Our budgies died :(

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

ok, so we arent bird fanatics, we know basic care but on Saturday our 7 year old budgie died. We took DD (3) to pet shop and brought her another 2 - 4 hours later, these had died! started panicing abit then. When 1st bird died we disenfected cage etc so was confused.

Did a quick google search and found out that our new popcorn machine was releasing PTFE and this is what killed the birds :'( we didnt even know about PTFE. theres no warnings in the manual etc but wiki says that its toxic to them i feel awful for losing the birds this way

Ex OH has been and got DD 2 more new budgies and the popcorn machine has been returned - Just a heads up for anyone who, like me, didnt kno about PTFE

Mommyme x

EmptyPockets

Sorry to hear about your birds.

I'm sure I once read, when we had budgies, that they should never be in a room near the kitchen if you are using non-stick pans either, because the fumes given off from them when hot, can do the same thing to a budgie

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

see i didnt know this - our birds have always been in the kitchen (i can even remember having them in the kitchen when i was young) so i dont know to what extent this is. The popcorn machine "smell" was very strong and i even said to OH it was getting at my throat - didnt think about our poor birds. The are at the far end of the kitchen, in front of a window (window is never open unless its a hot day as i was told cold can kill them too) and we have a vent - open window when cooking and in summer back door is always open anyway so maybe we have been lucky, but this damn machine killed them within 30 min

morg_monster

That's disappointing there was nothing in the manual. I know when it comes to certain products - for example insect repellent will kill goldfish if you spray it near their tank - manufacturers are quite explicit on the packaging about the risks. I have seen on some cleaning fluids warnings about using them when you have cats too. You would think something like this where the risks are known they would include the warning "just in case". Maybe when you feel up to it you could write a letter to the manufacturers.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

i've emailed the manufacturer and this is their response:

Dear xxxxxxxxxx,

Thank you for your email.

I was most concerned to read your comments and can fully appreciate why you have contacted us.

I have contacted our Quality Assurance Department for further information/investigation and will immediately update you once I have some further information.

Please be assured that I am dealing with this with the utmost urgency and will be in touch very shortly.

Yours

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Customer Services Manager

morg_monster

That sounds promising, mommyme. I hope they continue to follow it up in the same way.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

well he company think it might be the fact that it was a burst of heat that killed the birds and not PTFE - Its like a hairdryer apprently! they told me it was "common knowledge not to keep birds in the kitchen" and they dont advertise its unsafe for birds because it has a "CE" park on it.

They were friendly dispite this and have said they will send DD some toys that they make

Not something i was after but DD will be happier

Lirin

A, Sorry to hear about that....