• Posted 12/19/2024.
    =====================

    I am still waiting on my developer to finish up on the Classifieds Control Panel so I can use it to encourage members into becoming paying members. Google Adsense has become a real burden on the viewing of this site, but honestly it is the ONLY source of income now that keeps it afloat. I tried offering disabling the ads being viewed by paying members, but apparently that is not enough incentive. Quite frankly, Google Adsense has dropped down to where it barely brings in enough daily to match even a single paid member per day. But it still gets the bills paid. But at what cost?

    So even without the classifieds control panel being complete, I believe I am going to have to disable those Google ads completely and likely disable some options here that have been free since going to the new platform. Like classified ad bumping, member name changes, and anything else I can use to encourage this site to be supported by the members instead of the Google Adsense ads.

    But there is risk involved. I will not pay out of pocket for very long during this last ditch experimental effort. If I find that the membership does not want to support this site with memberships, then I cannot support your being able to post your classified ads here for free. No, I am not intending to start charging for your posting ads here. I will just shut the site down and that will be it. I will be done with FaunaClassifieds. I certainly don't need this, and can live the rest of my life just fine without it. If I see that no one else really wants it to survive neither, then so be it. It goes away and you all can just go elsewhere to advertise your animals and merchandise.

    Not sure when this will take place, and I don't intend to give any further warning concerning the disabling of the Google Adsense. Just as there probably won't be any warning if I decide to close down this site. You will just come here and there will be some sort of message that the site is gone, and you have a nice day.

    I have been trying to make a go of this site for a very long time. And quite frankly, I am just tired of trying. I had hoped that enough people would be willing to help me help you all have a free outlet to offer your stuff for sale. But every year I see less and less people coming to this site, much less supporting it financially. That is fine. I tried. I retired the SerpenCo business about 14 years ago, so retiring out of this business completely is not that big if a step for me, nor will it be especially painful to do. When I was in Thailand, I did not check in here for three weeks. I didn't miss it even a little bit. So if you all want it to remain, it will be in your hands. I really don't care either way.

    =====================
    Some people have indicated that finding the method to contribute is rather difficult. And I have to admit, that it is not all that obvious. So to help, here is a thread to help as a quide. How to become a contributing member of FaunaClassifieds.

    And for the record, I will be shutting down the Google Adsense ads on January 1, 2025.
  • Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

Parakeet Question

ShortStack

ShortStack

Resident Demon
Resident Demon
Joined
Feb 22, 2011
Messages
257
Reaction score
11
Points
0
Location
Jacksonville, Florida
Does anyone know what would cause 2 parakeets to suddenly begin flapping really fast, shaking, fall to the bottom of their cages, and then stop breathing and die? My boyfriend has 3 and about 2 days ago 1 of them did that. We were shaken up, but just figured it was a fluke so to speak. Then suddenly last night, a second one did it. There was no warning with either bird, and they have been fine up until that has happened. They haven't been fighting or picking on one another, have food/water and a clean cage, and nothing has changed with their care or environment. I'm worried for the last one, and wondering if she should be taken to the vet. Any advice would be appreciated.
 
One guess is it could be a chemical- contaminated food or a spray in the air (not sprayed by you, but maybe neighbors spraying their garden?) Sometimes using Teflon/PTFE nonstick pot ware/light bulbs and overheating them can kill birds quickly, I've heard.
My condolences on your birds :(
 
I haven't seen the neighbors spraying anything, but I don't live with my boyfriend so I'm not there all the time, so I guess that's a possibility. None of the other animals are having issues though, so think it could still be that? The dogs are outside several times a day and are fine, whereas the birds are never outside, obviously. I've never heard the thing about the Teflon, so that's an interesting one. I just don't know, and it really bugs me. He did have loud music on when the first one happened and we were watching a movie with the second, but I don't see how the noise could be a factor. We've watched a million movies and listened to music tons of times around them, so why would that all of a sudden make a difference? It wasn't any louder than before, and I think it's odd they both died within 2 days of each other, the exact same way. I think it has to be something else other than the music/movie volume. That's what he's worried about- That it was too loud or something. He did move about 2 months ago, but they haven't seemed stressed and again- it's been 2 months. If that would've done it, I'd think it would've been sooner.Sorry, I know I'm rambling, I'm just trying to make sense of it, and I'd like to figure it out because there still is one left. I think I'll do some poking around on-line and see what I can find, too and if that doesn't get me anywhere maybe call a vet?
 
