Easy Bake Apple Harvest Muffins

 

This yummy fall bird muffin is healthy, delicious, and fun!

       

INGREDIENTS:

       1 package Prepared Bird Bread Mix (such as TOPs or Harrisons bred mixes)

1 large apple, chopped into small pieces

**(peel apple & remove seeds before chopping)

1 can 100% pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling which contains sugar)

2 medium or 1 large egg

1 cup water (or use unsweetened apple juice instead of water)

1/2 extra cup water or juice (optional)

2 tablespoons palm-fruit or olive oil

Paper cupcake or muffin liners

 In a large mixing bowl, pour the package of bird bread mix. Add the eggs, oil and stir thoroughly.

Next, add the can of pumpkin to the mixture and stir well.

Peel apple (to remove any wax or pesticide residue) and remove any apple seeds as they are toxic. Chop the apple into small pieces. We use our food processor for just a few seconds for quick small pieces. By cutting the apple into smaller pieces, the apple will be distributed through the muffins more evenly.

Add apple pieces to mixture and stir gently but well. Add water or juice to mix until mixture is blended well.

Although the canned pumpkin will add some moisture to the mixture, the apples will soak up moisture offsetting the liquid you have added. So add enough water or juice to make a cupcake-batter consistency. (The thicker the mixture, the longer it will need to bake).

Pour mixture into mini muffin or cupcake pans and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Oven temperatures can vary so be sure muffins are done.

Thoroughly cool muffins before serving to your bird. Cooked muffins can also be frozen in freezer bags or plastic containers and removed daily for a fun treat each day until gone.

Use fall or Halloween cupcake/muffin paper baking cup holders to add extra fun for your bird. Hand your bird the complete muffin and watch him or her peel away the muffin paper and relish the yummy fall muffin inside.

These Apple Harvest Muffins are full of nutrition and make a great foraging food.

 

Cinnamon Spice oh so Nice

 

Who doesn't just love the smell of cinnamon and spice and everything nice that translates into the fall and holiday season?  Those of us who share our homes with birds though can feel a little left out sometimes. Scented candles, air fresheners, and especially those plug-in fresheners, are totally off limits in our homes. Many, if not all, of these scented items can be deadly to our birds.

A general rule of thumb when it comes to candles, potpourri, air sprays, is that the better it smells, the more toxic it probably is for our feathered friends. Our own avian veterinarian has warned us that plug-ins are not only dangerous to our birds but have also been linked to seizures and other health issues in some cats and dogs as well. Some essential oils used in many scented candles and potpourris can be toxic to birds.

So how do we join in the fall holiday spirit and spruce up our aromatic indoor smells?

It is actually very simple indeed. Gather up some cooking spices such as ground cinnamon, cinnamon sticks, ground and/or whole cloves, and some ground pumpkin pie spice. You can also add some sliced oranges or apples to the mixture as well.

  

Then find a warming pot such as one for potpourri, or a small size coffee pot that has a warm setting, maybe a small crockpot with low settings, or even just a small size sauce pot (no teflon please), add some water and sprinkle a little or a lot of the spices that you prefer, stir well, and keep warm.

Now you too can enjoy all the wondrous smells of the fall season and holidays without worrying if it is safe for your birds and other pets.

Caution Note:  Do make sure the pot never dries out as it may damage your warming pot, or may cause burned smells which would not be good for your birds. Unplug your unit when you are not at home to keep an eye on it.

It Is Pumpkin Time

Fall harvest time brings an abundance of colors and flavors, as well as nutrition for your bird.  Pumpkins are especially a favorite with mine.

Pumpkins and pumpkin seeds are truly a superfood.  High in vitamin A, providing calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and other wonderful healthy nutrients, makes pumpkin a winner for your parrot's diet.

Check out your grocery store or local farmers market for large pumpkins as well as the smaller edible pumpkins that are great as a whole foraging food for larger birds. 

If your bird prefers cooked softer foods, bake the pumpkin in the oven at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes first, and after completely cooling, let your bird's fun begin.  You can also cut the top off and remove all the pumpkin seeds (use the seeds later) for less mess if you prefer.

Larger sized pumpkins can be cut open, seeds removed, baked for about 45 minutes, then cut into smaller sizes and placed in freezer bags for lots of future foraging fun.  You may also cut the pumpkin into chunks before baking as well.

The pumpkin pieces or chunks can also be smashed in a food processor or blender and added to your favorite bird bread or muffin recipe, or added to your bird's chop as well.

