With the amount of bird i have i buy seed in bags od 25 pounds. Its lasts about 3 months.

 

At the end of the 25 pounds, i always end up with moth and i have to shove the food. I ***** me off !!!!!!!!!! (sorry to say).

 

I keep the food in a hermetic bucket, and the buckets and containers with the foods (tropimix, sunflowers, vitamix, etc) are themselves stored in another big platic chest. This morning, i had to shove a full container or tropimix and egg food that were contaminated with moth.

 

Then this men from the nursery told me that they always get pests in the bird seed.

 

Isn't there something to do prevent this? Does freezing the extra food damages the value of the food?

 

Thanks to everyone

Edited September 18, 200519 yr by hath

I shouldn't think freezing would harm the food, but you'll find the moths have laid eggs in your container too. You need to wash it out, use a toothbrush in any joins, and then leave it in the full sun to kill any eggs you've missed - they are super tiny and you will miss them. I never buy more than a months supply (but for me it's 40 kilos!), and even so I sometimes get moths. Not that often, but it does happen. One other thing you can do, especially if you buy more often, is get on friendly terms with the staff. Then ask for the freshest seed they've got. That way the seed hasn't been sitting in the store for weeks and you have less chance of the moths hatching in your seed.

I shouldn't think freezing would harm the food, but you'll find the moths have laid eggs in your container too.  You need to wash it out, use a toothbrush in any joins, and then leave it in the full sun to kill any eggs you've missed - they are super tiny and you will miss them.  I never buy more than a months supply (but for me it's 40 kilos!), and even so I sometimes get moths.  Not that often, but it does happen.  One other thing you can do, especially if you buy more often, is get on friendly terms with the staff.  Then ask for the freshest seed they've got.  That way the seed hasn't been sitting in the store for weeks and you have less chance of the moths hatching in your seed.

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I out them in the dishwasher - i tought it would sterilize the thing...

I've read that moths won't live in old seed, so if you've got them, the seed still has some nutrition. Freezing the seed won't hurt it, and it is recommended if there is a moth problem. Supposedly you can still feed the seed, but....

I've read that moths won't live in old seed, so if you've got them, the seed still has some nutrition. Freezing the seed won't hurt it, and it is recommended if there is a moth problem. Supposedly you can still feed the seed, but....

Nah, i don't want to feed my birds "mothened" seeds - it's disg... There are coccoon and filaments and moth eggs....

 

Mmm??? Does it count as some king of proteins? Would they eat them in nature?

Well, they do eat insects in the wild. My biggest problem with feeding them seed with moths and weevils in, and I know it just isn't realistic or make sense, is that it will give them worms! So, I toss seed that I notice with moths. Suppose you could grow it, and feed them the greens that grow. That way your not wasting it.

Well, they do eat insects in the wild. My biggest problem with feeding them seed with moths and weevils in, and I know it just isn't realistic or make sense, is that it will give them worms! So, I toss seed that I notice with moths. Suppose you could grow it, and feed them the greens that grow. That way your not wasting it.

 

You mean the clean seeds, or one the moth has infected the seeds?

I would plant the moth infected one. I do plant clean seed too, but if you've got moth infected seed, plant that and feed them the green shoots.

I would plant the moth infected one. I do plant clean seed too, but if you've got moth infected seed, plant that and feed them the green shoots.

Thats a great idea...

 

Thanks!!!

 

i never thought of feeding the birds with shoots of seed!!!

 

i ususally give them salad or spinach and sprouts, but their seed is a very logical choice!!!!

Edited October 5, 200519 yr by Natouk