Luvparrots Posted February 18, 2015 Share Posted February 18, 2015 You all must go through a ton of paper towels. I HATE going to Costco and buying their mega-size paper towel and toilet paper bundles and they're gone in a couple of weeks. Reusable is the way for me. I'll nuke my sponges/dish cloths, which is what I've been doing for years. Wife otoh plows through enough paper products for a family of 10. Not really, I purchased some of those plastic sled disc kids use for snow sliding few years ago. I put them under the perching spots in my living room, bird room, etc. I take them out in the evening and spray them off and sit them against the sliding to dry. I just replace with a clean dry one and go to sleep ready for a new day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kins2321@yahoo.com Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 I always worry about e-coli...As humans have that in their GI tract, I always treat my birds like their poop has the same! Am I wrong? Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluedawg Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share Posted February 20, 2015 (edited) You are not wrong. it's not completely safe... I wouldn't eat it. The distribution of E. coli in psittacines varies from one species to another. It is less common in Amazons and macaws, sometimes found in greys, and common in cockatoos and Eclectus. In fact, E. coli can compose as much as 30 percent of the gut flora of some psittacines and others like cockatiels and budgies carry somewhat less. While there was far less growth from the parrot poop than the other samples - that doesn't mean what is there is safe. I have not identified the different bacteria types yet - I will though Edited February 20, 2015 by bluedawg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvparrots Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 To get E. coli some one or some animal would have to touch it. So who touches the waste or lets their pets do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytness Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Kitchen sponge to food dishes. Just sayin' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muse Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 (edited) Are you a microbiologist? Edit - And yes, I want to see those pics! Edited February 20, 2015 by Muse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chezron Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Only problem with the paper towel dab-and-throw-away method is the cumulative cost in trees. I like to use cheap washclothes that I wash with soap and vinegar to clean. I use them over and over again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kins2321@yahoo.com Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 E-coli is easy to pass on! Of course washing hands is the preventive method.... C- diff is rampant in hospitals and passed on thru feces. I just am very conscious of handling feces. I run human dishes and bird bowls and toys separately in dishwasher. Its worked for us all. Birds are healthy, and so are we. As I am crazy about washing hands and have taught my kids to do the same, I am sure we have cut down alot of illnesses that could have hurt all of us. I'm sure we wash our hands too much. ( wash before and wash after handling a bird). I worry more that we can introduce infection to the birds. Sometimes Sophie is very impatient when I get home from work and wants me to pick her up. She sits there with her foot up and ready while I wash. If she could roll her eyes she would! Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kins2321@yahoo.com Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 chezron... I appreciate your support of the enviroment. I do too so I feel guilty. I can't stand to use a sponge more than a week even when I put it in the dishwasher.I wont let my kids use a washcloth when they shower. ( liquid soap only). I guess we all have things that gross us out! Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inara Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 I use cotton dish cloths that I knit myself, use one for each day of the week and just wash them with oxyclean on the sanitize cycle of my wash machine. I use paper towels to wipe my hands on when I dry them, and I just stack them to re-use for poop wipes -- just spritz them with a vinegar/water solution that I keep in a little spray bottle, wipe up and toss. Also douse them with boiling water from my morning tea kettle and use them to wipe down Inara's cage in the mornings. So double duty/doodie there. Still waiting for Dave's recipe for Red Poop Souffle! Definitely want to see the petri dish... CSI: Parrot Poo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluedawg Posted February 21, 2015 Author Share Posted February 21, 2015 Hi Muse... No, I am in school for laboratory science. Right now I'm finishing up my associates in Math & Science then I'll continue on to get my bachelors in Laboratory science... or maybe I'll change my mind and go for the wildlife biology degree in any case I have microbiology lecture and lab tomorrow back to back so can't wait to look at my samples under the microscope. I'll bring home some pictures to post. They are not gross at all. It's just interesting to see how much less growth is in the poop than the rest. I would have expected to see more growth but I guess it makes sense - all types of creepy crawleys can grow in the sponge environment but in the intestines only a select few can live. I am going to have to identify the different bacteria types so that should be fun. Inara, I love your idea of knitting your own cloths, one for each day of the week... I am going to do that too. Also a great gift idea Do you have a pattern? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluedawg Posted February 21, 2015 Author Share Posted February 21, 2015 OK, so here it is.... Nothing very spectacular but you can see where the parrot poop has far less growth than the rest... How do you guys insert a large image instead of thumbnail? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muse Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Thanks for posting this! I just told hubby we are ditching sponges! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluedawg Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 Hi Muse, I went out and bought a jug of white vinegar and I ordered a knitting book with dishcloth patterns I like Inara's idea of having one for every day of the week so they can be rotated in the laundry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kins2321@yahoo.com Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 bluedawg I LOVE your excitement regarding your future career!You love what you do and will go far. Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluedawg Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 from your post to you know who's ears - Mary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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