Peppermint Oil around Parrots

[birdmom3693]

I am having an ant problem in my home. They started in the kitchen and twice this week I have found some in my parrots’ food dishes. It’s only seed but they’re still in there . I know peppermint oil is a natural repellent for ants diluted with a little water. I was thinking of putting some peppermint oil in the kitchen as well as my living room where the birds are kept. I was going to use a few drops around the base board and by the door and windows.

Does anyone know if this would be safe for my birds?

Thank you!

 

[OK Mike]

I would use Boric acid instead. Peppermint oil can cause respiratory problems even in humans. I've attached an SDS for Peppermint oil.

 

[Ripshod]

I still wouldn't use it, but I just want to point out the peppermint oil tested for that SDS report was more than 50% alcohol, and that's what produced most of the cautions. Most of the essential oils we use today contain a large amount of solvent.
I have a general rule around my birds. If I can smell it, they're breathing it. So I don't use any product with a smell for sure, other than fresh leaves etc. So if you have access to fresh peppermint leaves that would be fine to use.

 

[saroj12]

avian insect liquidator

 

[OK Mike]

The alcohol content is reported as menthol. All mint species contain menthol - it's the volatile oil in the plant that gives the scent as it evaporates or volatilizes into air. The alcohol in essential oils is not a synthetic solvent or a petrochemical alkane that's oxidized to form alcohol. All aromatic essential oils are flammable to some extent.

 

[Ripshod]

Googling for peppermint oil always leads to prepared (ready to use) oil. Pure peppermint oil is like a resin, methanol (as a solvent) thins it and makes it more usable in cosmetics, remedies, aromatherapy etc.

Anyways, this ain't the place.