I feel so stupid at the moment. For a while now I've been buying seed that has had this 'spider web-like' threads mixed into it. I didn't think much of it at the time, until recently when I found tiny white bug eggs. Now, at the moment, I have three batches of seed - one is the type I buy at the pet store, and two of them are containers that I bought from a pet expo that I wanted to try out. Anyway, I mainly feed my budgie the seed from the pet store (which I found the white eggs in) and occasionally supplement it with the different seed from the expo. Meanwhile we've had some really hot days, and I've been finding some moths fluttering about in my room (I thought at the time they were squeezing in from outside since I've had the window open). Anyway, last weekend, I go to supplement my budgie's food with one of the expo batches when I discover that there are grubs crawling around in it. Then of course I have a revelation, connect the moths, eggs, grubs altogether, then do a google search only to find that I am on the brink of having a moth infestation in my bedroom ! So two of the three batches are definately infected

 

So now I have a bunch of questions and I'd love it if anyone has the time to help me out a bit.

 

Firstly, I've been told that I should place any new seed that I buy in the freezer to kill off the eggs. I've heard different lengths of time, from 1 - 2 days to just a couple of hours. Which is it?

 

Also, after I take it out of the freezer, how long do I have to wait before I can feed that to my budgie? ...I assume he won't like really cold seed. :sad: And will putting it in the freezer affect the nutritional value of the seed?

 

Anyway, most importantly, because it has taken me so long to figure what's wrong with the seed, my budgie has been eating food that has the spider web-like threads, white eggs, and possibly, I'm not 100% sure, a few grubs. I figure that birds are so fussy with their food he might have avoided it completely. However if he did eat any of that, will he be alright? Should I have him checked out by the vet? My budgie was once scared of one of the moths flying around :fear, so am I right in thinking they don't eat them naturally?

 

Meanwhile my siamese fighting fish is having a blast! He's getting live moths and grubs at every meal :devil:

:sad: Welcome to my world hahaa thats normally the way the seed is where i live (until i complain).

The grubs shouldn't hurt your budgie, one topic on the boards is about feeding meal worms to them (Laughing out loud) and also with the seed being in the freezer, i guess its really upto the bird if they like it cold or not. I know for one, my Apple LOVESSSSSSSS his seed cold and loves to drink iced water :fear

Sorry i cant help much with anything else but i'm sure someone will respond soon that knows more than i do.

Cheers :beer:

Una

I shouldn't think the bugs will hurt your birds, but the bugs will have taken all the nutritional value out of the seed. Change the place where you buy your seed from, as all the seed they have will be contaminated, and is pretty impossible to eradicate. You should buy small quantities, that will last you 2 weeks to a month, no longer, then you don't have this problem. Also try to buy from a busy store, so the seed is as fresh as possible