Seed Moths & Finch Food

[flrancho]

I was feeding and giving fresh water to my finches this morning when I went to put some dried mixed veggies into one of their treat cups. As I was scooping the dried veggies out of the bag they're in, I noticed the webby-like material that comes from the seed moths after they've bred.

The bag of of dried veggies is inside another bag, but leave it to those seed moths.

Is it safe to give the dried veggies to my birds even though the seed moths have got in them, or should I throw out the veggies?

[cindy]

I have the same issue once in a while with seed. My husband is an Entomlogist, he told that it should not be an issue if it is a small amount and you can easily pick out the webbing.

[kenny]

hi
this seed webbing from the moths is a nuisance,but it comes with the territory,as cindy says it should not do them any harm


ken

[nixity]

If you don't get rid of them now, they'll just keep coming back and you can quickly have an infestation - they will even get into your own pantry (flour, pasta, rice, etc.)

Personally, I think infested seed is a sign of contamination and I wouldn't feed it to the birds. The larvae are eating the seed/food and therefore also crapping all in the food, which means it's contaminated. To me that's just asking for trouble.. but again, that's just my opinion.

I would toss it, keep any new seed you purchase in the freezer, and wait until the moths are gone. (I vacuumed them up and was able to get rid of them in less than a month).

Mine came from contaminated seed from Abba.. and I had a customer at BBF asking me how to get rid of them, complaining he got moths from Abba seed as well.
Seems to be a common issue from them.

The other way you can easily bring them into your home is from open feed bins at pet stores (self serve seed/feed that's open to the air). Or by purchasing old seed/feed that's stored in paper bags rather than air tight plastic.

[cindy]

I go based on the man with the Masters in Entomology...but if the bag is badly infested then I elect not to use it. I bought a bag of seed at a feed store that when I opened it it was 50% infested with webbing!!! Scary!!! That got promptly returned.

A few little clusters will not hurt them a bit. Simly remove the clusters, smush and toss the webbing/caterpillar away.

[Chichireeo]

I tossed out a bag of herb salad recently for the same problem.

[nixity]

I tossed out a bag of herb salad recently for the same problem.

If you contact Cathy DeHaan (Owner of Twin Beaks Aviary - Sales@twinbeaksaviary.com) about that she will replace it at no charge - she is very good about that sort of thing.

[Chichireeo]

I tossed out a bag of herb salad recently for the same problem.

If you contact Cathy DeHaan (Owner of Twin Beaks Aviary - Sales@twinbeaksaviary.com) about that she will replace it at no charge - she is very good about that sort of thing.

Thanks, Tiffany. Yes, it was the Twin Beaks herb salad. I'll get in touch with them. Maybe the bag I bought from a retailer was already old...?

[nixity]

I tossed out a bag of herb salad recently for the same problem.

If you contact Cathy DeHaan (Owner of Twin Beaks Aviary - Sales@twinbeaksaviary.com) about that she will replace it at no charge - she is very good about that sort of thing.

Thanks, Tiffany. Yes, it was the Twin Beaks herb salad. I'll get in touch with them. Maybe the bag I bought from a retailer was already old...?

It's possible - did you get in touch with the retailer to let them know?