Canary: Cause of Death?
James Heckathorn
my mother passed away 5 years ago, I took her pet canary into my home.
She'd had the bird for about 1 year. Last Friday, the bird was very
quiet and puffed up as the do to keep warm. I heard some flopping in
the cage and when I went over there, he was on the bottom and appeared
very uncomfortable. I picked him up and saw that his legs and feet were
black. His eyes were closed and he seemed under a lot of stress. I
covered the cage and tried to keep his warm and quiet though I really
thought he was gravely ill. It was night time and too late to contact
the vet. Anyway, when I checked on him early Saturday, he had expired
and his beak had also turned black. I called some pet stores and asked
if they had any idea why the body parts were so discolored. No one had
heard of this before. One person suggested he may have become
dehydrated. Another suggested he probably had a circulation problem.
Circulation makes more sense to me than dehydration but I really don't
know much about canaries. I wonder if anyone in this group has any
experience with this phenomenon. Also, do you think I dare use the cage
again for another bird??? I'm told canaries are fragile and health can
decline rapidly but I must say this surprised me as it seemed to happen
so fast.
Thanks to anyone who may offer insight.
Jim
siren of the fens
canaries are fragile. If they are, nobody told mine who live outside all
year round in an aviary. There is really no way anyone can tell you why the
bird died. A vet could have done a post mortem.
Was the cage big enough to fly in? Do you use non stick cookware, or oil
burners, do you smoke near the bird?? There could be many reasons.
--
stinkycatlitter at yahoo dot co dot uk
www.geocities.com/fenwoman/Mollys_ark
"James Heckathorn" <sab...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:655-3C71...@storefull-2293.public.lawson.webtv.net...
James Heckathorn
give off toxc fumes? I do have another canary in a separate cage and
he's fine. Thanks for your response to my question.
Jim
K/MRussell
beak indicate a respiratory problem. Have you considered carbon monoxide
poisoning? Do you use a space heater anywhere in your house or garage?
"James Heckathorn" <sab...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:2295-3C7...@storefull-2296.public.lawson.webtv.net...
gareth young
"K/MRussell" <mariemil...@prodigy.net> wrote in message
news:H8Pc8.7877$nq.119...@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com...
> I was just reading about canary health and it was stated that black legs &
> beak indicate a respiratory problem. Have you considered carbon monoxide
> poisoning? Do you use a space heater anywhere in your house or garage?
>
state of health-get a testing unit ASAP -i have one in my home next to the
fire detector.
i can't emphasise enough-if the cause of death is carbon monoxide you really
could be next.
--
Gareth.
quote of the day.....
'when i come to storm,i never turn around
i won't turn around to look at you apole polishers
she calls you apple polishers-you hear that?
polish her apple now!'
siren of the fens
been mentioned here. If you have a gas heater or water heater or coke
burner, it could give off enough fumes to kill a bird. Also incense and oil
burners.
--
stinkycatlitter at yahoo dot co dot uk
www.geocities.com/fenwoman/Mollys_ark
"James Heckathorn" <sab...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:2295-3C7...@storefull-2296.public.lawson.webtv.net...
Allen Hartle
do appreciate that very much. I do have a carbon monoxide detector and
as I mentioned in another follow up, I have another canary and he's
actually older than the one that died. He seems very healthy at the age
of 10 years. I did recently purchase some new non-stick cookware but,
again, the older bird is doing well. From all of the responses, I tend
to think there may have been a respiratory problem. I just wanted to be
relatively certain about cause of death for the well being of my
remaining bird and to help assure if I get another, he'll be okay, too.
Again,many many thanks.
Jim
K/MRussell
the garage it could be car exhaust fumes. I know even with the garage door
open the wind always seems to blow the fumes into the house. Canaries being
such tiny creatures would be extra sensitive to that.
~Marie
"siren of the fens" <oldm...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:QGRc8.123783$H37.15...@news2-win.server.ntlworld.com...
Nanabirdbj1009
droopy. A few minutes later I heard screaming from him and he was wildly
flopping all over the cage. I put him into my hospital unit under heat but he
didn't improve. He seemed dazed and paralyzed on one side. A few hours later
he expired. His beak also turned dark. I believe mine suffered a stroke and
that may be what happened to yours. They are so delicate and I had moved my
bird's cage a week before. He however was not in a draft. Without a necropsy,
it is never going to be possible to tell what happened to these birds. I am
sorry for your loss. BJ
Nanabirdbj1009
disinfectant dish washing soap and wash thoroughly. Then spray with one part
of bleach to 30 parts of water. Let sit for ten minutes. Then rinse, rinse,
rinse and finally dry in the sun. Scrub all dishes, toys, etc and soak for
five minutes in bleach water. Try to put in new perches. No need to junk the
cage. BJ
Pamela Cale
What you describe is typical of a dying creature - cyanosis (turning blue)
due to lack of oxygen during the dying process.
The cause of death will never be known since a necropsy wasn't done.
The cage, toys, dishes and perches can be reused. Hot water and soap, scrub
with a nylon brush. Soak in bleach and cold water solution for a minimum of
10 minutes. Rinse in clear water. Allow to dry on a towel or newspaper in
direct sunlight (not through a window - out in the driveway is good).
Cooking with Teflon is safe as long as 1) the non-stick coating is not
scratched and 2) the EMPTY pots/pans are not overheated.
If your 10 yr. old canary is alive and well, your environment is probably
just fine.
Take care,
Pamela
San Diego, California, USA
http://spanishtimbrado.org/stsa/