finches death

Question
my daughter has just gotten home from school and called me crying as she has found both of her finches dead in bottom of cage. she told me they have food and water. it's a hanging cage away from the ground. they were happy thismorning. are there any chemicals or gases or anything like that which finches are sensitive to like cannaries with gas? should my daughter and son get out of the house?

Answer
The chances of deadly fumes killing your kids is slim. Finches are very fragile little guys, the fumes from cooking in the kitchen can make them sick.  It is more than likely where they were. I will ask you some questions to try and find out what MAY have killed them. Without a vet doing an autopsy it's impossible to know for sure but I can help you narrow it down to the most likely cause. Please answer the questions so I can tell you why they died (not everyone replies and I know how upsetting it is to find your precious feathered friend dead).
1. Where is the location of the cage? Is it by a window? Were they exposed to a draft? Does the room have high traffic?
2. Was water changed daily? Were any supplements added to the water? Was it tap water or filtered?
3. How often was their food replaced? Were they getting vitamin enriched food from a reputable pet food store?
4. Were they a bonded pair (meaning they had had eggs)? How long were they together before they died? What kind of finches were they?
5. Are there any other pets? If so, what kinds?
6. Were the birds ever puffed up or slept during the day (birds do sometimes take naps. I'm talking about sleeping outside their usual routine)? Did they eat the food or was most of it ending up on the ground? Was there any nasal discharge? Did they ever open their mouth to breathe?
7. Was any second hand item brought into the house? Did you ever touch them or anything they touched after being somewhere dirty (I'm talking unsanitary and in desperate need of disinfecting, not dirt)?
8. How often was the cage sterilized? How often were the food/water dishes sterilized?
9. Were they molting or plucking feathers?
10. Had they ever been to a vet before? If so, did the vet prescribe medicine and what kind?