Advice needed - can pellets be frozen

[antoinette]

Earlier this morning I went to purchase pellets for Mishka.
Where I normally purchase them from had none, and asked to see the owner Fareed. He is probably the most trusted bird person I know. Been in business for 45 years and still going strong. Fareed is sponsoring me to have my book published.

He told me there is only one person in South Africa who manufactures the pellets. He is the only one who has the machine to cut to the pellets into wheel shapes. Last month the piece of machinery was stolen, when found, the thieves had just stolen it for the steel parts and basically left the shell.

Therefore no more pellets until he can afford to replace the machinery.
No idea when that will transpire.

Mishka refuses to eat the small little balls of pellets, just plays and throws them out.
I drove around, did over 100km, seeking the pellets.

Found a pet shop that had 4kg's left and purchased all 4kg's.

Surfed the net to see if pellets can be frozen, got many different opinions.... yes and no.

Anyone on the forum, know is they can be frozen, or kept in the packets as is.
I checked the packets, there is no expiry date !!!!!

It will take Mishka ages to eat them, I do not want to put his life in danger.

Thanks in advance

 

[Bird_Mom_to_Coby_the_GW]

I wonder if you vacuum sealed the pellets in smaller packs (with one of those food savers) and froze them, if that would work. It would seem like it would. It would be completely sealed against moisture and other contaminants. That way you could only open them as you needed them. Just a thought.

 

[wenz2712]

You can freeze Pellets and they will stay fresh for a few years

They also stay fresh for quite a long time in the fridge.

 

[antoinette]

You can freeze Pellets and they will stay fresh for a few years

They also stay fresh for quite a long time in the fridge.

What a sigh of relief Sis, I wanted to be 100% sure.
Thanks for offering to post them to me BUT the post office workers have been on strike for over 2 months.

Keeping one in the fridge, the others in the deep freeze.

Thanks for you feedback Sis

 

[wenz2712]

You can freeze Pellets and they will stay fresh for a few years

They also stay fresh for quite a long time in the fridge.

What a sigh of relief Sis, I wanted to be 100% sure.
Thanks for offering to post them to me BUT the post office workers have been on strike for over 2 months.

Keeping one in the fridge, the others in the deep freeze.

Thanks for you feedback Sis

Your welcome Sis

The ones you have now will last you quite a long time and hopefully, by the time they run out, your normal supplier will have them back in stock, or have a new machine

 

[antoinette]

You can freeze Pellets and they will stay fresh for a few years

They also stay fresh for quite a long time in the fridge.

What a sigh of relief Sis, I wanted to be 100% sure.
Thanks for offering to post them to me BUT the post office workers have been on strike for over 2 months.

Keeping one in the fridge, the others in the deep freeze.

Thanks for you feedback Sis

Your welcome Sis

The ones you have now will last you quite a long time and hopefully, by the time they run out, your normal supplier will have them back in stock, or have a new machine

First time in my life I am grateful that winter is approaching.
Pray he gets a machine soon...
I reckon I have enough stock for a year !!!!

 

[Cowtown]

glad you were to find Mishka some pellets... You might call the manufacture of the pellets and check with them and check with your vet.

Got keep Mishka's belly full and happy.

 

[sodakat]

Organic pellets SHOULD be frozen as soon as you get them in order to kill moth eggs.

Not fun to open a bag and have moths fly out or find larvae crawling out of holes in the pellets where they have eaten their fill!

The same applies to organic, untreated seeds which is of course what we should feed our companion parrots.

 

[antoinette]

Organic pellets SHOULD be frozen as soon as you get them in order to kill moth eggs.

Not fun to open a bag and have moths fly out or find larvae crawling out of holes in the pellets where they have eaten their fill!

The same applies to organic, untreated seeds which is of course what we should feed our companion parrots.

I normally purchase 1/2 a kg at a time, and keep it in the fridge.
Never ever had a problem with moths or larvae.

 

[sodakat]

I have to buy in 20lb bags which won't fit in the fridge. I know that freezing kills the eggs, refrigeration probably hinders hatching but I don't think it kills the eggs.

 

[MikeyTN]

Like its been mentioned already, as long as it's in a tightly sealed bag such as vacuum sealed bags or freezer Ziploc bags you can freeze store. I'm with sodakat there, not fun to open bags with moth flying out.

 

[antoinette]

I have to buy in 20lb bags which won't fit in the fridge. I know that freezing kills the eggs, refrigeration probably hinders hatching but I don't think it kills the eggs.

I will have to be extremely careful.
As soon as they have a new machine, I will chuck out the frozen pellets. I usually purchase a 500g packet at a time, thus always knowing they are absolutely fresh.

 

[Grenage]

Are moth eggs a problem? I mean, I'm pretty sure I've eaten my fair share of worms in apples, and god knows what else in grain.

That said, I've never ever seen moths come out of any of my grains/seeds/pellets/anything, so I have no idea how common it is.

 

[antoinette]

Are moth eggs a problem? I mean, I'm pretty sure I've eaten my fair share of worms in apples, and god knows what else in grain.

That said, I've never ever seen moths come out of any of my grains/seeds/pellets/anything, so I have no idea how common it is.

Same this side, had my fair share of worms in apples
AND GUESS WHAT

WE ARE STILL HERE TODAY

 

[SandyBee]

Pellets can be frozen for sure.
Moth's, 1 one or 2 are not a problem but if you get an infestation of them they will get into everything, my supplier was telling me to freeze/or tightly seal pellets and seed. One lady she sells to had to fumigate her place due to moths.

 

[sodakat]

I'm afraid I don't understand why you want need to toss frozen pellets. Maybe I misread.

All organic products which contain seed will also contain seed moth eggs. Freezing the pellet does not hurt the pellet all and in fact keeps it fresher. Freezing will kill the seed moth eggs though. So it's a win/win situation.

 

[Parrotdise]

I thought you should be able to freeze pellets, as i do so when i make birdie bread and it seemed fine. This thread has been very informative =). This is off subject but Antoinette, i noticed you said you are writing a book. Will you let us know when it comes out? I would love to read it. By they way I hope your friend gets his machine working soon.

 

[antoinette]

I thought you should be able to freeze pellets, as i do so when i make birdie bread and it seemed fine. This thread has been very informative =). This is off subject but Antoinette, i noticed you said you are writing a book. Will you let us know when it comes out? I would love to read it. By they way I hope your friend gets his machine working soon.

I pray every day that the guy gets a new machine soon

Extremely busy with the book, completed 29 chapters so far.
I am now busy writing the chapters on how I taught Mishka to talk.
Still going to be quite a while LoL Mishka has a lot to say
Once I have completed the talking chapters, I have to add many pic's to each chapter.
All members have been so supportive, kindly letting me publish pic's of their birds.

Members on the forum will definitely been the first to know when the book will be published.

Thanks for your support.

 

[Parrotdise]

Wow, i am really excited about this! ^

 

[antoinette]

Wow, i am really excited about this! ^

Me too
I have put my heart and soul in the book