Pumpkin seeds can be prepared by rinsing well to remove the stringy gooey pumpkin pulp, pat the seeds dry with a paper towel, or spread seeds on the towel or paper plate and air dry.  Then place the pumpkin seeds on a large cookie sheet or cake pan (REMEMBER: DO NOT US NON-STICK PANS THAT MIGHT CONTAIN NONSTICK CHEMICALS).  You can lightly spray the cookie sheet or pan first with some non-stick cooking spray, or use the safe old-fashioned wax paper as a liner to help keep the seeds from sticking to the pan.  Preheat your oven to 250-300 degrees and bake the seeds for about 40 minutes.  Ovens can vary so keep on eye on the seeds to be sure they do not burn.  It may help to stir the seeds around about every 10 minutes as well to prevent sticking.  

You can serve the seeds to your bird as soon as they have cooled, as well as placing some or all in freezer bags or containers and freeze for later use. 

Pumpkin seeds make great nutritional treats all by themselves.

Preparing for Winter Temps

As we move into winter temps across the country, warmth is necessary for us and for our birds.  

If you use electric central heat, having an annual checkout of your unit is a good idea to make sure everything is safe and ready to go.

I personally add a little extra warmth to my bird room at night with portable oil filled radiators.  Mine are older heaters and I have never had any problem with them.  However a word of caution if you are purchasing a new one, I would highly suggest plugging it in outside your bird area and setting on a high heat to burn off any coatings the newer ceramic units may have.  I would allow at least 24 hours of use in a vented area before adding to your bird's area. 

VERY IMPORTANT! - Never use Kerosene heaters around birds as the fumes can be toxic and can kill your bird.

My personal research on the use of propane or butane heaters is a little confusing as it seems split 50/50 on yay or nay.  Many avian experts say do not use either propane or butane heaters around birds.  However, some bird owners say they have used them with no ill effects on their birds.  One source I found stated that butane is not a highly toxic gas and can be stored inside your home.  Whether that means you can also use it safely in your home with birds, is an unknown definite to me and I personally tend to err on the side of unknown safety, means no safety.

It is, however a known fact that propane or butane heaters used without adequate combustion or ventilation can give off excessive carbon monoxide which is an odorless, poisonous gas, deadly to birds, and even humans. Early signs of carbon monoxide poisoning in humans are similar to flu-like symptoms, including a headache, dizziness, and nausea.  For birds sadly there would be no warning to let you know there is a problem.  

I encourage everyone to do their own research into these methods of supplemental heating as well as gas burning fireplaces before any emergency occurs.

A gas burning fireplace has been considered unsafe by many in the bird world but some of the newer gas burning fireplaces may have extra precautions of safety built into them.  Again, I encourage everyone to research and even contact the manufacturer of your particular brand for more information and safety precautions.   

If you are having to use a wood burning fireplace for heat, make sure your room is well vented and no smoke is coming into the room where your bird is.  Before winter sets in it is a good idea to make sure your fireplace is clean and free of creosote and any leftover nesting materials by birds who may have set up housekeeping in the chimney over the summer.   

Creosote is a residue that accumulates in your chimney from wood burning and can be extremely flammable.  Read more about creosote here:  Wood Burning and Creosote Information


Stay warm, stay safe, and stay inside if you can.

Some Halloween Safety Tips

Although there are usually less and less Trick-or-Treaters going door to door in neighborhoods these days, there are still plenty of fun activities that include sweet treats.

However, if you do still get a few of those tricky visitors at your door, be sure to keep your bird safely away from open doors, scary costumes, and boisterous children (and sometimes even the adults).

It is very important too to remember to keep the sweets from becoming birdie treats.

Sometimes I hear comments that chocolate must not be really toxic to birds because their bird ate a chocolate chip cookie, or some other chocolate treat and was fine.

I do cringe when I hear these comments as yes, chocolate really IS toxic.  However not all chocolate is equal.  The dark cocoa found in Dark Chocolate Squares, Bittersweet, and Baker's chocolates are usually the most toxic, as well as also containing caffeine which is also not good for your bird.

Chocolate in any form should not be fed to birds. Yes, Bittersweet, Baker's and Dark Chocolates are more toxic than Milk Chocolate, but are you willing to take the chance that your bird has no problem?

It's not just chocolate treats either.  Those yummy sugary candies are big no-nos too.  One candy corn may be a great sugar treat for a child, but that's a whole lot of sugar for a bird, especially a small one.

