Ordered Seed Mix - Arrived With LIVE Bugs In !!!

Violet_Diva · Sep 9, 2016

Bit of strange thing happened, I ordered some more of the seed mix that my young eclectus had been on since being weaned by her breeder (I'm trying to cut down) and it arrived yesterday... and there were live bugs in it!

Very disconcerting. I called the company and they are sending out another bag today. Now I don't know what to do with the bug bag. Will it be unsafe? Could wild birds eat it? I really don't know. Has anyone else had bugs in their seed mix before? Does anyone know what are they?

Dopey · Sep 9, 2016

I usually always freeze my seed (if I can) for 24 hours.
It is not unusual to see bugs in the bags. That's not to say that we like it but it happens.

SailBoat · Sep 9, 2016

24 hours can be a little on the short side for killing live bugs or their larva.

We over-kill with 30 days prior to use and then only removing from the freezer what is needed for the next day or so. It keeps the dry food fresher.

Note: If you are buying and using the same day, you will at some point run out of dry food for your parrot. Think farther out in front of your usage.

You should be buy only Human Grade Mix and only from organizations that are processing in FDA Human Grade Facilities. You should feel fully comfortable eating whatever you are buying for your Parrot!

Long Cycle Kill: Once you have followed a long cycle kill, you can feed to your Parrot or to wild Birds>

Violet_Diva · Sep 9, 2016

I bought this particular mix from a specific seller as the breeder said they have used them for 20 years and had no problems. So I didn't think there would be any risk of contaminated product. How naive of me! I will definitely look at sourcing ingredients to make my own 'replica mix' using only human grade food now. Thanks for the freezing advice. Will definitely be doing that from now on!

SailBoat · Sep 9, 2016

And, thank-you!

I would recommend that you search a bit in this Forum (Parrot Food, Recipes and Diet) for recommendations on the best combinations for your Hen. I am a Amazon Snob, and understand that your girl's diet needs are different from most other Parrots with a greater need for fresh Vegges and Fruits. Ask /check with the Eclectus Forum regarding Sun Flower Seeds, I believe that like Amazons, they are a major no-no. But, I will let you confirm that with those folks.

It has been several years, but I believe that the UK has open air markets in which the local Farmers /Gardeners bring their goods in for sale. Its a good place to find fresh foods for your girl. As a group, they also know what other growers are planting and they can point you in their direction.

Have fun with this!

scarf · Sep 10, 2016

That's a weevil. Harmless but very hard to get rid of if they get into your pantry. You need to seal up that bag in something airtight. Oh also it's not always the manufacturers fault. Weevils lay their eggs in dry goods so it's actually possible to buy a bag that looked just fine, only to open it up a while later to find the hatched weevils inside.

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scarf · Sep 10, 2016

( you sometimes find them in flour, pasta etc as well)

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Scott · Sep 10, 2016

scarf said:
That's a weevil. Harmless but very hard to get rid of if they get into your pantry. You need to seal up that bag in something airtight. Oh also it's not always the manufacturers fault. Weevils lay their eggs in dry goods so it's actually possible to buy a bag that looked just fine, only to open it up a while later to find the hatched weevils inside.

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Precisely! My seed is bought from a store that mixes their own products in an adjacent warehouse, and it always appears fresh when purchased. The weevils appear towards the end of the batch, so it is simply a matter of hatching over time!

Violet_Diva · Sep 10, 2016

Thanks everyone! I was a bit freaked out by the bugs (it wasn't something I was expecting.) Im glad you guys knew what they were. My mind has been put at rest! Do these critters turn up human grade seed too?

Ximichi · Sep 10, 2016

I've had an issue with pantry moths in my seed. I've also seen it them grow in human grade seed. It's really annoying, so I just freeze my seed and take it out after a week (small amounts at a time). I've had an issue with ants trying to get to the seeds too

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GaleriaGila · Sep 10, 2016

Learned a lot here... wow.
Thanks, all.

Teddscau · Sep 10, 2016

Aww, let Bella eat the nummy weevils. I've never had issues with insects being in my guys' seed, but I have had to deal with dirt and rodent poop in it. And this includes human-grade grains and seeds. Well, the rodent poop got me a free 2 kg bag of Kamut wheat, so I didn't mind too much

.

I have, however, found live bugs in Noah's organic, human-grade chamomile. They were these puny brown, pill-shaped beetles that were actually living in and eating the dried flowers. I was shocked, but Noah just ate them all. It turns out he likes eating insects. I'm actually thinking of buying him a culture of flightless fruit flies... I think I'll start a colony of aphids for him, too.