Without being a vet that sounds very much like something chemical to me as well.. I lost a bird years ago to teflon poisoning, its death was alittle less showy and alot more slow and painful, but they might not always react the same.
Vet might be in order, though generally with the really small birds there isnt much they can do.
 
Thanks, Allie. The place he lives in isn't very big and there's not really a division between the living room and kitchen, and technically their cage is in the "kitchen" area. I'm wondering if that's it. I had no idea that could affect them, and have no clue where to put the cage. It's a huge one, and like I said, that place isn't very big at all. Before he moved here, they were in the living room, and there was a door to the kitchen that was always closed, so they would've never been exposed to much of anything from the kitchen. I wondered if a vet would even do much since they are *just* parakeets. They are family like the rest of our pets to us, but I know some small animals don't get much attention so to speak from vets because they are considered "disposable". Sigh. I just feel so bad. I wasn't there for the first, but I saw the second and it wasn't pretty :(
 
The problem with teflon/PTFE is that once the damage is done it is hard to undo.
I would definitely put up the nonstick cookware and ask your bf if he has put in shatterproof bulbs, they have PTFE.
 
Another less well known sources of toxins for birds are scented candles.

As for louder than usual noise, it can cause sudden death in birds and fish. Was the sound unusually loud? If not, then toxins are the most likely cause since they died so close together. Both could have been exposed to a toxin, but it took one a bit longer to die from it.
 
No scented candles around. The noise wasn't any louder than it has been before. I also spoke with some people on a parakeet forum, and they agreed the teflon was likely but also mentioned self-cleaning ovens. Less than a week ago he got a new oven and one of the first things he did was run the cleaning cycle. Then this happened. I'm thinking that's likely the cause.
 
I'm so sorry Felicia:(. The last one is in my prayers, I hope she is OK.
 
Last edited:
I'm sorry too. Keets are such adorable little birds.

Can you air the house out really well and put the last one outside for a few hours, in shade, of course. I'm not sure if that would do any good at this point, but it might. I hope that one is okay.
 
ShortStack said:
run the cleaning cycle.
Click to expand...
If the oven has a non stick PTFE coating, I'm thinking that every time he uses the self clean it may be a hazard to the bird. Ask on the keet forums but I don't think being in another room will ensure safety, probably the keet would have to stay out on the porch until the house was aired out.
 
It's a new, flat top stove, so I'm not sure what it has/doesn't have. This happened last night, and so I spent today researching. He's been at work and I've been here at my house, so as soon as one of us is there, I think putting her outside and airing the house out is the best option. Thanks everyone <3
 
I used to own parakeets, never had one die on me. However, when I returned to college, I re homed it. When I graduated and moved into my own home, I , also had parrots for a time, before health issues forced me to re-home them, too. I no longer will keep birds because I hated having to let them go.

The point of this all was that I did a lot of research before bringing these animals into my home, and as people have mentioned...a lot of things can cause death.

Here is a list of some common household items that are toxic:

http://www.plannedparrothood.com/plants.html


Here is another list...http://www.parrot-and-conure-world.com/non-toxic-for-birds.html

Here is information on Teflon toxicity: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=15+1829&aid=2874

A little research may pinpoint your particular issue as I have no clue what you have in your home, and what you don't.

Sorry to hear of the little fellows passing.:( Good luck!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top