seed keeping?

[carriesb]

I buy my seed from a store that repackages it from bulk. I know some people don't like bulk and some do. But this seems to be the cleanest seed and the best seed I've ever found. When I got some last time they said the seed could start getting bugs in it because of the heat were in Las Vegas Nv. and it's starting to warm up. But if I put it in the freezer for a day it kills the bugs and then the seed is fine. Well that just grossed me out big time there were no bugs in it and I froze it anyway but now I'm out so I have to go in tommorrow and get some more. So if there are bugs in it should I just look for another brand I don't even think I can handle looking at them if there is I'll probably get sick. And if I freeze the seed if I see dead bugs I'll get sick. But is that bad for the birds I would think there would have to be some kind of larvae in there for the bugs to develop?

[TooLover]

I also buy in bulk; price-wise it is cheaper and I have to keep a large supply on hand. It doesn't matter what brand you buy; if not kept cool you will get bugs or moths! Last year after the hurricane and being out of electricity for over a week I had a bad case of meely bugs; talk about gross! I now keep all of my pasta in the freezer.

[danforth3]

Freeze the seed for a day or two. That usually kills the larve.

[The Outlaw]

In all likelihood, the added protein from the larvae is probably good for the birds. After all, many species routinely feed on them in the wild. I agree, however, that 24 hours in the freezer will keep you from ever meeting the larvae or its grown up cousins.

THE OUTLAW

[Monica]

Whether or not the seed has bugs in it when you buy it, it might have eggs. If the seed does have eggs in it of bugs, they are usually far too tiny to notice so it's always wise to freeze it in the first place.

If the entire bag of food is overrun by bugs then it's just best to toss it and buy a new bag.

[SweetPea]

Ewww!

I keep my birdie's seeds (I mix a few different varieties together, for, well, variety) in a huge tupperware container.

Is that enough to keep bugs out?

I haven't seen a bug yet... but I've only started doing this for the past 3 months.

Should I keep most of the mixture in the freezer until needed? I only have two little mouths to feed, and they get other kinds of food and treats as well!

[Monica]

A tupperware container is fine, though it's best to still freeze food before use if at all possible. The caterpillers of the moths however can get into a tupperware container (somehow) though as long as you keep your food fresh you shouldn't have any major problems with bugs.

[danforth3]

I always freeze my seed before opening it to kill any larve or eggs in it. I hate bugs and would probably freak if I saw some in the seed. (We recently had really warm weather and found an old bag of seeds that had never been opened with a ton of seed moths flittling around in it and hatching away. Yuck. Neeedless to say we threw it out and immediately froze all the new stuff we received that day overnight.

[Samm]

I occasionally get larvae in my finch food, but if they make it to the food dish, they don't last very long! I bought a handful of those little mealworms, the one you'd feed to chameleons...they devoured them in minutes.

Moths, on the other hand, are a pain in the butt.....I have a difficult time getting rid of those.

[carriesb]

I bought some for the birds and I put it in the freezer and that's also what the store owner said keep it in the freezer for 2 days and it kills everything. And the larvae is harmless. Thanks for all the replies.