She's gone.

[Pajarita]

Are you having a necropsy done on Peanut? Because, even if you were not thinking of getting another bird, you need to make sure the ones you still have are safe. Peanut was too young to die and, most likely, it was a disease that did it so, if it was Pacheco, you will need to take measures because it's very contagious.

[LadySaphine]

I don't think so. I've already buried her. But I am cleaning the cages now, especially hers. And looking into getting an air purifier, which I probably should have had before anyways.

Do you think I should keep the two birds separated from each other? I've considered the possibility of PJ being a carrier, because we (foolishly) didn't quarantine him as long.

[Pajarita]

If he is a carrier, he's asymptomatic so quarantining does not work to let you know if something is wrong.

Cage cleaning is good but, with Pacheco, you need to clean EVERYTHING! And by that I mean ceiling, walls, flooring, coverings, furniture, etc with a chlorine bleach solution (alcohol will not do it) and this simply cannot be done (your mother will kill you if you even suggest cleaning your sofas or paintings with bleach!). Plus, if either of your birds are carriers, you will never be able to prevent another one from getting it because the carrier will shed the pathogen periodically (it comes out in the poop or other secretions, dries up, becomes airborne and deposits everywhere).

The only thing you can do now is have both birds tested for it to see if either one is a carrier.

[GreenWing]

Hi LadySaphine, I can only imagine how you're feeling and missing Peanut. As Weka says, I think wearing and having keepsakes are important. I have a Senegal parrot necklace that I wore after losing Tiki and I also have some of her feathers. I think it's also good that you are getting out and visiting other birds - that is exactly what helped me after losing Tiki.

I think it's a good idea, as Pajarita advises, to ensure your other birds get checked out and the cages get a cleaning.

Meanwhile, you're in my thoughts and I am sending you a big e-hug.

[LadySaphine]

If he is a carrier, he's asymptomatic so quarantining does not work to let you know if something is wrong.

Cage cleaning is good but, with Pacheco, you need to clean EVERYTHING! And by that I mean ceiling, walls, flooring, coverings, furniture, etc with a chlorine bleach solution (alcohol will not do it) and this simply cannot be done (your mother will kill you if you even suggest cleaning your sofas or paintings with bleach!). Plus, if either of your birds are carriers, you will never be able to prevent another one from getting it because the carrier will shed the pathogen periodically (it comes out in the poop or other secretions, dries up, becomes airborne and deposits everywhere).

The only thing you can do now is have both birds tested for it to see if either one is a carrier.

Wow... you are right, I don't think I could be able to clean it all. We have a computer in the bird room (before you yell at me for wires, they are covered and protected. ANd the birds were never interested in them anyways. They much prefer the keyboard!) and I doubt we could clean it. Either way, we are still cleaning the room best we can. What should the bleach/water ratio be? I don't want it to be too high, and I'm really wary of using it in the first place. Also, do you know of a good way to get rid of poop on the floor? We have (wince) hardwood floors and they don't come off easily. I've had to get on my hands and knees to scrub it off.

One more question- if it truly is Pacheco's or something similar, will it mean we can't get another bird? I don't want to risk bringing in a new bird to have it die on me again. And I will try to see if I can get our two tested, but our vet is so pricey, especially on blood tests.

Greenwing- Thanks. I do have some of Peanut's feathers- a secondary, a small tail feather, and after we moved her cage we found where all of her molted feathers went. They were between a shelf near her cage and the wall, gone unnoticed. I have to vacuum all of that up, besides her seed shells. She left me a very wonderful parting gift...

[Pajarita]

The USDA epizootiologic (the word means animal epidemic) protocol recommends a 1% solution of chlorine bleach so it's 99% water and 1% bleach but, even though the bleach is very little it would still damage a lot of things. You can also use a 10% Lysol but the Lysol you buy is already at 10% so that means you have to use it straight out of the bottle and that can become quite expensive when disinfecting an entire room...

Ask your vet if he would be willing to just draw the blood for you and charge you for that only and order the little vials from the internet avian labs -they don't charge anywhere as much and they give you the results in a matter of a few days (that's what I do with my new birds). Here is the one I use http://www.avianbiotech.com/Pricing.htm

[Dbeguy]

I am so sorry for your loss Lady Saphine. I'm sure that a can get to heaven so much easier than we mere terrestrial creatures.

My deepest sympathies

[LadySaphine]

The USDA epizootiologic (the word means animal epidemic) protocol recommends a 1% solution of chlorine bleach so it's 99% water and 1% bleach but, even though the bleach is very little it would still damage a lot of things. You can also use a 10% Lysol but the Lysol you buy is already at 10% so that means you have to use it straight out of the bottle and that can become quite expensive when disinfecting an entire room...

Ask your vet if he would be willing to just draw the blood for you and charge you for that only and order the little vials from the internet avian labs -they don't charge anywhere as much and they give you the results in a matter of a few days (that's what I do with my new birds). Here is the one I use http://www.avianbiotech.com/Pricing.htm

Wow, thanks Pajarita! So I have to order the vials online, correct?

I am so sorry for your loss Lady Saphine. I'm sure that a can get to heaven so much easier than we mere terrestrial creatures.

My deepest sympathies

I bet they can. Good thing she wasn't clipped. I think I'm getting over the grief now, as yesterday I wanted little human contact, but today I feel just a bit empty. I do miss her screeches when I come home- PJ and Steve are so silent! Nowhere near as noisy as Peanut.

[Lquan]

OMG, LadySaphine!! I don't even know what to say, my mouth just dropped to the floor. I know how much you love Peanut, this just can't be happening.

So sorry for your loss.

[KimberlyAnn]

I am so very sorry.