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Pesky Pantry Moths

If you own birds you have probably encountered these annoying moths at one time or another. Sometimes referred to as seed moths, pantry moths, or flour moths, they are Indian meal moths and Mediterranean flour moths. In the summer they tend to be more abundant because the higher temperatures speed up their life cycle. You may find evidence of them in the form of little off-white larvae, their webs, or the moths.

Bird seed, peanuts, and grains are a prime food source for these insects, but because it is also feed for animals, pesticides cannot be used to control them. The good news: all stages of these moths are harmless. There are preventative measures you can take to keep them from infiltrating your home:

• Check any seed beforehand for webs or pests.
• Do not leave seed in hot areas like your car, hot sheds, garages, etc.
• Freeze your seed for at least 1-2 days. (They don’t handle lower temperatures well; this should kill off anything that may be present.)
• Store seed in airtight containers.

If you currently have moths, here are some steps to help manage them:

1. Freeze the current bag of food for 1-2 days.

2. Place moth traps to trap and dispose of the adults.
(Be careful your birds cannot fly into, or reach, any sticky traps that are in the house. Glass bottle traps are also available that utilize bait and a moat area.) Or, arm yourself with a hand vacuum and suck up any in sight.

3. After the 1-2 days, move the frozen seed into the refrigerator
and use from there.

If the food becomes too infested, sometimes it may be best to dispose of it since it is likely the main food source.

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Millet

Millet- not only a favorite treat of many birds, but people can eat it in various forms as well! It is a small-seed grass crop; in fact, one of the world’s oldest cereal grains and easily grown in dry areas or areas with poor soil conditions that other crops can’t tolerate. It is a natural part of the diet for many birds and parrots in the wild.

The large spray millet on the branch (foxtail millet) is the most familiar form, but there are other varieties as well. Proso millet, red millet, Japanese millet, and finger millet can all be found in seed mixes for finches, parakeets, and cockatiels.
Nutritionally, millet contains vitamin b, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, protein, and is a good source of fiber. Not only can it be used as a treat, but it can help keep weight up on baby birds as a transition food from formula to larger seed. Even adult birds enjoy it, choosing to methodically pick off seed by seed- a great way to keep an African Grey or a cockatoo busy.

A full diet of millet is not recommended and can lead to health problems such as fatty tumors, liver complications, and vitamin deficiencies. It is important to round out daily diets with other seeds, grains, pellets, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

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Zebra Finches

Polka dots, stripes, a pop of color, and an adorable song- the Zebra Finch has it all. Native to Australia, large flocks of zebra finches can be found in fields, open plains with sparse trees, and have even adapted to urban areas. These small finches are quite hardy and very prolific, making them a favorite of bird lovers everywhere. In the wild, a diet of small insects, grass seeds, greenery, and millet is consumed. The same can be offered for pet zebra finches, with the addition of pellets, egg food, and a variety of chopped fruits and vegetables.

Because finches have straight beaks, they do not climb and must rely on flying to move about the cage and for exercise. For this reason, it is important to house them in cages that are wider rather than taller. In captivity they can average a lifespan of 5-7 years.

Breeding zebra finches requires little encouragement. Often, when provided with a nest and fibrous materials like short yarn, hay, and grasses, they know what to do. Males are easily recognizable by their orange patches on either side of the face, plus a black bar across the chest. A pair of zebra finches may produce offspring year round, generally laying a clutch of 2-7 eggs at a time. When incubated properly, babies will start hatching between 14-16 days, and ready to leave the nest between 3-4 weeks.

Fun fact: Zebra finches are pint size pioneers of science. Many studies have been done on zebra finches offering us insight on song recognition, male vocalization patterns and learning, human speech, genome mapping, and more!

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Toxic Avocado

There is one common food in particular that should NEVER make its way into your bird’s food bowl. The avocado. All parts of the avocado should be considered harmful to your bird: the leaves, skin, pit, and the creamy inside.

Avocados contain persin, a fungicidal toxin. If ingested, symptoms may include: increased heart rate, labored breathing, weakness, and apathy. If you think your bird has eaten avocado, contact your avian vet immediately.

While many people have fed avocado, or have seen wild flocks of parrots enjoying them from yards with no ill effects, it is better to be safe than sorry. Keep avocados, as well as guacamole, out of the reach of your bird.