Thank you for your thoughts. Spoke to the store- though we didn't actually purchase her from the store they are 'refunding' us the cost of her and everything we had purchased for her. Many employees cried today when we went in and talked to them. While, I didn't want the money or ask for it- it will be helpful in that we did just move. We are not required to return anything.
Tonight we are cleaning out and breaking down the cage. Tomorrow's mission is the clean and sanitize it and we will begin cleaning and packing away toys and perches. While we are not ready for this stage, with a 3 year old it's easiest to not prolong the event. We'll be keeping everything however- we hadn't realized exactly how much we missed having a feathered friend until we had one again. The cage is huge, massive and so we'll hold onto it. We don't know when we will meet our next feathered friend, or what it will be, but the cage is large enough to house them no matter the size.
Unknown if the autopsy will be authorized. The vet's goal is to have it performed tonight, if possible. They still think there could have been an underlying neurological condition however it is just as possible that the brain was damaged from prolonged low sugar levels.
This has been a hard lesson, emotionally for us. But financially we got out of this untouched. We were lucky it worked out that way. For the store however, it was both an emotional lesson and a very real financial one. I am happy to report that they have terminated their contract with the breeder. Further- they have signed a veterinary contract with the animal hospital that was caring for Koko.
The same doctors who put all their effort into saving my baby's life will be doing monthly inspections of the store, advising them on weaning and diet and training the staff on avian handling. In addition, each bird will be weighed every day by the staff and once weekly by an avian vet for all weaning and handfed babies. Weaned birds will be weighed monthly during their inspection.
This appears to be a case of ignorance and lack of education. It and a hobby breeder who liked money more then her chicks cost my Koko her life. But in Koko's passing she has improved the care of Sammy, the scarlet who had likely been force feeding her while she was at the store during the day as well as the other birds in their care. It's easy to demonize pet stores as well as those who are ignorant. Sadly though, when a breeder is the one giving bad information it can be hard to know where to turn and good breeders seem so hard to find. I know birds, and even I had a hard time tracking down feeding and weaning information for a bird her age. I had to ask multiple forums and often was met with condescending and scorn rather than answers.
I'll probably be lurking the forums for a bit in the next few weeks. We'll probably wait a few months to take in another bird. In the meantime we'll be trying to find a good breeder. It would be cool to purchase a chick and have a hand in raising it while it's safe in the care of a kind, loving and knowledgeable breeder. I know, while my daughter is still so young I don't want to take in any rescues and a baby to grow with the family, come what comes, would be nice. Anyone know anyone?