Raising baby birds can be difficult, these animals are very delicate and fragile, they can die quite easily. If your bird died overnight, and you want to know why this happened, and how to prevent this from happening in the future, this article is for you.
Baby birds can die overnight because they are exposed to extreme temperatures, predators that cause stress, and are exposed to lethal toxins in your home.
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Baby bird died overnight:
Taking a baby bird into your home to raise is a noble thing to do, unfortunately, human homes can be dangerous to the very baby birds that we are trying to save. Here are a few things in your home that could cause a baby bird to die overnight
Stress:
If a baby bird seemed fine during the day, then suddenly dies overnight then the bird may have been exposed to something that caused it to become stressed. Too much stress can cause baby birds to suffer from heart failure, and die.
Stress can be brought on by a predator in the area. Its also worth noting that animals that seem relatively harmless to us, like your cat or dog, can be a predator to your bird
How to prevent this:
You wouldn’t want to get rid of one pet to save another but you may need to keep them separate for a little while.
The two can live together, and share spaces as the bird gets older, but you should make sure that your cat or dog can’t get to the bird and that the two are never alone.
Overheating:
Humans can live and survive in areas with high heat but baby birds aren’t so lucky, they are more sensitive to the heat.
If the bird’s environment is too hot for it (exceeding 96 degrees Fahrenheit, 35 degrees Celsius) then the bird can overheat and die. Small nest boxes may also have caused the baby bird to overheat
How to prevent this:
Make sure that you have proper ventilation, proper ventilation will keep the environment cool and comfortable for the bird, air conditioners will help with this as well.
Keeping the bird in a larger nest box, that doesn’t trap heat, will also help to keep the bird from overheating
Chilling:
Baby birds are born with almost no feathers and their skin is exposed, this lack of feathers makes it difficult for the bird to keep warm, because of this, heat is quickly lost from their bodies.
If the bird is in an environment that is too cold it can die overnight.
How to prevent this:
Baby chicks are brooded by their mothers when they’re young, this keeps them warm enough while their feathers grow in.
Keeping baby birds in a brooder creates a similar environment, use a brooder for your next batch of baby birds.
These machines not only create an environment with an optimum temperature for baby birds, but also create an environment with the optimum humidity for baby birds.
Non-stick pan fumes:
Everyday items in our home, like non-stick cookware which uses Teflon coating, can be toxic to birds, especially to fragile baby birds.
The fumes created by non-stick cookware can cause the baby bird to die without warning.
The respiratory tracts of birds are especially sensitive to Teflon fumes. These fumes are colorless and odorless but are very lethal to baby birds, they are also dangerous to humans as well.
How to prevent this:
If you’re raising birds, getting rid of your non-stick cookware and replacing them with non-toxic alternatives is the best solution.
Scented candles:
Scented candles (not soy wax candles), and candles that have lead in the wicks, can negatively affect the bird’s respiratory system and can cause birds to die.
Birds will try by all means to avoid showing signs of distress, you may only notice that something was wrong when the bird dies. This may seem sudden but the bird may have been suffering for quite a while.
Other everyday items that can negatively affect birds include spray cleaners, incense, and perfumes
How to prevent this:
Proper ventilation and making sure that you don’t use these respiratory irritants near the bird would be best.
Natural deaths:
Baby birds die in their nest under their mother’s care for what seems to be no reason at all. In fact, a quarter of baby birds will die naturally in the nest.
If you wake up and you find that your baby bird has died in the nest don’t be discouraged, neither you nor their bird mothers could have avoided this type of death. There was either something wrong with the bird or it was slow to develop
How to prevent this:
There is nothing that you could have done and nothing you can do to avoid this from happening.
FAQ:
How to tell if a bird is sleeping or dead?
A bird that looks dead may or may not be dead, it may just be in shock or stunned.
The signs that point to a bird really being dead are: a cold body, a stiff body, stiff eyes, eyes half open, and its legs or wings facing odd positions
A stunned bird will only need a couple of minutes to recover a dead bird will stay as is.
What to do after your bird dies?
If your bird dies then consulting a vet to have the bird cremated or buried is generally the best solution. The vets in your area will likely offer this service
Conclusion
In conclusion, as noble as bringing a baby bird into your home is, your home can cause the baby bird to die overnight. Extreme temperatures, toxins, and environmental stresses would have caused the baby bird to die overnight
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other baby bird related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Baby Bird Breathing Fast?, Baby Bird Opening And Closing Its Mouth?, Baby Bird Clicking When Breathing