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Dangerous food dish?

My 17 year old male cockatiel was found dead in his food dish . I was horrified and heartbroken as he was in good health and normal behavior. The food dish was new, I had just placed it in his cage that same day. Which makes me suspicious. It was stainless steel and I cleaned it well with dawn dish soap and water beforehand. I am worried that maybe he got stuck in there. It was a larger (round) and deeper dish than the one he had previously (which was semi circle plastic). He normally perched and slept on top of the old food dish at night. I am worried now that the new dish might have caused his death. Could he have toppled in and was unable to get his footing to get out? When I found him, he was face down under his body and his feet and wings outside the dish. I am afraid he got trapped? Could this happen?

Hi,

I am so very sorry for your sudden loss. At his age, this was most likely a natural death. A lot of old birds never look or act old, and can die with no apparent cause. I can’t think that he would have been stuck. It sounds like a safe dish and you did the right thing by cleaning it first. My guess is this was just a coincidence and had nothing to do with his death. Again, I’m so sorry – it’s hard to lose one, but especially a bird you have had for so long. It shows you gave him the best care and a lot of love his entire life.

Take care,

Brenda