Alphafa or timothy hay

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by bustersbuddy

We need more information here before anyone says this is safe or not. If this is a dried alfalfa or a dried hay product then it is absolutely NOT, repeat NOT safe for bird use! Dried grasses that are baled or tied into bundles can carry aspergillus spores and birds should not be exposed to them. They are almost impossible to sterilize with any degree of certainty.

Fresh alfalfa sprouts or freshly mown stems are safe for consumption provided they are well washed and thorougly cleaned before use and provided that no commercial pesticides were used on the alfalfa prior to harvest. Sprouts produced for human use are safe but should be washed with a good vegetable wash before serving them, particularly if they were sprouted in those little plastic containers. The root zone and the stems can carry a pretty hefty bacterial load by the time they have set around the store for a couple of days. Trader Joe's carries a very good vegetable wash that we use for our own veggies and for Buster's veggies and sprouts. Since I sprout her seed mix myself, I am always careful to wash it thoroughly every morning at harvest. Even though it is sprouted on sterile filter paper in clean dishes, bacteria can and probably is present.

Hopefully, the original poster can clarify what type of product they were talking about and go from there.

I agree to a point. Do Not Buy sprouts in a store. Thier shelf life is very short, and have been known to carry fungi. If your sprouting your on alphafa I would say your safe.

Mike

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by bustersbuddy

We need more information here before anyone says this is safe or not. If this is a dried alfalfa or a dried hay product then it is absolutely NOT, repeat NOT safe for bird use! Dried grasses that are baled or tied into bundles can carry aspergillus spores and birds should not be exposed to them. They are almost impossible to sterilize with any degree of certainty.

Fresh alfalfa sprouts or freshly mown stems are safe for consumption provided they are well washed and thorougly cleaned before use and provided that no commercial pesticides were used on the alfalfa prior to harvest. Sprouts produced for human use are safe but should be washed with a good vegetable wash before serving them, particularly if they were sprouted in those little plastic containers. The root zone and the stems can carry a pretty hefty bacterial load by the time they have set around the store for a couple of days. Trader Joe's carries a very good vegetable wash that we use for our own veggies and for Buster's veggies and sprouts. Since I sprout her seed mix myself, I am always careful to wash it thoroughly every morning at harvest. Even though it is sprouted on sterile filter paper in clean dishes, bacteria can and probably is present.

.

thank you!

[Just5398]

My original question was regarding the dried stuff they use for pet rodents but I understand that they are not safe for birds so I won't be using them. I will, however, look into the fresh people sprouts that were mentiond in bustersbuddy post.

Thank you everyone for your input, you guys are the BEST! :)

Sally

[bird_luver24]

GREAT to know for me!!!
I always have Timothy and Alfalfa Hay around for my rabbit and asked about this on another forum and they said it would probably be ok. I buy my Hay at Walmart in the Small Animal Section and its Dried...Im really glad I read this post!!
Im starting to order it from a MUCH better Company though for my rabbits health now though!! Its much more fresh!!!