Q about natural perches

[MLaRue]

Well I do wash mine.... mostly because everyone said to....

But the ones I put in my aviary are way to big to bake.

Maybe because we are in the South where it is humid and we have lots of bugs crawling everywhere I would never put a branch from a tree straight into my aviary without a good washing and spraying it with AIL! I was just looking at the trees in my yard and at our barn and there are bugs and fungus and just yuck all over the branches... Not worth the risk... JMO

[Ursula]

Well I do wash mine.... mostly because everyone said to....

But the ones I put in my aviary are way to big to bake.

Maybe because we are in the South where it is humid and we have lots of bugs crawling everywhere I would never put a branch from a tree straight into my aviary without a good washing and spraying it with AIL! I was just looking at the trees in my yard and at our barn and there are bugs and fungus and just yuck all over the branches... Not worth the risk... JMO

I live in the South too but I have to admit that I always use branches from outside without washing, spraying, baking, or whatever. And that for about 7 years now (first for my cages, now for my aviary). My husband usually gets them in woods on empty lots near his work, and he takes branches of young trees and bushes that have a smooth bark. He also strips off all leaves and little twigs. I never saw any bugs crawling on there, and the only bugs that I have in my aviary are ants and roaches (who I have a constant battle with ) and seed moths from the food (who get eaten by my button quail, they love them! )

[CandoAviary]

I also do not wash my natural branches... I may hit it with the hose but that is about it. Now once they get poop on them from my bird (or if any from wild birds before collecting) then I will remove and wash with bleach.
My birds love to look for any scaly bugs that may be there...especially the parrot finches. I put a rather large limb on the floor of the aviary and the female red throat will spend forever looking over that wood. Every once in a while I will put a couple of meal worms on it just so she can find something She will hold on and lean all the way over to look underneath the branch inching around and around.....really reminds me of a woodpecker creeping along the trunk of a tree.

[MLaRue]

All I can say is that I hope no one ever has to deal with mites, and for those of us that have had to deal with them it is a living nightmare for the birds and the human. I will continue to be safe because I've already been down that road of sorry. But whatever works for others may never work for my set up and vice versa...

Happy bird keeping!

[CandoAviary]

Misty,
What kind of mites did you get from the tree branch?

[MLaRue]

I do not know. I have not researched what mites could come from the natural branches. But again I'm not willing to take any risks.

Red Blood Mites don't live on a bird but come out at night from their hiding spaces to feed on birds, chickens, whatever the blood source may be - so it is possible that mites may live in or near trees to take advantage of the wild birds and their nests full of babies. Leaving some chance that you may come in contact with the mite.

It is a matter of risks for you and your flock, and this is one I'm not willing to take.

[MLaRue]

Misty,
What kind of mites did you get from the tree branch?

I do not know if they came from branches that I used in my aviary, I can't be certain of anything. All I know is that I will never expose myself or my birds to the possibilities again.

[Ursula]

I am sure you are right, and I think prevention is a very good thing.

Unfortunately, the branches that I put in my aviary a very big from floor to ceiling to serve as "trees") and I don't think that simply rinsing them will eliminates tiny mites and stuff that hide in the bark. I can't bake or otherwise sterilize them because they are so big, so I guess I have to take my chances...

[CandoAviary]

There are chemicals that can be sprayed to kill just about anything.

I believe sunshine is the best remedy. I only use oak branches that are trimmed from our trees. They are high in the sunlight and pre- baked in the Florida sunshine I also collect large limbs of which smaller branches can be snipped to make perches while the large tree size can go to the aviaries. I would always be cautious if using branches that have fallen to the ground..... Also dead branches have decay that can harbor unwanted things such as molds.
I agree that we all must evaluate the risk to our birds. They rely on us for thier safety.

[Ursula]

I always use only fresh branches too, never dead ones.

Wouldn't the chemicals harm the birds as much as the insects? I am very cautious about any chemicals or pesticides in my house and yard because of all my critters. (...and us!)...

[CandoAviary]

I don't like chemicals either... that's why I don't use them on my branches.

[Sally]

AIL (Avian Insect Liquidator) is permethrin, I believe, and safe to use in the bird room. It can be sprayed directly on the birds, perches, nests, etc., and I've never had a problem with it. I live in 'buggy' Texas, and the palmetto bugs get big enough to throw a saddle on!