Month: March 2020

COVID-19 and disinfectants

COVID-19 and disinfectants

I previously wrote an in-depth article about alternatives to bleach, where several alternatives were compared and fared extremely well against bleach.

Due to COVID-19, the EPA has put up a very comprehensive page on disinfectants that work against COVID-19 and also against more difficult viruses. I’ll highlight just bleach and my favorite, thyme oil, just as a comparison.

These all come from an amazing document called List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2, on the Environmental Protection Agency Website.

First, bleach wipes:

Then, thyme oil wipes:

Note that the only difference is the contact time. But as my other article explains, bleach is an insanely toxic substance and I encourage you to read my whole article. Second, thyme oil is safe to use on children’s toys, on food products, and in food processing. Just spray on, wait 10 minutes.

Why are you still using bleach then? Get it out of your household and dispose of it at your local hazardous waste facility.…

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COVID-19 and parrots

COVID-19 and parrots

NOTE: This is based on current scientific information at the time of publication. It’s possible the virus or information will change, but it’s accurate for now.

I hesitate to even comment on this because it’s currently a non-issue, but there is so much information and hysteria about everything related to COVID-19. Consider one of the largest bird rescue organizations in the country, Mickaboo and their COVID-19 response on their main page:

We also want to help the Mickaboo community safely support each other throughout this challenging period to ensure their continued good health and that of their birds.

COVID-19 Response from Mickaboo Leadership—Mickaboo

Granted, it doesn’t come out and say that birds carry COVID-19 and we can catch it from them and vice-versa, but it certainly does imply it. This sort of hysteria and lack of science-based thinking is what leads to panic.

Can we spread the virus to each other

Coronaviruses that infect animals can become able to infect people, but this is rare.

…

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Using cameras inside cages

Using cameras inside cages

I wrote an article called “Benefits and joys of remote cameras” where I described using a brand of camera called Arlo to observe bird behavior without being present. It’s useful and fun, and sometimes uncovers critical problems.

Inside a cage is a difficult environment to put in a remote camera and get enough coverage, even though the newer Arlo cameras claim a 180 degree view.

Cameras outside a cage are pretty much useless as all you see are the cage bars.

I’ve developed four different methods to attach an Arlo camera inside a cage that I’ll describe here. I’ll mention that I’ve never had problems with any of them, but some theoretically have some risk involved of a camera getting detached.

Strong magnets 101

NOTE: Magnets will NOT work on stainless steel or aluminum cages.

First, a foray into what are called “strong magnets” or “rare earth magnets” — these are no ordinary magnets.…

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If you really want to use pellets

If you really want to use pellets

I’ve made many strong cases against feeding birds a processed (pellet) diet:

Those are just a few. But if you really want to feed your bird pellets, I have some suggestions. First off, this is the recommended fat intake for humans from two sources:

National Academy of Sciences: 20-35% calories from fat
US Federal Dietary Guidelines: 20-40% calories from fat (depending on age)

Most pellets have roughly 5% fat content, meaning they have a very high carbohydrate content. Revisit this link for more on why a low fat content is bad.

Some popular pellet brands and their fat content:

If you want to give your bird an amount of fat that is closer to being healthy, consider Harrison’s, which has the added benefit of being organic.…

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