Don't where to post this - Bugs in my bird's food

[Cr4ZyFr0G100]

Ok, so before I begin, last week I've been noticing these tiny, brown, oval shaped bugs in my bed. Yes. In my bed/floor freakin' crawling on me. And I also once saw a few in my birds food dish - that was weeks ago. I simply changed his food and let it go. Now I found about 10 on them on a lamp down stairs in my living room, ( my bird is up stairs in my room) and now I just thought, "Hey, let's check my birds big bag of food." So before that, I checked his food bowl - there were those bugs again in his food, then I checked his bag of food and there were bugs in it. I just simply carried the bag outside to my trash can and threw it in. There are no bugs in his cage however, just his food. And I just gave him a bath and checked his skin and there were no bugs from what I could see.

I'm freaking out, I hate bugs and I don't want them in my house or near my bird. THEY WERE IN HIS FOOD. Skittles eats that!

So.. has any one had the same experience? Should I store his food a certain way? His food wasn't near a window, but it was ripped open and I would twist the bag shut. I also did get the bag of food from my friend who owned an African Grey, but that bird was in a basement with all sorts of reptiles, cats and 2 ferrets that actually killed his bird.

Please help, I can use all the advice in the world right now.

[HungryBird]

I would throw the food out. I buy small bags of seeds/pellets so this doesn't happen. I've also found that it is much, much, much less likely to happen with the better quality foods.

I bought a bunch of these amazingly useful plastic storage containers a few years ago. They are so useful and I love them.

[liz]

By your discription, they sound like weavils. I buy the 3-D bird seed from Walmart. It comes in an air tight plastic container. While still sealed I put it in the freezer for 24 hours. I have never seen any bugs in them but will not take a chance.

How the seed is stored before you get it is important. Never buy seed or pellets that are sold by the pound.

These bugs will not hurt you or your bird but will get into everything. They eat starchy things and that includes your food. Go through your pantry and throw out any unsealed starchy food. They are not drawn to sugared cereal but will get into cornflakes, shredded wheat and etcetera. They get in flour, pasta, pancake mix and any other carbohydrate. When in doubt - throw it out. They will overun you.

I wash the empty 3-D containers and use them for my food storage. I have had to clear my pantry twice now. They evven get in paper product. Newspaper and paper bags are a haven.

Heaven help you if you ever get the little moths. Not only do they make you crazy but you have to keep checking the corners in your pantries for webs.

Did I scare you.

When in doubt - throw it out.

Rambo Myrtle Shadow Sweetie Lemone' Twinkel
Tommy Tammy Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dumb

[Cr4ZyFr0G100]

Thank you Liz about the news paper warning, because I have a huge stack of them sitting under my bird cage. I use them to put on the pan so it catches the left over seed and poop. And air tight containers sounds good, what about sealed bags?

And where do these bugs come from? It seemed like they came out of no where.

[liz]

Thank you Liz about the news paper warning, because I have a huge stack of them sitting under my bird cage. I use them to put on the pan so it catches the left over seed and poop. And air tight containers sounds good, what about sealed bags?

And where do these bugs come from? It seemed like they came out of no where.

You can use news paper but change it daily. Don't leave stacks of newspaper around until you irradicate the bugs.

These little bugs go through plastic bags. You need hard plastic containers. The 3-D costs about the same and containers can be reused. I by feed oats and wheat for my birds and store in them.

They come in on starchy food. Probably on the bag someone gave you. In the future even check the ones in the stores before you buy them. You don't say about other pets but dog and cat food can also have them.

[Cr4ZyFr0G100]

My dog's don't have the bugs. I went to my pet store and I told them what happened and they said to freeze the food. I wanted to buy millet for my bird but it was out in the open and.. I feel like they lie to me when I ask them questions. I told them I'm having a weevil problem and they told me that their millet was fresh and to just freeze my birds food. None the less I bought the food, I bought bird extract, conure seed (both came in sealed backs that can be re sealed) and I filled up my birds bowl, gave him millet and put the rest of the food in the freezer.

[liz]

You got it. Now don't forget to search for the ones loose in your house.

[Mr.Darcy]

this thread is making me itchy!!