Omg, I am so so sorry your loss. I'm in shock right now. Never in a million years would I ever think quartz would be found in bird food, that is just unbelievable. I hope they do get back to you, that is just beyond awful. Knowing that this could happen now, from now on I'll inspect my birds food really well before I give it to them. I'm just so sorry Heather Rest in Peace Darcy.

Heather, I was hoping you'd visit, but not under these circumstances, I am so sorry, I can't believe it. You were one of the first great people I met when finding a forum, and Darcy, that gorgeous bird. RIP Darcy.

i am sooo soory to hear of your loss. especially the manner in which it occurred. i hope they get back to you about this. my thoughts are with you in this time of sorrow.
fly with the angels darcy.
R.I.P

I'm sorry to hear about Darcy...he was a very handsome budgie! I, too, am curious as to what Petsmart has to say. Even though it won't bring Darcy back, at least you know what might have caused the illness and hopefully the other birdies didn't eat the same thing too.

the other three I have decided, are fine. As soon as I noticed the food I went and got new stuff that was thoroughly inspected before it went in the cage. It's been 5 days and no one else is acting off although Nouba's a little annoyed with me... Petsmart still hasn't gotten back so I suppose I'll call them tomorrow.

What an awful thing! Sorry about your dear Darcy. RIP! I hope PET SMART does the right thing. PETCO has given me 2 sick birds. One I took back to the store within a week. The other parakeet right now is dying of cancer. And PETCO - no help!

Anyway I know how you feel. Our pets can get us very upset. I was telling my doctor about my birds. She took my blood pressure. It was so high my husband thinks after Yellowbird goes to bird heaven, I shouldn't get anymore 'keets! Really sad time for us!

heather i am so sorry to hear this! This is just awful, he was such a lovely beautiful budgie.

it most likely was not quartz, it was grit. its common for cheaper brands and store brands to use grit in their bird food mixes. they have not yet gotten the scientific fact that it is deadly for parrots of all kinds.

I would sue them, flat out.

Hmm -- interesting, re: grit... If I get more time later I will look up each and every ingredient on the Nutriphase bag. Meanwhile, I'm wondering what you decided to get instead of Nutriphase, Heather.

The Drs. Foster and Smith catalogue sells several types of plain seeds so you can make your own mixes, and I'm thinking of doing that (and adding ground Harrison's pellets)... It would help transition Pudgie to a higher percentage of pellets, and I would know exactly what she's eating...

Glad to hear the other birds are doing well.

The ingredients are listed on the bottom of the page:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753491

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753463

I was thinking the same as Aminah, if you have an autopsy made for poor Darcy and determine that the grit or whatever rock was in the seed killed your lovely keet then you should sue. Not because any money in the world will make you feel better about Darcy's death, but because they HAVE TO PAY for THEIR MISTAKE, so careless these big companies are

Although I am relatively new to the forum, my thoughts are out to you and your Darcy. It's good you were with him in the end. I'm sorry for your loss.