding that OTC antibiotics are not all that. (Not IME.... just what I have read) Besides how do you know what you are treating? That would make me nervous.