Spraying for bugs

[BrianKing]

This weekend we are going to bomb our house we have a little bug problem. I was wanting to know how long should I keep my birds out of my house? I was thinking about two days but I am not sure.

[LMPego]

Hey, Brian.
Not to stick my nose in where it's not wanted, but didn't you post in the LB forum that you are buying a pair this weekend? I don't know how long you should keep the rest of the birds out of the house when bombing for bugs, but do you think this is the best time to get a new pair?
Also, the new guys would have to be quarantined, and I think that's going to be hard to do if you have to get everyone else out of the house.

[BrianKing]

I know its a bad time but I have a place where I can keep them until I am done bombing the house. The lady I am buying them from said "she would hold them for me for one weekend" so its now or never.

[BrianKing]

How long should I keep them out of my house?

[Tiki]

What about smaller de-buggings like ant spray and spraying the garden flowers. We have hibiscus under the bird's windows that have been eaten alive by grasshoppers due to the heat wave we had here and I am afraid to spray for fear the fumes will get to the birds in the 2nd floor. Are there any bird-friendly garden pesticides. Most people here use pyrethium (sp?), don't know how safe it is.

We get ants coming in the kitchen, I have been washing them away and not spraying them, any better idea would be appreciated.

[Joel]

I too would not use a "bomb" but would sprinkle some boric acid powder around crevices and also toss around some Sevin dust. I would shoot any of the bigger hard-to-catch-&-release bugs with A.I.L. (Avian Insect Liquidator) since I have already tried pleading with them to just stay outside but they just won't listen, the little buggers !!!!......The A.I.L. is really safe around birds and the Sevin dust (5%) is fairly safe too but I would do my best to keep it out of the food & water of course......Good luck...

[Monica]

We got this ad booklet about this book, "Backyard Problem Solvers" and it has a few suggestions what to do with pests....


Antiseptic Mouthwash...
Say goodbye to pests with my bug-be-gone spray

Liquid Dish Soap
Protect ailing azaleas from lacebugs

Spooky Spider Mites
Would you believe you can spdier-mite proof your backyard with a little buttermilk?

Rubbing Alcohol Protects Flowering Vines
An attack of mealybugs can strangle a flowering vine in a flash. But you can get rid of 'em pronto. How? Combine a half-and-half mixture of rubbing alcohol and water. Just spray and the mealybugs and they'll disappear.

Rose Aphid Antidote
1 orange peel, coarsely chopped
1 tbsp. of baby shampoo
2 cups water
Put in blender and blend on high for 10-15 seconds. Strain out the pulp into a coffee filter, then pour liquid into a handheld mist sprayer. Get out your hose and blast your roses with a high-pressure spray nozzle to dislodge the aphids. Then mist spray the plants... and it's adios aphids.




In the book, everything is most likely more detailed and may have instructions on what to do... but maybe some of this might help... However, maybe a few of you may get an idea from all this and try it out for yourself... and tell us how it worked!

[sujo1973]

What about if you just want the exterminator to come in. The last time I had the exterminator come my friend took Ruffles for a few hours. Is it very dangerous for a bird to be in the apartment if we are doing just the general extermination? And if so how long are you supposed to keep your bird out of the apartment? Thanks for any help!

[Joel]

I personally would not use any chemical bug sprays or anything an exterminator may want/need to use as they all have a residual property to them (I believe). I would only use the somewhat "bird-safe" chemicals like I mentioned in my earlier post but even those you can't misuse or over use. Taking a bird out for a few hours is risky IMO as this leads to a false sense of security for your bird.

Maybe someone else with more first-hand experience than I (who has used exterminators for many years without any ill effects for any of their birds) will respond if there is such a person here.....Good luck.....P.S. = you really ought to try that A.I.L. that I mentioned, works great or if ya are a fairly good shot with a rubber band (like me :) ) you can use those too in order to pick off an occassional nuisance insect in your home....

[The Outlaw]

There is NO way I'd allow an exterminator to shoot my house. I think that a reasonable time to keep birds out of a house will likely be in the one week period. As for termites, that's even longer. I also dust everything with Sevin and use borac acid on my kitchen counters. Also, there are little nemotoads that you can order and apply to outdoor gardens. They arrive pre-packaged and you add them to water. They apparently eat flea larvae. All I know is that I did that years ago and my Aussie has never had a flea problem nor have I ever had fleas in my home. I don't use any other flea remedy on the dog other than when I send her out for clipping and bathing twice a year. I know that sounds awful, but she never smells, sheds often and is an inside pet for the most part. She is a very clean creature. When I had other dogs, I had to bath them weekly just to stand living with them indoors.

The Outlaw