Preparing perches for budgies?

[sonayay]

Yesterday I went to the Dandenong ranges and there was a little area where you could sit down and look into the forest. I was looking around and I saw a fallen over gum tree, so I snapped some sticks and branches off for my budgies. The branches have little areas with black spots that scrape off. Should I rinse and scrub them before I put them into the cage? Or is there more that has to be done?
Thank you

 

[weco]

It is always a good idea to remove the bark, then bake the branches for 20-30 minutes at about 180-200 degrees F.....that should kill any bugs burrowed into the bark/branch.....can't speak to the black spots you mention, because I'm on this side of the big fish pond.....sorry.....

Good luck.....

 

[weco]

could be mould I wouldn't use it.

Stripping off the bark, washing the branches down with soap & water then rinsing...then baking the branches for 20-30 minutes at about 180-200 degrees F.....will take care of any mold/mould spores.....

While living in damp, moldy/mouldy environments (wet molds/moulds) can affect our health, it is mold/mould spores of certain aspergillus molds/moulds that are dangerous to our birds and while it might be nice to stay away from them, they are airborne and something that is just a fact of life for us and our birds.....

Here is some current information from the CDC about molds/moulds:

CDC - Mold - General Information - Basic Facts

 

[MrsKay]

Just scrub them with some bleach and a brush. Rinse. Bake at 225 for 15 minutes/or dry in the sun.