Why do people think that rice will hurt birds? It's a myth.?

Question

I work with a girl who is getting married in September and everyone is telling her not to throw rice at the wedding. They drum up the same old myth that rice will kill birds dead, dead, dead!

Of course I laughed at this and showed her various places online that proves this is a myth.

I understand that ignorant people think that the birds eat the rice and it swells up causing them to rupture.

Of course this makes no sense because rice is a natural grain, birds eat it in the wild. Dog food also expands but dogs don't die from eating it. Corn expands but geese love to eat it and they drink alot of water.

So why do people think this? Is it just widespread ignorance?

http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/birdrice.asp

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/r/riceatweddings.htm

Answer 1

i think it is an urban myth and people just spread it around. if it were true, there would be dead birds in rice fields all the time.

however, people feel birdseed is a better choice, birds eat that fast so it's not just sitting there on the ground.

personally, people threw marshmallows at me and not the birdseed roses my mom gave people. :P

people saying birds die need to get THEIR facts straight.

"1. You should not throw rice at the bride and groom at weddings because birds eat it and it swells up in their stomach and kills them. Sometimes the myth goes that it causes them to explode.

Not true. If it were, there would be exploding bird stories all over the national press every June. Think about it. Lots of birds feast in rice fields every year, irritating rice farmers to distraction. If eating rice caused birds to explode, most rice fields would look like a popcorn machine in the harvest season, with little puffs and explosions providing constant entertainment. Quite a vision, and one that the press would never miss.

And there is no difference between rice in fields and rice in bags from the supermarket. Birds have no trouble digesting rice, or any other "expanding" vegetable. I am all in favor of throwing birdseed at weddings, which is what proponents of this myth urge as a solution. I like the symbolism of throwing birdseed. But rice is fine, too."

apparently the news and vet offices lie :P

Answer 2

Yes, it's a myth. On the other hand, there are other better reasons not to throw rice. It can be a health hazard because all that rice can cause a slip and fall accident on a sidewalk...or a pissed off bride to clobber the people hurling hard things at her.

I don't think birdseed is any better, frankly. It hurts being pelted with either.

I tried very hard not to have ANYTHING thrown at us at our wedding, but a couple friends took it upon themselves to make birdseed bags and pass them out. If I'd had any clue, I'd have done ANYTHING to stop them. Alas, I didn't find out until people started hurling the stuff at us randomly. It's the one thing I hated at my wedding. Thanks, guys.

Oh, and I was still getting the damn birdseed out of my hair four days later. Grrr.

Answer 3

I do not know.

Its like people who forward that spam mail for various offers and things, utterly ridiculous.

I've known for a long time about the bird and rice myth.

Especially since I love Snopes.com.

Answer 4

Personally, I don't see why people throw anything anymore. It is hard to make, messy, and is horrible when it gets in your hair and dress. I had bubbles at my wedding and I warned anyone who even thought about rice or bird seed they would regret it. Birds would more likely eat the bird seed, I would think. Ugh, I think both are a horrible idea and whoever thought of this tradition should've been stoned

Answer 5

Because a lot of the rice the birds will eat is not as natural as you are implying. mast of it has been parboiled or is instant and that will expand much fater than all the rice foud in the wild. That's why it is process in such a way, to make it cook fater, and therefore, expand faster. Therefore, while most birds may not die some birds will become sick and perhaps die. Therefore, it's not a big deal, most people use confetti anyway, what's the big deal, and what gives you the right to call people ignorant when you don't know what you're talking about yourself!!!!

Answer 6

Yes it's widespread ignorance because most sites don't want to deal with the whole rice thing clean up .

Answer 7

People believe what they are told without doing the research themselves, they believe it on blind faith. If anyone has been told this myth is true by a Vet or other people who are suppose to be in the "know", then I would LOVE to see their scientific data supporting this topic. I've been searching for contrary data from a reputable source for some time. So far my search has been fruitless.

Besides the links that have already been posted I have 2 more.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/FAQsBirdFeeding.htm#rice
http://www.hudsonvalleyweddings.com/guide/birdrice.htm

Answer 8

Most rice you buy in bulk at a grocery store isn't all natural, so it can be somewhat dangerous to birds and some birds (many city birds that are fed all the time by people's scraps)don't know when to stop eating, so it isn't that the rice makes them explode, its that they overeat to the point where their little bellies burst (so says my vet).

Additionally, rice is hard to clean up, even sweeping, so thats a reason why many people don't do it anymore.

Its also painful...have you ever been hit with a handful of uncooked rice?

Answer 9

I think when the switch went to bird seed, people probably guessed it was harmful to birds. And people repeated it until it became truth and added to it they will explode. This spread before the people had the internet to check the facts.

I remember hearing that and also that rice on concrete is slippery. Did not realize rice and confetti was harder to clean than bird seed.

Answer 10

Alot of places don't want you to throww rice or anything for that matter too much to clean up... It is probably a digestive thing with the birds!