monkey

I know what you're saying Ray and I am awaiting the results, but in the meantime it's human nature to look for possible causes. Also I'd like to know for the future whether or not it can pose a risk A radiator is a heater, the pipes and valves around it are sealed with PTFE.

Hello guys. I recently joined this forum and posted in the Memorial section after losing a 6 month old Grey. I am awaiting his necropsy results. I did SO much research on Greys before I bought one, months and months of reading articles, lists, forums, books I was super careful. I threw out my smellies, stopped wearing perfume, stopped using air fresheners, even the tumble drier. I knew how dangerous Teflon is to birds, and I thought I knew every appliance Teflon was hidden in, until today. My sweet bird Elwood passed away. I won't go into it again as I've posted in the Memorials, but I have been racking my brain as to what I did wrong. I live in the UK, and it's just turned cold enough to warrant using my heating. My place is heated using radiators. Last year I had a new radiator installed, and my desk is situated right next to this radiator. Elwood was out, he'd had breakfast, he flew to me, played, had headrubs then died. No warning. It was very fast and I am devastated. The radiator had been on prior to him being out, so it was in the cooldown stage. At 1st I wondered if radiators were covered in a paint that could be toxic to birds, but after some research I've found they're powder coated, much like bird cages. Then I found out after lots of searching, that plumbers primarily use PTFE Tape (aka Teflon Tape) on valves, pipes, and connectors. I understand Teflon is only apparently a danger when it's heated to a very high level, OR if it's damaged in any way but as it's invisible and impossible for us to detect, how will I ever know? Has anyone else had any experience with this? Could this tape be to blame? They use the tape much like a putty, to seal pipes. Any insight on this would be appreciated, thanks.

Thank you for your kind words everyone, they mean a lot. Elwood is with my vet now, I just have an agonising wait until he calls with some results, although he told me that it's 40% success rate which is low, I'm still hopeful I'll know something at least. As I said, his death was very sudden, and the more I think back, the more sure I am that I missed no signs of illness. I've been trawling the internet for clues as to what happened, and there are 3 things stuck in my head. 1 - my son currently has chickenpox 2 - Elwood may have had underlying issues but number 3 is where I'm at right now, if it's ok to double post, I may ask this question in another part of the forum too so more people see it. 3 - It's just got cold enough here in the UK to put the heating on. I had a new radiator installed last year. My desk is right next to the radiator. Elwood was on me, by this radiator when he passed away. At first I searched for radiator covering, and found they are powder coated like bird cages. After a lot more digging I have found that PTFE tape (aka Teflon Tape) is routinely used in radiator valves and joints. The symptoms of Elwoods death are identical to those of teflon poisoning. I know some say teflon needs to reach a high heat before it gives off fumes, but I've also read if it's damaged in any way (ie squeezed around pipes) that fumes can be given off at a much lower heat. Can anyone give any insight on this?

Thank you katana. You're absolutely correct in everything you say. I am dreading knowing the cause, I just hope that it comes back with something I couldn't have helped him with or known, that's my only hope right now.

I hope so much for this to be true =[ I've never known pain like this, and I've lost friends and family in the past. Right now I don't see an end to it, but I think the necropsy will help me understand which is a step in the right direction.

Thank you so very much for your replies. After reading them I have decided to get a nescropy done, I have an appointment with my vet in a few hours, they will also cremate him for me The vet did say, because I didn't refridgerate him that the tests will be limited, but you're right, I need to know. I hope it doesn't take too long to get the results.

I'm new here, but I had to come somewhere that people will understand. I had my CAG Elwood from 8 weeks, I handfed him, weaned him, loved him. In hindsight I'm annoyed I was sold an unweaned baby, and now it's making me question whether this is why I lost him so young. He was hatched April 21st, and he died yesterday aged 6 months. The pain.. it's almost unbearable. It was so sudden, he showed no signs of illness at all. I don't know if it was shock that killed him, or an injury but I can't stand the thought of a birdy post-mortem. He was a joy, and I miss him so much already. I have covered his cage, I just can't deal with that right now. I still have his little body in a box, I don't know what to do with him. He was out for his breakfast, sweetcorn, sprouts, carrots, pine nuts. He flew to me to say hi, as he always did. He was being a little monkey, demanded head rubs, then I don't know what happened. He fell and landed on my foot but he was limp. My boyfriend said he was reaching with his beak to hold my desk before he fell. He died seconds later. It was quick, I try and take comfort in that but the speed in which he went from happy to gone.. astounds me. Now I'm filled with so many questions. Did I miss something? Was it my fault? Did he have an infection or diesease? Was he born with a defect? My son currently has a bad case of chicken pox, was it that? It's getting cold now, so I'm using the radiators, was it that? I'm always so careful, no scented candles, no teflon but the speed in which he passed leads me to think it could be something like this, or heart attack, or seizure, or a stroke.. I think it's too late for a post mortem, he has been in a box since yesterday, I don't even know how to get one, how much it costs, and whether I actually can cope with knowing. I don't think I can ever get another, the pain of losing him is so intense, I haven't cried so much in my life, and never want to again. I don't know if he had something contagious that would put other birds at risk.. so many ifs and buts. Sorry to put this on anyone, but some of you have been in similar situations x Emma