Also there is a somewhat new danger that is deadly to other household pet.  It's called xylitol.  It's a newer sugar substitute used in some sugar-free products, low carb products, and even vitamins and supplements.  Become a label reader for safety.  Even a small amount of xylitol can cause seizures, liver failure, and even death in dogs.  You can read more about xylitol by clicking HERE

So keep the people treats for the people, and if you want your bird to share in the Halloween fun, pick up a few birdie treats, or even better, bake up some healthy bird treats of your own.
Apple Pumpkin Harvest Bird Muffins Recipe

Being Ready for Winter Weather

As I anticipate the possibility of snow and ice that our local weather forecasters have predicted for our area, I remind myself that all winter weather emergencies should be prepared for way-way before necessary.  No one wants to be that person standing in long lines trying to grab the last of the emergency items needed.

Living in the south, a few inches of snow and the least bit of ice can pretty much shut down everything.  Only the very brave (or very dumb) are usually willing to venture out onto the icy roads with all the crazy drivers slipping, sliding, and spinning around often making a bad situation even worse.

Here is a list of some items you might want to always have on hand just in case you are snowed in for a few days.  Not to mention being prepared for the possibility of dealing with a power outage due to icy power lines or falling tree limbs.

Here are some emergency items I always have on hand for my birds:

• Extra Seed, pellets, dried fruit/veggie foods that don't have to be refrigerated
• Emergency Avian First Aid Kit
• Emergency Carrier 
• Warm blanket or quilt to cover the cage or carrier
• Tear up toys for stressed or bored birds 

Other items good to have on hand include:

• a flashlight & extra batteries
• warm blankets or quilts for the humans
• bottled water for both my birds and myself
• hot snap hand warmers (optional) but kind of nice for the human and they can be placed under carriers for extra warmth.

Many people keep extra bird food in their freezer and rotate it out as needed so they always have some extra on hand for emergencies.  A very good idea.

If you lose power you will need that flashlight, but make sure the light from the flashlight does not frighten your bird as it will be an unknown moving object to your bird.   

If your only source of heat is electric and a power outage occurs, placing a blanket or quilt over your bird's cage can help keep your bird's environment warmer for a while.  Placing your bird in a carrier is a smaller space to keep your bird warm in.

If you find you do need to use a carrier for your bird for both safety and warmth, that really nice tear up bird toy may help keep your bird occupied, calmer, and busy while in the carrier.

VERY IMPORTANT! - Never use Kerosene heaters around birds as the fumes can be toxic and can kill your bird.

My personal research on the use of propane or butane heaters is a little confusing as it seems split 50/50 on yay or nay.  Many avian experts say do not use either propane or butane heaters around birds.  However, some bird owners say they have used them with no ill effects on their birds.  One source I found stated that butane is not a highly toxic gas and can be stored inside your home.  Whether that means you can also use it safely in your home with birds, is an unknown definite to me and I personally tend to err on the side of unknown safety, means no safety.

It is, however a known fact that propane or butane heaters used without adequate combustion or ventilation can give off excessive carbon monoxide which is an odorless, poisonous gas, deadly to birds, and even humans. Early signs of carbon monoxide poisoning in humans are similar to flu-like symptoms, including a headache, dizziness, and nausea.  For birds sadly there would be no warning to let you know there is a problem.  

If you do have to use one of the above sources of heat in a prolonged severe emergency, please be sure to ventilate the area to help protect your bird as well as yourself.  I encourage everyone to do their own research into these methods of supplemental heating as well as gas burning fireplaces before any emergency occurs.

A gas burning fireplace has been considered unsafe by many in the bird world but some of the newer gas burning fireplaces may have extra precautions of safety built into them.  Again, I encourage everyone to research and even contact the manufacturer of your particular brand for more information and safety precautions.   

If you are having to use a wood burning fireplace for heat, make sure your room is well vented and no smoke is coming into the room where your bird is.  Before winter sets in it is a good idea to make sure your fireplace is clean and free of creosote and any leftover nesting materials by birds who may have set up housekeeping in the chimney over the summer.   

Creosote is a residue that accumulates in your chimney from wood burning and can be extremely flammable.  Read more about creosote here:  Wood Burning and Creosote Information

Stay warm, stay safe, and stay inside if you can.

Halloween Holiday Heath Alert

October Halloween Safety Tips

There are still some residential neighborhoods and areas that have giggling happy Trick-or-Treaters show up at their front doors.  Or maybe you have some little Trick or Treaters who enjoy Trunk-or-Treating at supervised locations or gatherings bringing home some sweet treats. 

