Camping, mosquito and bird

[ZY28]

Hi,
It's summer!!! My family and I have been planning on going camping and I would need to bring my green cheek conure with me (I do not have a place for him to stay). I am primarily worried about mosquito spray...

Our whole family has allergic reaction to mosquito bites so if we are not in our tent or car we will have to spray ourselves with it.

If we do it far away from our conure and not have direct contact with him after using it, would it be a problem (ex: we leave our conure in the car when we spray it and wait for the spray to go away and then hike with him in his bird backpack). I will make sure to thirdly wash myself before touching him.

Hope this was clear enough, I am a first time owner so everything is new to me .

 

[FeatheredM]

@Shezbug

 

[Sparkles99]

The spray doesn't go away, that's why it works. I would absolutely not be okay taking a bird on a camping trip. Is there no one from school you could pay to take the bird in for the duration of the trip? This sounds like a recipe for disaster. I'm sorry. Some species shouldn't go camping & pesticides linger, even mosquito spray.

 

[ZY28]

Sad. I guess I'm not going camping .

 

[ZY28]

The spray doesn't go away, that's why it works. I would absolutely not be okay taking a bird on a camping trip. Is there no one from school you could pay to take the bird in for the duration of the trip? This sounds like a recipe for disaster. I'm sorry. Some species shouldn't go camping & pesticides linger, even mosquito spray.

The mosquito spray I was going to use is the off deep woods that I spray on myself not the one that dispenses non stop. Is that still a problem if I keep him far from it? (DEET is not toxic to bird from my research)

 

[Shezbug]

@Shezbug

I do not think I can really assist here with advice regarding repellants, I do not use them or even own them as there are none safe for birds as far as I am aware. I keep meaning to look into oil of geranium as I know some of the geranium plants (not all) are actually awesome mozzie repellants- I have been told they are really good but do not smell strong or horrid. I have heard some of the newer repellents (like the wrist bands and stickers for kids) are not as potent as the older repellants but I have not used them so I am unsure.
I am also allergic to mozzies and I end up with huge welts and swelling that often ends up pus filled or infected if I scratch them at all and if I do get enough bites I will get really bad hives and have to take antihistamine to stop or settle the swelling heating reaction. I have been hospitalised for a reaction to mozzies before.
I personally just make the yard as inhospitable for mozzies as I can, I encourage lizards, frogs, spiders and all other living beings like dragonflies or microbats to reside in our yard to keep the mozzie numbers down and if I have to go anywhere that mozzies are likely to be a problem then I wear loose fitting long sleeve shirts and pants.

I honestly would be more concerned about taking the bird on an outdoors camping holiday (especially as a minor which it sounds like is a possibility) and the complications and potential risks that camping involves to its safety than I would be about keeping mozzies off me while at the camping trip tbh.

 

[FeatheredM]

I do not think I can really assist here with advice regarding repellants, I do not use them or even own them as there are none safe for birds as far as I am aware. I keep meaning to look into oil of geranium as I know some of the geranium plants (not all) are actually awesome mozzie repellants- I have been told they are really good but do not smell strong or horrid. I have heard some of the newer repellents (like the wrist bands and stickers for kids) are not as potent as the older repellants but I have not used them so I am unsure.
I am also allergic to mozzies and I end up with huge welts and swelling that often ends up pus filled or infected if I scratch them at all and if I do get enough bites I will get really bad hives and have to take antihistamine to stop or settle the swelling heating reaction. I have been hospitalised for a reaction to mozzies before.
I personally just make the yard as inhospitable for mozzies as I can, I encourage lizards, frogs, spiders and all other living beings like dragonflies or microbats to reside in our yard to keep the mozzie numbers down and if I have to go anywhere that mozzies are likely to be a problem then I wear loose fitting long sleeve shirts and pants.

I honestly would be more concerned about taking the bird on an outdoors camping holiday (especially as a minor which it sounds like is a possibility) and the complications and potential risks that camping involves to its safety than I would be about keeping mozzies off me while at the camping trip tbh.

I just had to say, I love the way you say mosquitoes, and that is the last time I say it that way! I'm going to have fun saying mozzies

 

[Shezbug]

I just had to say, I love the way you say mosquitoes, and that is the last time I say it that way! I'm going to have fun saying mozzies

Is that not what you call them?

 

[MommyBird]

Also, right now because of the avian flun outbreak, no birds should spend time outside.

 

[Wardy]

The mosquito spray I was going to use is the off deep woods that I spray on myself not the one that dispenses non stop. Is that still a problem if I keep him far from it? (DEET is not toxic to bird from my research)

Deet is potentially toxic to animals birds included.
Deet has been regulated for a while here now for a while 100% Deet is no longer available here and products with less deet are less effective in my experience.

 

[FeatheredM]

Is that not what you call them?

We just call mosquitoes here in Americanot really anything fun or exciting.

 

[Kassiani]

Peppermint oil has been used by some friends of mine as a mosquito repellent. If it is organic, it might be safe around your bird. You don’t spray it on, either. You rub it on with your hands. Perhaps call your vet and ask if peppermint would be a bird safe alternative.

 

[FeatheredM]

I forgot something my mom made this mosquitoe repellent, it's all natural, but I'll have to ask what's inside.

 

[WikiWaz]

I think camping would be stressful on a bird. Besides the mosquito repellent, smoke from campfires would be bad for them.

 

[ZY28]

Sounds like we are not going camping ...
I wonder how those people online do it with their birds...

 

[Birbman9]

Ive taken my lovebird camping twice and to a chalet once. Ive had no problems with mozzies even though the place we go to is right on the beach and is warm. i dont know where you live but where i do in south africa its fine for my lovie.

 

[Shezbug]

Peppermint oil has been used by some friends of mine as a mosquito repellent. If it is organic, it might be safe around your bird. You don’t spray it on, either. You rub it on with your hands. Perhaps call your vet and ask if peppermint would be a bird safe alternative.

I believe peppermint oil is toxic to most animals. I wouldn’t use it around my birds tbh

 

[ZY28]

Ive taken my lovebird camping twice and to a chalet once. Ive had no problems with mozzies even though the place we go to is right on the beach and is warm. i dont know where you live but where i do in south africa its fine for my lovie.

In Canada baby, mosquitoes and tics see you as a rare pray and be eating you up. That being said I do attract mosquitoes ALOT!

 

[ZY28]

I believe peppermint oil is toxic to most animals. I wouldn’t use it around my birds tbh

Do you know any effective natural repellent that I could apply (not spraying) that is safe for birds???

 

[Shezbug]

Do you know any effective natural repellent that I could apply (not spraying) that is safe for birds???

I’m sorry I don’t believe I do. You can wear loose fitting long sleeves and full length pants as the mozzies can’t get you through them.