r/cockatiel • u/ApartmentOld234 • 14h ago
Loss & Mourning Cockatiel died within 15mins
I have two cockatiels (boy & girl). They were both acting completely normal, singing, playing in their cage. I looked down to watch a video for 15mins and one was dead. She was fine all morning and the previous days/weeks/months before that. I've had her for a year (she's approximately 20 months old). I don't think it was any toxin because the other one is fine. I tried to give her CPR but nothing. What happened in those 15mins I looked down?? She was so young. And seemed so healthy.
Also Google is freaking me out with parrot fever (I snuggled her before I buried her) and telling me to head to the ER. Do I need to worry?
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u/ElderberryExternal99 13h ago
Were there any candles, scents, or cleaning products used in the area? Were any renovations underway or was any cooking taking place? At the time.
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u/Birdperson222 12h ago
Teflon? Air fryer? Waffle pans? Air freshner scents? All these can be very toxic, I’m so sorry❤️
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u/zibabird 12h ago
Agree about talking with your vet immediately.
🙏😔 Condolences. Wishing peace to all who love this precious being when the pain of loss strikes.
“Grief, I’ve learned, is really just love. It’s all the love you want to give, but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go.”
Jamie Anderson
“What is grief, if not love persevering?"
Wanda Vision
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u/Mysterious-Moose-431 13h ago
Fatal heart attack
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u/TheMaroonBandit 10h ago
That’s what happened to my bird. But he was 2 years old and a rescue where this previous owner only fed him a seed diet.
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u/DianeJudith 9h ago
I'm so sorry. I wrote a comment a while ago under a similar post, and I'll paste it here. Not everything here will be relevant to your situation, but maybe something in it helps you.
I've lost a few in my life. My first ever bird died very suddenly at 10 yo from a tumor. I've had experience with grief at that point, I also lost birds before that. I knew myself and I knew what helps/should help me.
For my boy, I had a necropsy done to find out why he died and if my remaining tiel was safe. I asked for a foot print, and the vet told me about a pet crematory that does them. I spent a lot of money but I went the whole way - I paid for individual cremation (otherwise his ashes would be mixed with other animals cremated at the same time), I paid for a small urn, I had the footprints done (they turned out bad lol), and I also got a necklace with tiny amount of the ashes.
Out of that, the things that helped me the most were:
the necropsy, because I got the answer for what happened: it wasn't my fault, it wasn't really preventable, and it wasn't a risk to my remaining bird.
the whole experience arranging the cremation, picking which urn and other mementos I want, etc. It was like organizing a funeral for a human, and it gave me some agency and something to do. There was no pressure for me to decide asap, I had all the time I needed. There were some stressful moments but overall it was a positive experience.
from all the mementos I got, the urn was the most important and helped me tremendously. I can't overstate just how helpful it was. I had a physical object that symbolized him, was him. I could talk to him, hug him, pet him, and I did all that. He's still there on my bedside table and I still hug him sometimes, after almost 3 years. I cannot recommend this enough. If not an urn, it could be a grave, but it could also be any object whatsoever that you associate with him. Like his favorite toy. I still have my boy's favorite swing stored, I never put it back in their cage.
my remaining bird. When she lost her only bird companion, I became her whole flock. She was more velcro than ever before. She had to be next to or on me all her waking time. It helped so much. It was also painful to see her alone, it would break my heart how much she called for me when I had to leave the house. That's why I started looking for another bird and adopted a rescue just a month after my boy's death. I didn't feel ready, but I couldn't see her suffering, and I did it for her. The rescue is great, and I don't regret it at all. It was a good time to adopt him. She doesn't spend nearly as much time with me, but she's happy.
I had my support system. I had people I could talk to - and I started from this very sub. I made a post here immediately after my boy died. I know stuff about trauma and how helpful it is to write/say a factual summary of the traumatic event as soon as it happened. I used this sub for that and it helped.
I also took my time and listened to my needs. I didn't clean the cage from his blood until weeks later, when I felt ready. My girl was staying in a spare cage until then. Cleaning the cage broke me, so be careful there. Take your time. If something feels right to you, do it. If it doesn't feel right, don't do it yet, check back later. Putting my boy's favorite swing back in the cage didn't feel right, so I didn't do it. It still doesn't feel right. If you feel like crying, do it. If you feel like talking to your bird, do it. Don't let anyone tell you you shouldn't grieve - he was your family. Grief is grief.
I know this is a lot, I have a tendency to write too much lol. But I hope it helps. You will feel better in time, I promise.
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u/Minnoriie 11h ago
Omg,this me making me paranoid
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u/UniversalBojack 9h ago
I'm so sorry for your loss. Our mama bird passed suddenly when she was only 2yrs old. We had a Necropsy done as well, because it was so sudden. If you are planning on doing so (I know you said you buried your bird already), you need to wrap your bird and put in a container and in the fridge till you take it to get the Necropsy. If you aren't planning on doing that, then I would suggest taking your other bird to the vet to get checked out, just in case. Fly high, little birb. 😘🦜😇
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u/Ps0riatic-wreck25 10h ago
So sorry. They are such wonderful companions. When they leave us, it’s devastating.
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u/Thatwasachoice01 5h ago
I am so so sorry
I lost two of my three like that... turns out my rental house was filled to the brim with mold😭
The 'landlord special' described the house rather well
Took the survivor to the vet and he is ok
Consider a mycotoxin test if you can🙏
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u/Big_Cardiologist5105 14h ago edited 10h ago
Get a necropsy of her for your other bird and do a huge cleaning just in case. It may be a bit money wise but it’s the only way to really know. Remove any toy that you think could be made with anything toxic. Also anything in there made of fabric that could be eaten is worth immediately taking out. Crop impaction is so easy to miss. Nothing is out of the question. Also any medical history? Like past diet etc? 20 months isn’t old at all or like where you got her from? No judging at all I just want more info so we can help you. I am so sorry 😢