If you do still get a few of those tricky visitors, be sure to keep your bird safely away from open doors, scary costumes, and boisterous children (and sometimes even adults).

Sometimes I hear comments that chocolate must not be really toxic to birds because their bird ate a chocolate chip cookie, or some other chocolate treat and was fine.

I cringe when I hear these comments as yes, chocolate really IS toxic.  However not all chocolate is equal.  The dark cocoa found in Dark Chocolate Squares, Bittersweet, and Baker's chocolates are the most toxic and many people do not realize they contain caffeine which is also bad for your bird.

Chocolate in any form should not be fed to birds. Yes, Bittersweet, Baker's and Dark Chocolates are more toxic than Milk Chocolate, but are you willing to take the chance that your bird has no problem?

It's not just chocolate treats either.  Those yummy sugary candies are no-nos too.  One candy corn may be a great sugar treat for a child, but that's a whole lot of sugar for a bird, especially a small one.


Also, there is a artificial sugar substitute used sometimes in sugar-free sweets that is deadly to your dog.  The name is xylitol and it may be found in candies, gums, and other sugar-free items.  I'm of the opinion that if something is deadly to my dog, then it's not something I want my birds to have either. 

So keep the people treats for the people, and if you want your bird to share in the Halloween fun, pick up a few birdie treats, or even better, bake up some healthy bird treats of your own.

It's Spring Again!

Do you have the Spring Cleaning bug?  

I think Spring is a great time to thoroughly clean your Bird's Home and surrounding birdie areas.

I'd like to share a few tips (and Bird Rules) I find useful.

Tip 1 - Remember to remove bird from cage to fun play area with lots of toys and treats to keep your bird occupied before beginning cleaning project. 

As many of us know, some birds simply do not like anyone messing with their stuff.  So keeping them occupied elsewhere, hopefully, may keep them from noticing what you are up to.

Tip 1 Bird Rule:  Always respect the bird and his or her personal "things" if you value fingers and such.

Tip 2 - Remove all bird toys and perches from cage prior to cleaning. This is a great time to thoroughly inspect all toys for wear and tear and throw out anything that might not still be safe. Check for strings, shredded cloth or rope, bird poop that can't be cleaned away, chewed wood that has any sharp places, and so on.

Tip 2 Bird Rule:   When in doubt, throw it out.

Tip 3 - Wooden and trimming perches such as concrete, sand, and such, can be soaked in a sink or bathtub in gentle dish detergent and water.  Be sure to thoroughly rinse and air dry before returning to your bird's cage or play area. Perches made of Rope and Sisal, or other such materials, can be brushed with a stiff bristle brush to help remove dried on poop, or food.  Although some people may gasp, both wood and rope or cotton perches can be run through a gentle dishwasher cycle after brushing to better clean them.  Again, make sure they are completely dry before returning to your bird.  Throw out any perches that look like they might trap tiny toes or toenails, as well as any wood that looks splintered and possibly a foot hazard.  It may be time to add new perches and throw out the old, using different sizes for foot exercise.

Tip 3 Bird Rule:  Perches that are not completely dry, can cause foot problems so taking the time to be sure they are dry is well worth it.

Tip 4 - Cages and play areas can be washed with vinegar and water, or a mixture of gentle dish detergent and water.  Always rinse well after cleaning.  Our bird store also carries products specifically made to clean cages, perches, and toys, that are bird safe.

NEVER use cleaners such as  Mr. Clean, Lysol, Soft Scrub, Windex, 409, etc. to clean anything your bird can come in contact with.  Almost all household cleaners can be deadly to your bird. Bleach is not recommended for cleaning as it is toxic if inhaled by your bird  (or you for that matter), is very caustic to cage finishes, and can burn skin if splashed accidentally.

If your cage is small enough, try putting it in the shower or bathtub for cleaning.  Be sure to put down a towel or bath mat to prevent scratching tub or shower finishes. 

You can also roll larger cages outdoors and use a garden hose to clean.  If using a power washer, you will probably want to set to a low-pressure setting to prevent paint damage to the cage.

Tip 4 Bird Rule:   Remember birds have very sensitive respiratory systems so if your cleaner smells strong to you, then is more than likely is not a good idea to use it around your bird.

Tip 5 - Once everything is nice and clean, add a couple of new toys as a reward before returning your bird to his or her home.  After all, your bird is going to know you have been messing with his or her stuff no matter how stealthy you think you have been, and new toys may help soothe things over for you.

Tip 5 Bird Rule:  Now you can better enjoy your Spring and your Bird's new clean area.

