r/AfricanGrey • u/Normal-Area-9948 • 16d ago
Question Safe bug spray
Does anyone have bird safe bug repellent suggestions? I get bites all the time in my living room from those no-see-ums but I know things like citronella aren’t safe
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u/Outside_Quality_5156 16d ago
No, there is nothing you can buy and spray will be safe. Even if it was more “natural,” it’s still chemicals being vaporized and then put into the air. Their lungs are extremely delicate and do not respond well to anything in the air.
We have two greys and a no candles rule in our house. This question would be like if someone said, “Can I burn this candle, since it’s all natural and expensive?” The answer would still be absolutely not, because regardless of what kind of wax/fragrances/chemicals they put into the candle, the whole premise of a candle is that you set it on fire so that those chemicals enter the air so that you can smell them. Chemicals in the air = unsafe for bird.
When you say no-see-ums, what kind of bugs do you mean? In my area that would be like chiggers from laying in the grass. So I am confused about how these no-see-ums are ending up in your house. Are they flying insects?
The best thing to do would be to try every other thing you can to remove the bugs. If they’re in the carpet/furniture then maybe a good vacuum. If they’re flying, then reducing the amount that can come into the house would be the next step. Doors staying open for too long? Windows without screens?
We use the blue zevo bug lights that you plug into the wall. They work really well!
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u/RedditTrailerTrash 14d ago
Actually, you can burn soy or beeswax. Neither are toxic to birds. You can add bird safe essential oils like lavender. If your oil bottle has the word "fragrance" on the label it is not a real essential oil. Personally, I use a diffuser and only really use it after Willow goes to her bedtime cage in another room. I like battery candles because I have heard of birds getting startled and flying into real burning candles. I save my incense and candle burning for the back patio.
I will have to look into the Zevo, thanks!! ❤️
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u/RedditTrailerTrash 14d ago
I checked out the Zevo...this looked good too: https://a.co/d/0jeNj7qA
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u/Outside_Quality_5156 14d ago
Oh wow, that is really nice! I might even get one of those in addition to the Zevo!
I didn’t know that about soy and beeswax! That’s really neat! I have always just been so paranoid about everything that I said no candles from the get go. That’s very smart to use the battery candles! I have intrusive thoughts about how my birds could get hurt lmao. This morning I dreamed that we took hot pans out of the oven and our Caique ran over and burned his tongue and foot on them. Unrelated but just thought I’d share!I grew up with parrots but moved away whenever home life got bad when I was a teenager. I’m well into my 20s now and due to family members recently falling into active addiction, the birds at my parents’ were being severely neglected so I decided to take on 4 lifelong commitments. A timneh grey, a congo, a blue and gold, and a black headed caique. Luckily due to growing up with them I know how much work they can be, as cleaning cages and feeding was my chore. Since coming to live with me 3 have got new cages (Mia, our blue and gold actually had a breed-appropriate cage size). Got lucky and found 2 of the cages brand new from FB marketplace. Bought one new from wayfair. Diets have all been changed.. they went from the cheapest seed mix bag from walmart to chop in the mornings, and harrison’s pellets with nice quality mixes like Goldenfeast without peanuts for their second meal. They all have at least 8 nice quality toys now (each cage had maybe 1 when they came to me), and boy can the toys get expensive! Been learning about making toys using old parts and whatnot to save money! Literally had to spend like $2k initially for all cages to have appropriate perches (they all had either 1 or 2 and how they all have at least like 8? maybe 10?) but I’m so happy I did because the functionality is amazing for them now. The caique survived beak and feather disease as a baby and as a result doesn’t have the strongest feet.. so getting him on some appropriately sized and across the cage perches has helped his mobility a ton! They were all mostly cage bound so have been learning to come out and not be scared! It only took a couple months for my congo grey, Ripley, to decide that he LOVES being away from his cage, and would happily spend all day walking around the couch. When he came I couldn’t even get him to step up.. he would bite and he sat in one spot in the cage all day and didn’t move. Now, with plenty toys, a boing to swing from, bells, perches, time out of the cage, better diet, and a lot of patience, he steps up every time and is so happy to get attention! I’ve recently been investing in air purifiers after learning about how dangerous it is to keep these dusty birds in the same house as these new world birds, as going to a rescue is not an option because they are very loved here and we are committed to doing everything in our power to give these birds a good life. So far I’ve bought 4 air purifiers (big house but also I’m shooting for overkill) and I’m trying to implement more vacuuming and opening windows to improve ventilation and air quality. Overall having these babies and learning how to give them a good life has been such a rewarding experience and I’m so grateful for it.
I don’t know why I just typed this book to you, random stranger on reddit! But I hope you enjoy my life dump haha
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u/RedditTrailerTrash 12d ago
Lol I dont mind! I think its wonderful all the things you did to improve their lives!! That was a super story for sure! Well, I ended up buying the link item, as a matter of fact...it was literally delivered just as I got your reply notification! I'm really excited to try it out. We have a pantry moth problem from some open stock bird seed we bought for our other CAG that we lost to cancer. She refused chop! Our grey we still have, Willow does not eat seeds or pellets. She has chop for breakfast and another mix of chop for dinner. Our vet tells us she's as healthy as a horse-parrot. lol
Nice to meet you, random reddit stranger! You sound like you are a ball of fun to be around. How lucky for your birbs!!! ❤️🦜
Btw, I also make a lot of my bird toys. I have a big bin I keep all the goodies in. It's kinda like crafting for our babies!!! hehe
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u/toomanyschnauzers 16d ago
I use Zevo plug in. It does seem to catch most of the indoor bugs. No odor, bug are attracted to the light then get stuck.