2006-10-19 09:38:42 · 23 answers · asked by redwing_silvergirl 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
First of all, and this is first hand from my vet, you don't want to feed your birds birdSEED. You are starving them. We found this out when we took our bird in for breathing problems. You need to feed them bird pellets. This will eliminate the bug problems in the seeds. If you are unsure, then call one of your local vets who specialize in birds. You are starving them to death with birdseed. Any of your regular pet stores has the pellets in the bird isle section.
2006-10-19 09:42:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Throw out the seed you already have. If it has bugs in it, it's bad. Purchase new seed, preferably from a good company. Depending on your bird, an all seed diet can lead to horrible health complications later on in life. Besides, if you were fed the same thing every day for 20 years, you would get sick of it too. :)
Purchase new seed/pellets/whatever you feed and FREEZE the extra. Only keep out what you will feed your bird(s) in 2-3 days. This keeps the rest of the seed/pellets fresh and bug free.
To rid your home of the bugs already brought in, make sure all animals are OUT of the house for at least 72 hours. Bug bomb the house or call an exterminator. Some exterminators use "animal safe" bug spray, but don't count on it. Very little is known about what kind of sprays are safe/unsafe for birds. Don't take the chance. Give the spray/bug bomb 3-5 days to work and bring your animals back home. Make sure to air out the house beforehand.
A good rule to follow, if you can smell it, it is 100 times stronger for the bird. If it burns your eyes/lungs, your bird should NOT be anywhere close to it.
Good luck!
2006-10-19 22:04:21 · answer #2 · answered by Jade 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Moths and weevils come from bird seed that has been improperly stored. It only takes a pin hole for a weevil to enter a bag of seed. We guarantee no insects in any products our store sells because weevils get in hamster and other foods as well. Here is some advice to remember. If you see bugs in a bin of food for sale, the food is already ruined for nutritional value and the store shouldn't be selling it. Second, don't purchase food items in cardboard boxes, even if a plastic bag is inside. Vacuum packed plastic bags and cans are the best way to go. We do not recommend feeding any bird a strictly seed diet because of the fat content and poor nutritional value overall. Any vet or Humane Society can verify this for you. Birds who eat seed diets succumb at a much younger age to fatty liver disease. The majority of bird seeds contain a high amount of millet, which is not all that nutritious. Instead, slowly break your bird over to a pellet diet such as Zu-Preem or Kaytee, just to name a few. Birds should also have a variety of fruits and vegetables and some table foods in their diets.
2006-10-19 21:16:14 · answer #3 · answered by kriend 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many have already said it and I agree -- put the bird seed into the freezer. I do this with all bulk bird seed I buy at least 2 weeks before giving it to my birds. This way I know any and all bugs that may have been in there are dead. HTH
2006-10-20 14:39:14 · answer #4 · answered by birdlover515 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first you have to keep the seed in a dry palce--- nowhere hot and damp. but if there are any bug in there the seed is bad don't give it to the bird. the reason is the animals could be bad for the birds stomach. you know how if a dog drinks chocolate milk it will get worms. something similar may, not 100% sure, happen. just get new food and keep in the a dry place.
2006-10-19 17:29:09 · answer #5 · answered by princton_girl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This happened to me jsut the other week that one bag of seed was infested with them.
I told the seed back to the shop I got it from and they not only opened a all new shipment of the seed for me but removed all of their shelves.
These bugs happen for the most part in hot weather. You can keep it in the freezer to help but if you can see the adult intects it's best just to throw it out.
DO NOT feed your birds this seed. These bugs eat the seed so all you are giving them is hulls.
2006-10-20 04:49:26 · answer #6 · answered by Fuzzy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Freeze the bird seed for at least 72 hours, and that will kill the eggs in the seed. As far as getting rid of them, you can do a bug bomb, but make sure to keep your birds on a different floor or at a relatives house when you do it.
2006-10-19 16:42:10 · answer #7 · answered by Ray R 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You need to buy a better brand of bird seed! I have gone to mixing my own because I cannot stand that the companies sell foods with bugs in them.
I buy each grain separately from a feed mill and mix them together for my birds. I have quite a variety, so I buy white millet, red millet, oat groats, rolled oats, canary grass, safflower, and striped sunflower.
These are very fresh when straight from the mill. They will sprout quickly if you like to feed sprouted seeds.
The cost is amazing. An average 50 lbs costs me less than $10. AND NO BUGS! Because what you are buying are the grains that are sent to the bird food companies. Then they sit there till they mix their mixes and package them and send them to warehouses, then pet stores, etc. where you have no idea how long they have sat around.
Look for FEED MILLS in your area. If there are farmers in your area, there are feed mills. If not, you may have to pay shipping, but it will still cost less AND NO BUGS!!
2006-10-22 11:24:34 · answer #8 · answered by Savannah H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We've had a bird for a few years now and have NEVER had that problem. We buy seed that comes in sealed bags--not a box. And we keep the seed in a sealed container until we feed our bird.
2006-10-19 17:56:45 · answer #9 · answered by Tracy S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To get rid of the bugs flying around use flytape - This is a tube that you pull out and it makes a long strip with sticky stuff on it. Hang it and the insects are attracted to it, by smell I guess. I use a coat hanger and hang it from the hook, and put the rest of the hanger on top of a shelf and weigh it down with a book. It's a pain and nasty looking with the bugs on it but it works. Once it's full or there are no more bugs, throw it away. Just don't get it on you or anything else because it's really hard to wash off.
Some people use Shell no-pest strips but I believe the chemicals in them are not good for your pets (or for you either probably!)
2006-10-19 19:47:09 · answer #10 · answered by judy a 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Put it in the freezer for at least a few days to kill the bugs and eggs. If you keep the seed in the refrigerator, nothing will hatch.
The bugs themselves, in small quantity, don't harm the birds.
2006-10-19 21:33:29 · answer #11 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