Spanish moss safe for parrots to forage in?

[UnderHisWings]

Hello all,

I am new here and have a quick question about native Florida (and most other southern state) Spanish moss. The kind you see hanging from most live oak trees south of the Mason Dixon line

I have had small parrots in the past but not recently and a few years ago I moved to Florida and am now in the position to provide a parrot the time it needs. Exciting! So now I look around and see all this wonderful moss that looks like an awesome foraging material but can't find any good info after a brief search online if it is safe for parrot use.

I would be cleaning the moss up in some way (not sure how yet) before giving it to the bird to make it free of debris/bugs/etc. Just don't want it to be poisonous to the little guy. Can't find it on any toxic vs safe lists either.

Just for a reference. I plan on getting a green cheek conure in a couple months after I visit a couple breeders in the area to find a good one. So a small/med parrot will be doing the foraging, potentially, in this moss.

Let me know what you think and thanks in advance!http://www.parrotforums.com//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/

 

[wrench13]

I've heard they harbor some nasty ticks. No idea about the poisonous aspect, but ticks... bleah, make my skin crawl.

 

[GraciesMom]

I've seen wild birds use it for nesting materials when I lived in Florida but I would be really concerned about chiggers. Nasty buggers (burrow under your skin and itch like crazy) for people to come in contact with so I'd imagine the same holds true for birds. Not sure about the poisonous aspect.

 

[UnderHisWings]

Wild birds here definitely use it for nesting materials all the time but I doubt they are as apt to chew it as our parrot friends. For the bug problem I have been brainstorming a few ideas:

Baking it at a low temp in the oven to kill them like you do with pine cones (just not sure if the delicate foliage would catch fire lol). Don't mind if it dries out a little as long as no smoke is involved!

Soaking it in something pet safe that would kill/remove pests. Still working on what that solution would be though.

 

[UnderHisWings]

I also just thought about FOOD GRADE diatomaceous earth. We used it in our chicken coops growing up to control fleas, chiggers, and ticks for our chickens. What if I put the moss in a plastic tote, sprinkled with the dio earth, closed the lid and gave it a shake, let it sit awhile, then rinsed the moss off and let it dry inside? What do you guys think? This moss is just so plentiful, and free , if using it is safe it will be a major resource for me.

 

[Flboy]

The chiggers are real! Had a friend use a bunch for a Halloween, swamp thing, outfit. Did not sterilize! Got very bad, for him-- rest of us-- no compassion! Very funny!

 

[Christinenc2000]

I understand you wanting to use it. There is a ton of it here but to be honest I would not chance it.

 

[Christinenc2000]

Ok reading up a little more it said Hanging Spanish Moss can be full of Red Bugs
Let me know what you come up with.

 

[GraciesMom]

Ok reading up a little more it said Hanging Spanish Moss can be full of Red Bugs
Let me know what you come up with.

Yep .. those are chiggers. You won't soon forget them once they burrow into you. Itch like crazy. Chances are if you handle it during the collection process you'll end up with them on you. Don't step/stand or in my opinion go anywhere near any that has landed on the ground. When we were clearing a back part of our land years ago we handled tons of it off of the ground.. and paid the price. I remember my grandmom slathered tons of clear nail polish on the areas affected, it actually worked but was still a miserable experience.

 

[UnderHisWings]

Ok, guys. Check this link our for info on sterilizing this stuff to kill the chiggers. You literally just nuke it in the microwave

Spanish Moss | Charleston Magazine


Bugs now nuked ... I just have to find out if it is poisonous or not. More Research!

 

[UnderHisWings]

Oooh, just found a Budgie blog with a list of toxic/non-toxic list that says spanish moss is safe for birds! The source link however goes to a site that is no longer around

Plant types and their toxicity

 

[chris-md]

Yep, chugged are the main concern with wild caught Spanish miss. Buy bagged material if you're really concerned.

Toxicity wise, it's a tillandisa which is on the list of safe plants.

 

[GraciesMom]

Good to know it's safe. Be careful collecting it keep the chigs off you!

 

[rskybizintrees]

As a Arborist in North central Florida I'm glad to stumble across this thread.
Microwave is the answer as stated above. In the past 7 years I've only had a few chiggers/redbugs and they always seem to come from the moss that is already on the ground or very close to it.
I send boxes from time to time to florist friend in Vermont. Glad to know it's on the safe list.

All things heavenly rarify to air. Trees produce that heavenly air. Breathe air and take care!

 

[Taw5106]

Growing up as a kid we spent a lot of time with family in Florida, around Pensacola. Lots of moss in the trees and we weren't allowed to touch it mainly due to ticks. My Aunt was adamant about not touching it. I remember visiting there and with my cousins, we were making mud statues and we added moss to the mix to help give it some solidness, lol!!! We had to stop because my Aunt saw us and she made us take baths, lol!!!


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