OH NO daughter added parakeet food to my scratch has orange oil in it throw all the scratch out?

[Mskayladog]

Are will it be ok?

 

[satay]

I have never seen Parakeet seed with oil in it. I would read the ingredients list on your seed. I would think it would be ok but check the list of what's in it to be sure.

 

[Mskayladog]

When she told me I dug it out of the garbage the bag info says orange oil, I imagine its food grade orange oil.

 

[satay]

i did a bit of a google search and i can't find an answer. Maybe contact the maker of the seed and ask them I will post more if i find out anything else for you.

 

[Mskayladog]

The company called me back and said there was not much in it and it would not hurt the chickens

 

[CluckyCharms]

The danger of orange oil to birds is a real danger, but a very minimal one; the EPA states it is a minimal risk.

I don't know what brand of food you feed your parakeet. We use McBride's. Different bird seeds are a host to a hugely varying list of ingredients. Ours doesn't have any orange oil in it because yes, it's toxic to them. The amount that is in *some* parakeet seed is "minimal risk" according to the EPA, but to be honest with you - minimal risk ingredients shouldn't be placed in there at all. There's also Xylitol in some dog foods, dog toothpastes, dog treats, dog chews and other canine products (and it's been proven to actually be deadly to dogs, nothing close to orange oil against bird).

If I were you - I wouldn't give the orange oil parakeet seed to your parakeet.

They place orange oil in *wild* bird seed to attract flies on purpose - to draw in the birds to your birdfeeder that eat buggies (IE: warblers, tanagers and woodpeckers). Some of the same manufacturers also produce parakeet seed and the orange oil is already in batch production for the other seed so they don't bother separating the two for what is best for the particular bird.

At any rate - the risk is minimal to both your chickens and your parakeet and the chances of it affecting either one are very small - but because that risk is there, if it were me, I'd toss the affected feed.


[edited to add] PS - I do highly recommend McBride's parakeet food. :] (for your parakeet not the chickens, hehe)

 

[satay]

The danger of orange oil to birds is a real danger, but a very minimal one;  the EPA states it is a minimal risk. 

I don't know what brand of food you feed your parakeet.  We use McBride's.  Different bird seeds are a host to a hugely varying list of ingredients.  Ours doesn't have any orange oil in it because yes, it's toxic to them.  The amount that is in *some* parakeet seed is "minimal risk" according to the EPA, but to be honest with you - minimal risk ingredients shouldn't be placed in there at all.  There's also Xylitol in some dog foods, dog toothpastes, dog treats, dog chews and other canine products (and it's been proven to actually be deadly to dogs, nothing close to orange oil against bird).

If I were you - I wouldn't give the orange oil parakeet seed to your parakeet. 

They place orange oil in *wild* bird seed to attract flies on purpose - to draw in the birds to your birdfeeder that eat buggies (IE: warblers, tanagers and woodpeckers). Some of the same manufacturers also produce parakeet seed and the orange oil is already in batch production for the other seed so they don't bother separating the two for what is best for the particular bird.

At any rate - the risk is minimal to both your chickens and your parakeet and the chances of it affecting either one are very small  -  but because that risk is there, if it were me, I'd toss the affected feed.


[edited to add] PS - I do highly recommend McBride's parakeet food. :]  (for your parakeet not the chickens, hehe)

Thanks for the info cluckycharms. I have never seen it in seeds here in Australia so wasn't sure. Will keep an eye out though when i go to the produce store next time to see if any brands have it.