We are considering a preventative treatment by Terminix which would be done outside the house. They will be using Tim-bor Insecticide and Fungicide - the chemical name is disodium octaborate tetrahydrate. I am having a hard time finding out whether or not this is dangerous to use with parrots in the house. Of course the sales rep said it was safe - yeah right - what does he know! I won't authorize the treatment if I cannot find out if this is safe or not. Has anyone here ever used this product or know where I can find out if it really is safe? Of course I would keep all windows closed but nothing is air tight. Any imput would be greatly appreciated!

disodium octaborate tetrahydrate, Oh my!
Sounds fatal to lions, tigers & bears.

Seriously, I have no idea. Hopefully someone on the board will know. Any info. would be helpfull to everyone.

This may give some info. I'll see if I can find anything else.

20 MULE TEAM Ò

Thanks, Karen....I already have this, but it doesn't say whether or not it's toxic to animals, especially parrots.

All I could find in regard to animals and people in general is that it is completely safe once it dries. Nothing specific about Parrots.

A little more info.

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET

http://shelter-products.com/MSDS%20S...r%20Borate.pdf

UNTRUE. I still can't believe that they are saying this. If an animal is able to digest it in any way, it is harmful. Essentially, it is like the insecticide used by DDT that killed the eagles and falcons. We spray permetherins around the outside of the house, far away from the birds. Of course, if you live in the south, it only works to a certain extent (roaches, etc don't seem to be too affected by it. Sorry I couldn't find anything other than what's listed, but I thought I'd add a little

I think it depends on what pests you are trying to kill as to what will be effective. Safe is another issue altogether.

Here's a post from another board I'm on that I remembered from last year. It's all New Yorkers so roaches are the major concern and was the topic of the OP.

Also here, we had BB100 from New York who postedthe name of the stuff she uses, again, for different bugs. I remember her post contained alot of info but I dont have time to find it at the moment. Sorry.

Here's what we had on that site from LandofVos:


From LandofVos.com :

COCKROACHES
Prevention--Close off all cracks around pipes and electric lines where roaches enter the house by using cement, screening, or Brillo pads. Caulk small cracks along baseboards, walls, cupboards, and around pipes, sinks, and bathtub fixtures. Seal food tightly. Rinse food off dishes that are left overnight. Do not leave pet food out overnight.

Release small geckos in your home and aviary. Provide dishes of water for them to drink. They will feast upon the roaches at night in the late evening, and sleep out of sight during daylight hours.

Cut Hedge Apples (Osage Orange) in half and place several in the basement, around in cabinets, or under the house to repel roaches. Osage Orange is a fast growing shrub which can be grown as a hedge around homes and aviaries. The crushed fruits of this plant are said to attract and kill cockroaches.

Baking soda and powdered sugar mixed in equal parts and spread around infested area is a non-toxic roach killer.

Diatomaceous earth (DE) can be sprinkled on areas where roaches are seen. Parrots should not breathe the powder as it is being applied in the aviary. One brand available in natural food markets is "Concern" by Necessary Organics Inc.

Build a cockroach trap. Smear a thin layer of Vaseline around the inside lip of a pint jar to a width of about 2 inches. Place the jar upright, with bait inside, in an area frequented by cockroaches. Apple and potato make excellent bait for American, smoky-brown, and brown-banded roaches, while German roaches prefer banana peel. Change the bait often because fresh food is more appealing to roaches. Another trap can be made by dusting the inside of a jar lightly with talcum powder and using the same bait food. Roaches entering the jar are unable to climb back out over the petroleum jelly or talcum powder barrier. Destroy the trapped roaches by dropping them into a pail of hot, soapy water.

If there are no children or pets in the home and if birds have no access to the floor, the following mixtures can be used to kill roaches.
Mix together 2 tablespoons flour, 4 tablespoons borax, and 1 tablespoon cocoa. Set the mixture in dishes inside cupboards and behind large appliances where animals have no access.

Mix equal parts of oatmeal, flour, and plaster of Paris. Set out in dishes.

Sprinkle Borax where roaches travel.

Set out dishes containing equal parts of granulated sugar and Borax. Roaches are attracted to sugar, and the boric acid in Borax is deadly to roaches.

(Boric acid and Borax are toxic and should not be accessible to parrots and other pets. Baking soda is said to work as well as Borax in this formula and it is non-toxic.)

GENERAL PEST REMEDIES
Diatomaceous earth (DE) can be sprinkled on areas where pests are found. It contains the spent shells of tiny sea creatures that are sharp enough to damage the exoskeleton and cause insects to dehydrate. DE is harmless to humans and animals.
Some insect eggs also are susceptible to the dehydrating power of DE which has a drying effect on ants, roaches, fleas and ticks. DE is widely recognized as safe for use around pets and humans. Parrots should not breathe the powder as it is being applied in the aviary. One brand available in natural food markets is "Concern" by Necessary Organics.

The most effective insecticide that instantly kills flying and crawling insects on contact but does no harm to mammals or birds is the dried and crushed flowers of the Pyrethrum Plant.

This brown powder will kill or stun the insects the moment it touches them but does no harm to pets when sprinkled on their coats. This member of the daisy family is a beautiful ornamental and will complement any garden or flower bed. While very effective, the dried powder only lasts for only a few days. You can prolong its use throughout the year by freezing fresh flower heads in zip-lock bags and drying and crushing them as needed.

Neem--the seed kernels of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica, Meliaceae) are rich in limonoids, bitter tasting chemicals that effectively block development, feeding and egg laying in many species of insects. The most powerful limonoid (azadirachtin) has been certified by health authorities in the USA and Europe as being non-toxic to birds, animals and humans, but highly effective against insects. It has been registered for pest control in the US and in several other countries.

Azadirachtin does not have a knock-down effect on insects but acts against an insect's sense of taste and so disrupts its feeding and egg-laying.

Ivory liquid dishwashing detergent, diluted with water to a 1 to 2% solution, provides insect control on many plants and is easy to mix. Spray plants until they are drenched.

Repellent sprays made from a "puree of bugs" have been reported as useful by some gardeners for garden plants as well as houseplants.
Frogs, spiders, ladybugs, praying mantis, and dragon flies will help to reduce pest populations around the home and garden.
One bat will eat up to 600 mosquitoes, harmful moths and other insect pest per hour at night.

Bats do not attack people or harm pets and can be encouraged to inhabit "bat houses" on your property.

__________________
Cindy

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
- Mahatma Gandhi

I found it elsewhere. She said Gel Bait. But she noted it was for roaches. So I dont know if it works on other bugs.

Thanks everyone for your help - I really appreciate it! I've recently contacted a Board Certified Avian Vet from the Univ. of Pa. Vet. Hospital. He will be contacting me with the results of his investigation of the chemicals used. I will let you all know the outcome.
No matter what, if we need to have this treatment done in the future in order to sell our house, I will move the birds up to my daughter's house. I could not live with myself if anything happened to my babies!