upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

Hi All,

Thanks for the Post, I appreciate your support thru this hard time for me.

I never in a million years thought I would have to post a "Post" like I did the other night. I always made sure my birds were healthy, Never used any air freshners, Candles. I did use Teflon pans until My Brother in law moved in, and the birds had to give up their room. I then bought the SS set. I never used my Calaphon bakeware, I always use my Stones from Pampered Chef. I did keep 1 Cookie Sheet though for when I make Toffee during Christmas. I kept it in my Pantry.

Anyone that ever comes over to stay, Is always advised of the BIRD RULES, No Candles, Cleaners, Airfreshners Etc, Because I read so much about Birds dying from Toxic Exposures.

Well with that Said, It HAPPEND TO ME!

I came Tuesday afternoon about 4:30 AZ time, I was walking up the garage and Smelled the worst Smell in my entire life. I quickly ran inside and Started yelling for my Brother in Law. Seems He has cooked a Frozen Pizza and Forgot about it. There was No more smoke in the house by the time I got there, Just a terrible Smell or burnt Pizza and something else I couldn't figure out what though. I Looked at the birds (Since they were in the Kitchen) Puddles was on her perch- I glanced over at Fiesta's cage, she was Hovered over in her Pellet Dish, Holding on for Dear Life-
I had my Brother in law help get puddles Out of her cage- Who stepped right up, She usually Puts a up a Fight, but Ifigure she knew she was in Danger.
I grabbed Fiesta, who so very Lifeless at this point. I kept telling her "Hold On baby bird, Hold on"
As soon as I got her outside to some Fresh Air, She let out 2 lil Squaks to me, and looked right at me and her eyes closed. I Knew she was gone!
That image of her looking up at me, has stayed with me, I don't think I will ever forget it!
I sat in the front yard Until My Husband got home, Hold Fiesta in my the palm of my hands, Kissing her lil Head, and Telling her I was Soo Sorry.
and that Mommy Loved her soo much.

I was soo filled with Anger and hurting that I couldn't comprehend what had happend to cause her death.

Turns out My Brother in law (who we have had problems with being Responsible ever since he 1st started living her 4 months ago) Decided he wanted to cook something, he turned the stove on, but then decided on a frozen pizza. He went looking for a cookie sheet for that pizza. He has always seen me use the stone ware ROUND stone for Pizza's I have made. But he didn't want to clean that. So he found the other one in the Pantry, My Non stick that I use just for Toffee (the pan doens't get heated up when you use it for Toffee).
Well He then decided not to Use the Pan and set it on the Stove- That the burner was Already ON. Placed his pizza right on the rack in the oven and FORGOT about it..So we Had smoke from the Pizza burning, and Since the stove burner was on (God only knows why he turned that on and didn't turn it off when he decided not to cook on the stove) burnt thru the Cookie sheet, releasing the Toxic Fumes.


I know what I am about to write next may upset a few of you, but I decided against a Necropsy on her. I Knew deep down inside of me she died soley because of the Toxic Teflon. She looked so peaceful laying in the palm of my hand that night (I didn't want to let go of her, my husband had to force me to say my Final Goodbye)
I didn't want her to be picked and poked at.

I burried here in her Bird Bed, along with her favorite Toy. She is burried in my Flower Garden. Where I do spend alot of my time, I can always talk to her now, and by Looking at the flowers and all of their colors. It will remind me of How Beautiful She was and So colorful in both Feathers and her Personality.

I know there has been alot of post on the board lately about Non stick cookware, etc.... IF you want my Opinion, GET RID OF IT. Think if it can Kill your Birds, What can it do to a Human in the long run! It's Not worth it

For those of you who Knew Fiesta, there is only 2 words she ever Said, from the Movie Titantic- COME BACK COME BACK.
I been saying those words over and over again since I said Goodbye.



Tawny

Tawny...no one is going to be upset with you for any reason....I am just so sorry that you are going through this...you are the best of bird moms...all of you posts are usually questions asking about safety and such for your flock...I'm glad that Puddles is OK...I'm sending you big big hugs...

Tawny,
You are a good birdie mommy!! I'm so sorry. My heart cries with you. I'm glad Puddles is okay.

I am sorry for your loss. Is Puddles completely okay?

The problem could have come from the smoke from the burning pizza, but the polytetrafluoroethylene was almost certainly the problem. I am not sure that one could rule out one or the other by post mortem examination anyway. Acroleon from overheated fats is rather toxic too.

I wrote a review recently for an encyclopaedia. After writing it I was even more concerned than before. Basically this polymer is made by radical polymerisation, which results in molecules of various sizes being present in the material. Because the polymer is very symmetrical it is crystaline. When the crystals melt the smaller molecules in the polymer tend to be volatile enough to enter the vapour state. Toxic things seem to absorb on them and be carried into the birds respiratory system. Humans are MUCH more sensitive to the toxicity than most think, because the original tests were made on rats, and the stuff is not to bad for rats. (At least the ones with four feet.)

It is my humble opinion that this stuff has many good uses--but one of them should NOT be coatings on kitchen ware--even for people who do not have birds. It also should not be used in the manufacture of ovens, etc.