Help! Moths are driving me quackers!

[Doves by Denny]

I need some advice on getting rid of moths and keeping them out. I suspect that they come in the seed, so I have switched manufacturers several times. To no avail, they still show up.
I keep all my parrot cages clean. I place all the bowls in sealed containers at night. I keep the fresh new food in a sealed container. And I still get moths flying around the house.
I've reached the end my rope with moths and now need some advice on what to do to kill them and keep them away. (I'm like a crazed old man running through the house with a fly swatter raised above my head. Wonder if that amuses my companions? I swear my amazon laughs at me as I run by. LOL)

Well anyways, I have taken care of adopted parrots for many years now. And have had a few moths from time to time and they were easy to get rid of. This time they are getting out of hand.

Any advice from some other parrot lovers would be very appreciated.

Thank you,
Denny

 

[zarafia]

I know exactly what youre talking about. We got this alot at the petstore I used to work at.
First I have to tell you that the seed moths are an indication that the seed youre feeding is very fresh. Not alot of comfort when your house is full of moths though lol.
Freeze your seed as soon as you get it home. I think freezing it for two whole days should be good. That kills the eggs in the seed. Even the best seed has these eggs and like I said if the seed was old the eggs would have already hatched out.
The best way I've found to deal with the existing moths is with a vaccume cleaner. Use the hose attachment to get the moths on the celing and the coccoons there. Just remember to securely garbage bag the vaccume cleaner bags when youre done.
Feeding pellets will also eradicate the moths.
Good luck.

 

[chilover6]

I had the same problem until I discovered the moth traps for sale in many pet stores. They have a special scent that the moths are attracted to and sticky paper that they stick in when they fly into the box trap. Really work well. I caught over 30 the first 24 hours. They're priced around $6.

Cathy

 

[Doves by Denny]

Great suggestions. Thank you very much.

Before there were replies to my post I had done the following with positive results. Very simular to your suggestions.

I had a deep freezer that we were not using. I moved all the food to it and used it as a sealed container. However I did not have it powered on. Simply as a big container. Your suggestion about freezing the food would confirm that it would be better to maybe go ahead and turn it on.
Would there be any problem with leaving it on? Would this hurt the seed in any way? I would think it would help retain it's freshness along with killing the moths.

The vaccume, I had been chasing the little boogers around with this for quite some time already...LOL

As for the flying moth traps, I did not see anything specificly for moths that did not put out a toxic fume of some sort. So I resorted to the tube of sticky fly paper that you unravel and hang. Unfortunetly when having this out, I must keep my little buddies in their cages for for of them taking flight and getting stuck and tangled in it. That would be horrible. But the fly paper did work. Filled up quite quickly.

Both of your answers were wonderful solutions. If you could let me know by your experience about just keeping our deep freezer on all the time to store the seed, that would be great. I do have enough seed to keep it pretty full. I keep a variety of seed for all my companions from small to large. The other reason I ask is that if I turn it on and off, then I have the thaw process that gets pretty wet and that, I know, is not good.

Thank you again,
Denny
www.dovesbydenny.com
avianwebcage.googlepages.com

 

[zarafia]

I dont think theres any reason not to keep your seed frozen, exept perhaps it might run up your power bill. I have known several people with large collections who kept their seed frozen.

 

[chilover6]

The moth traps that I buy don't have any odor and do not have anything toxic in them. They have a little cardboard box that doesn't have ends, it's open on both ends. There is a piece of sticky paper that goes in the box and a little capsule that has a phernone sent that only the moths are attracted to. It doesn't give off any odor. I just place it in an area out of the way and it's amazing, the first day I saw the moths flocking to it.
Yes you can keep seeds in a freezer that's running. I did used to do it when I had a large amount of birds. Just don't let them stay in so long they get freezer burn.

Cathy

 

[Doves by Denny]

Just want to say thanks again. Your suggestions all worked. Moths about all gone. As for the freezer, it's filled enough to make it worth it.
I don't think my flock is very large but to others it may be. LOL
I have 8 adopted indoor parrots of all types (they only go to outside cages on nice days while I'm home). Outdoors, I have over 50 pure white trained homing pigeons for releases and 8 white ring neck doves for displays.
So with all that, I do keep a bit a seed.

Thanks again,
Denny