Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 4/13/2008

Question
Hi -- We've had three parakeets for a little over three years and they have all been very healthy -- only occasional molting, which is normal.  They've never liked being handled much, but they don't mind my hands inside the cage, changing the paper, putting food in, etc.  They've always gotten along well in the cage -- no fighting.  This morning when I went to uncover the cage, one of the birds was lying on the floor of the cage dead!  There were no signs of illness leading up to this, no unusual behavior, and no obvious signs of injury.  I haven't given them any unusual food, or introduced any bird toys to the cage.  The temp in the house was normal -- no open windows.  His eyes were still open when I found him -- could he have hit his head, or choked on cuttle bone (he had been nibbling lately)?  The other two birds are fine, but they seem a bit freaked out.  But I'm concerned that whatever happened to him may also happen to them!

Answer
Hi, Barbara,

I'm sorry about your loss.  There can be many reasons for a bird's sudden death like you describe.  Birds can have heart attacks, strokes, have cancer that you can't see, etc., etc.  In addition, birds can be ill and we don't notice until it might be too late because birds hide symptoms of illness until they can't hide them any longer and often times, it's too late.  Only a certified avian veterinarian would be able to try and determine exactly why your keet passed away.  You would need to refrigerate this bird in a baggy or other and get the body to an avian vet within 48 hours.

Chrys