If you have parakeets in your home, you may have noticed sudden deaths in your flock, which makes you wonder, How do parakeets die? This article covers this topic and other information you may need to know. Read on to find out!
Parakeets can sometimes die without showing any signs of illness. Mainly, parakeets with malnutrition are most likely to die since they lack essential nutrients. Besides, their bodies cannot function properly, which can cause heart failure that may lead to their death. Furthermore, the body cannot fight diseases due to low levels of vitamins, creating a weak immune system.
Similarly, if a parakeet inhales or ingests toxicities like toxins from metals like zinc and lead, it may lead to sudden collapse and death. Also, toxic fumes such as oil-based paintings, air fresheners, nonstick cookware, and aerosol cleaners can block their breathing systems, preventing the free circulation of air and leading to death.
Parakeets can also die due to depression. A stressed parakeet is usually unhappy and less talkative. Once depression kicks in, organs in a parakeet stop functioning normally, and they tend to strain. This will create a lack of proper coordination of muscles, and your parakeet can suddenly die. It is, therefore, important to ensure your parakeet is healthy and happy.
What Can Cause a Parakeet to Die Suddenly?
Are you curious to know what can cause a parakeet to die suddenly?
Here are eight causes of sudden death in parakeets:
1. Diseases
Diseases are the biggest threat to a parakeet’s life. There are diseases such as coccidiosis, beak and feather disease, egg binding, and parakeet fever that do not necessarily show symptoms of infection.
They are very dangerous, especially when an outbreak results in sudden deaths. Therefore, vaccinating your parakeets is important to strengthen their immune systems.
2. Toxicities
Toxic fumes such as oil-based paintings, aerosol sprays, incense, etc. can cause the sudden death of parakeets by blocking their breathing systems, leading to a blocked circulation of air. In this case, parakeets suffocate and immediately die.
Similarly, when birds ingest lead and zinc products, chocolates, or caffeine, they may die since they cannot absorb them.
3. Internal Injuries
Occasionally, parakeets can fly around and hit themselves on hard surfaces like windows and floors, among others.
They may not show any physical injury, like blood oozing from a certain part. Sometimes, they get internal injuries that may lead to internal bleeding that causes disorientation of body parts, leading to the sudden death of birds.
It is therefore advised to have an avian vet do the X-Ray scanning to determine the severity of the injuries.
4. Genetic Disorder
Parakeets’ genetics are very important, as they can sometimes determine a bird’s lifespan.
If the parakeet is from a lineage of sudden deaths, then chances are it will also die without showing signs of ailing. A professional avian vet can sometimes treat this genetic defect to cut the lineage.
5. Stress
Stress is also one of the causes of sudden deaths in parakeets. Parakeets usually have night frights, which can lead to stress in these birds.
In addition, poor parenting, separation, and loneliness are among the factors that can lead to depression in parakeets, which can cause sudden deaths.
6. Poor Nutrition
The diet that parakeets feed on a daily basis is very important in maintaining a healthy status that will lead to an increased lifespan.
However, poor nutrition will deprive parakeets of essential nutrients necessary for maintaining their wellness, leading to sudden deaths.
7. Unconducive Environmental Factors
Parakeets are very sensitive birds, and slight environmental changes can have a huge impact. Mostly, the temperature is among the main factors that really affect a parakeet’s life. Excessive heat causes hyperthermia, which can lead to sudden deaths.
Furthermore, dumpy surroundings can cause chills and hardening of the arteries, which may, in turn, lead to paralysis that can cause sudden death.
8. Predators Invasion
Parakeets can have predators invade their cages. If your parakeet lives outside, they are highly exposed to predators’ attacks.
Some predators can only bite the bird, and the poison spreads throughout the entire body, causing sudden death.
It is important to keep an eye on your parakeets to protect them against predators or any other factor that may harm them.
If a parakeet suddenly dies, consider doing a post-mortem to identify the cause of its death. This should be done by an expert, specifically a professional avian vet.
How Do You Know a Parakeet Is Dying?
The following are 15 symptoms that show your parakeet is dying:
1. Breathing heavily while opening its beak.
2. Shortness of breath.
3. Stretching out its neck in strains.
4. Bobbing its tail up and down.
5. Loses balance.
6. Wheezing and clicking sounds.
7. Fluffed up feathers.
8. Vomiting.
9. Changing excrement.
10. A decreased level of its daily activities.
11. Head-twitching
12. Paralysis.
13. Weight loss.
14. Shaking and shivering.
15. Lack of vocalization.
How Do You Revive a Dead Parakeet?
The best way to revive your dead parakeet is by conducting cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Below are the steps to guide you on how to conduct cardiopulmonary resuscitation to revive a dead parakeet:
1. Let the parakeet lie on its back.
2. Ensure its head is buttressed up.
3. Precisely use five breaths of air and ten compressions to check the parakeet’s pulse.
4. Take two breaths of air and ten compressions for a minute in a parakeet’s chest.
5. Your parakeet will start breathing faster but decrease the rate after some time.
Ensure that you conduct the revival process promptly in order to avoid losing your parakeet.
What Happens If One Parakeet Dies?
If one parakeet dies, the remaining flock will show signs of devastation, such as:
1. Feather plucking.
2. Aggression.
3. Loss of appetite.
4. Change of sleeping habits.
5. Reduced vocalization.
How Long Do Indoor Parakeets Live?
Indoor parakeets live for up to 15 years. Based on the research, indoor parakeets live longer than wild parakeets, which only live for a maximum of seven years.
Indoor parakeets are well monitored and given the right attention, while wild parakeets are left to survive and are sometimes highly exposed to predation risks.
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