Is an Army of Ants Invading Your Space?

The ants seem to be moving in early this year at my house.  So I thought I would share a few suggestions on ways to help control ants in a natural safe bird-friendly way.

Here are a few ideas on naturally controlling ant invasions and a few stronger suggestions if necessary

Unless you are an ant lover, you probably would prefer to see no ants in your bird room or anywhere else in your home.  In fact, you probably also prefer not to have them hanging around your home on the outside either.

There are many articles online to help you identify which species of ant you are trying to rid yourself of.  However, I prefer to focus on how to get rid of them.  Getting rid of ants naturally is the way to go if you have birds, other pets, or even small children in the home.

There are commercial ant baits that do work, but I prefer not to use them around my birds, cats, and my little dog.  My birds and cats are very inquisitive creatures that love to check out anything new in the room so safety is very important to me.  Birds are quite capable of cracking open ant baits to see what is inside, and I find my cats love to bat the ant baits around the room to see how far they will slide.

 One easy way to help prevent ants from climbing up your bird's cage is to put all cage legs in a small container of water.  Ants do not like water, they do not swim.  However, you will need to check daily to be sure there is still water in the bowls.  Although this helps keep the ants out of the cage, it doesn't get rid of them.  It is, however, a quick fix to keep ants out of your bird's cage.

Idea #1: Mix a soapy water solution in a spray bottle.  Doesn't take much liquid soap or dish detergent.  Spray the ants.  This will kill them almost instantly.  The soapy water mixture also eliminates scent trails of the ants helping with newcomers.  You can also spray this mixture on your bird's cage legs (but not on your bird) and around baseboards of the room as well.  You may need to repeat daily if you have a lot of ants invading.

Idea #2: Mix a solution of 50/50 vinegar and water, and with a spray bottle, spray the ants.  This will kill them and vinegar is not harmful to your birds or other animals (of course don't spray it on your bird or other pets).  Doesn't especially smell good, but it does work.  Vinegar and water is also a great cleaning and disinfecting solution for cleaning your bird's cage too. Just rinse after cleaning.

Idea #3:  Cucumber peels repeal ants, so you can chop up some big cucumber slices and spread around the bird cage tray.  You will need to do this fresh daily as your bird if able, may decide to taste or enjoy the cucumbers as well.  Cucumbers are fine for your bird and most love the cucumber seeds as well.  However, you don't want your bird eating day old stale cucumbers.

Idea #4: Mix up a solution of water with some lemon juice and spray around the room corners or baseboard.  Ants don't seem to like lemons very much either.  Your room will probably also smell lemony good.  Clean and reapply as often as needed.

Idea #5: You can sprinkle cornmeal around the corners and baseboards of the room to keep ants out as well.  Or sprinkle a circle around your bird's cage.  Cornmeal is safe for pets and children, but not so attractive sprinkled all over your floor.  Cornmeal seems to work well outside the home, especially poured on top of ant beds or mounds.  If using outside, you will need to repeat after any rain.

Idea #6: I'm sure everyone has seen or heard of the spray bottle of Bird Mite Spray you can buy at many pet stores.

I personally do not recommend ever spraying your bird with this yucky stuff.  If your bird has mites, lice, or anything else these sprays claim to take care of, your bird needs to go to the avian vet.  Your bird does not need this chemical sprayed on him or her.  

So why do I even mention this product then you ask?  Because this Bird Mite Spray stuff kills ants.  Kills them quick and is actually safe to spray on your bird's cage, trays, papers, or all around the floor.  Just remember to not spray directly on your bird.  It does have to be repeated every day or two to stay active.

I also recommend a product called Control Bug Spray.  It is safe to use around your birds and other pets, but should never be sprayed directly on them, nor should it be sprayed freely in the air if they are in the room.  I recommend you remove the birds, then spray around the floor or baseboard or cabinet area, air out a bit, and safely return the birds and other pets to the area.  For more information:  Click for information on Control Bug Spray

A note about using Diatomaceous Earth as a deterrent.  

Yes, Diatomaceous Earth does kill ants, slugs, roaches, grasshopper, earwigs, and fleas.  However, the dust can be an irritant to birds, children, pets, or anyone with asthma or other breathing issues.  I prefer not to use this inside the home.  It can be safely used around the outside of the home with good results.  For more information:  Click to learn more about Diatomaceous Earth

Hopefully, some of these suggestions will help you with your ant problem this summer. 

For more information please check out our Pinterest Board "Bug and Pest Control Naturally