Ximichi · Sep 10, 2016

Teddscau said:
Aww, let Bella eat the nummy weevils. I've never had issues with insects being in my guys' seed, but I have had to deal with dirt and rodent poop in it. And this includes human-grade grains and seeds. Well, the rodent poop got me a free 2 kg bag of Kamut wheat, so I didn't mind too much .

I have, however, found live bugs in Noah's organic, human-grade chamomile. They were these puny brown, pill-shaped beetles that were actually living in and eating the dried flowers. I was shocked, but Noah just ate them all. It turns out he likes eating insects. I'm actually thinking of buying him a culture of flightless fruit flies... I think I'll start a colony of aphids for him, too.

Haha lucky you!! My birds get freaked out at the sight of a bug.

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Teddscau · Sep 10, 2016

The one time when I brought him outside in his cage, I was petting him through the bars when a dragonfly landed on my hand. Noah just started doing his demented dolphin scream. He got so excited! He wasn't scared or anything like that, just really excited. Another time, a spider was crawling on his cage and he tried to eat it. Luckily, the spider got away. Man, he is really into bugs

. The budgies just tend to ignore bugs. Noah's such a card, though.

Aquila · Sep 11, 2016

I almost always immediately repackage any food that I get. Depending on who it's for, I use quart and gallon size freezer bags and portion them all out, and freeze. After that they go in the crisper drawer in my fridge during the hot months. Pellets go into an airtight storage container. Sometimes it's unavoidable though, and it only takes one. This summer I've dealt with a plague of pantry moths and am still fighting it. I usually order from a bulk supplier who I've had no issues with except this one time, and I let them know about it, as I saw larvae before I even opened the sealed bag. Any reputable supplier will take it seriously, but the insects are pretty harmless (extra protein!)

And yes, as Sailboat said, check out the eclectus section and food recs, you might have some luck in creating a better mix and diet.

Ximichi · Sep 11, 2016

Aquila said:
I almost always immediately repackage any food that I get. Depending on who it's for, I use quart and gallon size freezer bags and portion them all out, and freeze. After that they go in the crisper drawer in my fridge during the hot months. Pellets go into an airtight storage container. Sometimes it's unavoidable though, and it only takes one. This summer I've dealt with a plague of pantry moths and am still fighting it. I usually order from a bulk supplier who I've had no issues with except this one time, and I let them know about it, as I saw larvae before I even opened the sealed bag. Any reputable supplier will take it seriously, but the insects are pretty harmless (extra protein!)

And yes, as Sailboat said, check out the eclectus section and food recs, you might have some luck in creating a better mix and diet.

I've been using sticky pantry moth traps (caught over 100...) they work pretty well and for a few months the problem went away...until I ordered more seed. Check them out!

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scarf · Oct 1, 2016

Lol Garp (rosella) has no compunction eating pantry moths. She's no good at catching them though. They have to be half drowned or something.
To get rid of ants, roaches, weevils or pantry moths:
Mix one third borax and two thirds polenta into a paste. Place in little containers in the cupboards. In the case of weevils you will need to throw out the contaminated goods first (yes they'll eat human food too). These bait stations function as a nest killer too. They take the food back to their nests and voila. This is pretty much the only thing that works for pantry moths.
If you're only dealing with ants or roaches diatomacheous earth will do just fine and it's completely bird safe.
NB NB. IF YOU USE THE BORAX POLENTA MIXTURE : DO NOT LET YOUR BIRD EAT THE MIXTURE OR THE BUGS! they can get secondary poisoning from ingesting contaminated bugs. Watch them very carefully and clean very thoroughly.

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Puck · Oct 1, 2016

Yes be VERY careful what bug killers you use. I was sure that there were no traces of extermination chemicals left and that's how I lost my sun conure. Those chemicals can hang around a LONG time!

And I still haven't gotten rid of my huge bug infestation.

scarf · Oct 17, 2016

I'm so sorry for your loss Puck

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Kentuckienne · Oct 17, 2016

Teddscau said:
Aww, let Bella eat the nummy weevils. I've never had issues with insects being in my guys' seed, but I have had to deal with dirt and rodent poop in it. And this includes human-grade grains and seeds. Well, the rodent poop got me a free 2 kg bag of Kamut wheat, so I didn't mind too much .

I have, however, found live bugs in Noah's organic, human-grade chamomile. They were these puny brown, pill-shaped beetles that were actually living in and eating the dried flowers. I was shocked, but Noah just ate them all. It turns out he likes eating insects. I'm actually thinking of buying him a culture of flightless fruit flies... I think I'll start a colony of aphids for him, too.

Hilarious. It's all about point if view sometimes with food.

Ordered Seed Mix - Arrived With LIVE Bugs In !!!

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