Why did Birdy die?

[pixie]

:(
Birdy, my lovely crazy red-rumped parakeet died very suddenly whilst my friend was minding him last week whilst I was on holiday. I totally trust my friend who knew how to look after him. I had had birdy for 3 years and the people I got him from said they had had him about 2 and a half years. I expected him to live about 15yrs and looking on the internet, it suggests he should have lived till about 20.
I'm really so sad. My friend said he had seemed fine and was doing his usual chirping on the day he died, but suddenly later made a distressed squawking sound so my friend checked on him and Birdy was on the floor of the cage fluttering. He seemed to die within a minute or so. I feel awful that I couldnt be with him to comfort him and wonder whether there was something I could have been aware of. Does anybody have any idea what happened? It sounds like some kind of heart attack to me.Thanks.

[NickNack]

Awwe ... so sad Pixie ... I'm sorry for your loss.

[timmybutt]

I'm so sorry for your Birdy... it does sound as though he had a heart attack or stroke. They can happen to any bird. Fly high Birdy :(

[Roachee]

so sorry for your loss, your poor wee birdy, it does sound like a heart attack shame, you cannot help, and it breaks your heart sorry for your loss

[sweetpea]

I am sorry to hear this too. It sounds like he was happy right to the end & did not suffer. As others have said, sadly these things happen & there's nothing we can do about it. Fly high Birdy.

[pixie]

Thanks everyone, its heartbreaking isnt it? He was such a stunner and quite a mad little man! It is comforting to think he didnt suffer for too long and that if it was something like a heart-attack, that there was nothing I could have done.

[Lorna & Alan]

So sorry to hear that sad news Pixie. Fly high Birdy.

Lorna xx

[Jordeh]

What a bad thing to happen. :( Poor bird.

[Barrie Shutt]

Aspergillosis is one of the most common causes of sudden death in parrots and parakeets

Aspergillosis is a respiratory fungal infection caused by aspergillus spores that become airborne

One piece of advice to all keepers of parrot like birds is NEVER feed peanuts. Peanuts grow in the ground and are considered to be a common source of aspergillus ( the silent killer) which can sicken birds."

[pixie]

Aspergillosis is one of the most common causes of sudden death in parrots and parakeets

Aspergillosis is a respiratory fungal infection caused by aspergillus spores that become airborne

One piece of advice to all keepers of parrot like birds is NEVER feed peanuts. Peanuts grow in the ground and are considered to be a common source of aspergillus ( the silent killer) which can sicken birds."

Thanks Barrie, but certainly in Birdys case, he never touched peanuts. I think it sounds more like a heart attack as he seemed to suddenly go, my friend says that it all seemed to be over in a minute.