Last Updated on February 16, 2023 by Mitch Rezman

Carol P. replied

How can you get rid of the little brown bugs that come around the bird food without hurting the birds?

Is there a spray or something I can order? Thanks for your help, Carol in Tennessee

Knowing what kind of bugs they are is half the battle.

Can you take a picture of them to send to me for identification?

 

Are they coming from the food?

 

Or did they go to it from outside the bag?

 

There should not be any bugs in the bird food.

 

If there are then the bird food is old or has not been properly stored.

 

Buying more food than you can use in a few months does not save you money if it gets buggy.

 

ALL bird seed grows outside.

 

ALL bird seed contains bug eggs.

 

It is up to you to use it up before life happens in your bird seed.

 

If you have bugs in the food, it is time to throw it out and buy fresh.

 

If you can’t then I recommend that you put it all into a deep freeze for 2 weeks to kill the bugs.

 

Then it should be safe to use without them crawling around. If the bird food looks webby or crumbly, it is too far gone and needs to be thrown out.

 

There are no insecticides that are completely safe around birds.

 

You would do your best to remove all seed debris and start fresh with fresh seed.

 

MangoPet Control is an insect spray that can be used but it is recommended that you remove your birds from the cage and room while spraying and allow the room to air out a while before returning the birds to their cages.

 

https://windycityparrot.com/cage-and-c-255_234/pest-control-aviary-bug-insect-spray-32-oz-by-mango-pet-p-1981.html

 

Thank you

 

Can ultrasound plug-in pest controls harm caged birds? Thanks

 

Name: Laurie

 

Hi Laurie

I would not take the chance – if its an ionic version it can definitely be harmful

 

from the manufacturer

 

Birds vary so much in size, breed and behavior. 

 

We have no way to guarantee the Ultimate AT will or will not bother your bird.

 

To be safe, we recommend not using the AT in the same room as your bird, or near the birds cage.

 

Some customers have reported their birds seem bothered by the ultrasound; other customers tell us their birds seem just fine.

 

best  mitchr

 

[email protected]

 

I have a concern that I never realized until this week and I would like some advice.

My new husband and I just purchased our first home together and we are in the process of moving at the present moment.

 

I took care to make sure this home had a “bird room” for our feathered kids that is completely safe (no fan, window coverings, outlets covered, locking door, even hardwood so I don’t struggle daily with carpet stains anymore)!

 

Well what I didn’t realize is that this home is heated by gas, including a fireplace and the stove-all gas!

 

We haven’t moved the feathered ones yet thankfully or I would have probably bothered my vet a thousand times on a weekend!

 

But when I turned on the stove to cook yesterday, I couldn’t help but notice an odor!

 

Now I am very upset and concerned that our birds are going to be harmed here!!!

 

Any advice?? The room is on the opposite side of the house but on the same floor.

 

The door does completely shut, but what happens in winter when the heat is on?

 

Will the gas harm them?

 

My husband thinks I’m smelling the gas cause it was just turned on and that it shouldn’t do that once its in constant use.

 

Im hoping that he is correct but either way I am very worried about the birds. Thank you!

 

Hi Stacy

 

You don’t mention of its natural gas or propane but either way both are benign for your birds.

 

We knew natural gas was safe but wasn’t sure about propane so we tested it for ourselves.

 

Our story about that is found here: https://windycityparrot.com/Is-propane-heat-safe-for-my-bird_b_639.html

 

Keep in mind when you put your birds in a specialty “bird room” you are at isolating them from the rest of the flock which is you, unless they are only there to sleep.

 

We recommend keeping birds in eyesight of their humans for great social relationship.

 

Best of luck,

Mitchr

 

add->  carpet stains comment mitchr

 

From Sandra B

 

Mitch, love your articles.

 

Just want to clarify something.

 

My elderly DYH Amazon recently passed (difficult loss) and just ONE issue was “thigh muscle atrophy” per the vet. I just read this from your article, “Most people are surprised to learn that birds have no muscles in their legs nor their feet just a pair of tendons called Flexor tendons that run basically from the hips to the toes.”

 

Now I am confused and wonder if there are thigh muscles?

Hi Sandra

 

We are sorry for your loss – we feel pets to be as much a part of our hearts as humans.

 

You bring up an interesting point – I walk the fine line between not dumbing things down too much at not being too technical.

 

I will change the wording in the post based upon your excellent recommendation to read , “Most people are surprised to learn that birds have no muscles in their “visible” legs.

 

And present you with his excellent graphic to further explain the birds muscular anatomy.

 

You can see where the muscles end above the elbow.

 

https://goo.gl/photos/59pLxfMYehe2qD8j6

 

Thank you for engaging with us

 

mitchr