Thanks Donna! That was poor and inaccurate writing on my part. I took for granted that feeder would be cleaned first and only then sanitized.
Some research in which we assisted required more stringent requirements such as autoclaved equipmentm a significant expense for volunteer. Thankfully, the lead agency always provided that equipment. The last we worked was the previous bird flu outbreak do it has been awhile but I understand the protocols are nearly the same. Thanks for catching my inaccuracy. John On Thu, Jan 23, 2025 at 3:09 PM Donna Lee Scott <[email protected]> wrote: > Sorry about the vague “mild” ref. to bleach solution. I meant people > should follow directions on the bleach bottle for a final sanitizing. > > > > I have to differ with John on the part about using a 10% bleach solution > as the “wash, plus sanitize” in one step. > > > > In Food Science education, I used to teach my Extension Agents, restaurant > workers and others, in my Cooperative Extension food safety workshops, that > we need to wash dishes etc. with soapy water to get all the “dirt” and food > matter off, > > BECAUSE BLEACH IS MADE INACTIVE BY A LOT OF DIRT AND PARTICULATES. > > And certainly all the gunk from bird food and bird poop, etc. is a lot of > particulate matter on the bird feeders. > > > > If the bleach is made inactive by being tied up by particulates, it will > not kill the germs. > > > > So, that is why I say wash (scrub/soapy water) all the stuff off first, > rinse with clean water, then sanitize with a bleach solution according to > the bottle directions. Let bleach water dry on the feeder. > > > > It’s not as hard as it sounds. > > Donna 😊 > > > > Donna L Scott > > > > 377 Savage Farm Dr > > Ithaca, NY 14850 > > [email protected] > > 607-379-1694 > > > > *From:* John Gregoire <[email protected]> > *Sent:* Thursday, January 23, 2025 1:03 PM > *To:* Donna Lee Scott <[email protected]> > *Cc:* madonna stallmann <[email protected]>; CAYUGABIRDS-L < > [email protected]> > *Subject:* Re: [cayugabirds-l] Feeders, finches & disease > > > > Wordslike "mild" have been a problem in the past. Cleaning may be done > with a 10% bleach solution used during cleaning and then allowed to dry in > place with no further rinsing. > > > > Interesting comment on the restriction you cite. It has not been > promulgated to those of us licensed to handle birds for research. We have > been reminded to follow strict protocols for health and safety. > > > > John > > > > On Thu, Jan 23, 2025 at 10:19 AM Donna Lee Scott <[email protected]> wrote: > > I can understand why one would think tube feeders with those little holes > with a perch under them, where birds stick in their head to get seeds, > hence eye contact with sides of the opening, might spread eye disease more > readily than a platform feeder, but platform feeders are notorious for > collecting a lot of bird poop which may have other pathogens in it. > > > > All feeders should be regularly washed, rinsed, then sanitized with a mild > bleach solution & dried, > > because congregations of birds on feeders can inoculate them with > disease-causing microbes. > > > > Also, a reminder: As Cayuga Bird Club member, Dr. Ton Schat, said, do not > touch any dead birds these days, because of the risk of avian influenza in > a dead bird. > > A few humans have contracted this disease. 1 or 2 have died. > > > > Also FYI: The new president of the US has now ordered gov’t agencies like > the FDA & the CDC to stop issuing all public info announcements about > things like Avian Influenza until such pass muster with one of his > political appointees, who may or may not have any scientific credentials. > > > > Donna Scott > > Kendal at Ithaca-377 > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > On Jan 23, 2025, at 9:03 AM, madonna stallmann < > [email protected]> wrote: > > > > Hi Folks! > > > > I'm wondering if anyone knows of any studies done comparing the eye > infection rate of finches using open, platform style feeders as opposed to > tube feeders with head openings? It just seems to me that there would be > less chance for spreading infection with open platform feeders. What do you > think? > > > > 🐦 Madonna Stallmann > > -- > > *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* > > Welcome and Basics > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME.htm> > > Rules and Information > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES.htm> > > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > > *Archives:* > > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html> > > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > > ABA <https://www.aba.org/birding-news/> > > *Please submit your observations to eBird > <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>!* > > -- > > -- > > *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* > > Welcome and Basics > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME.htm> > > Rules and Information > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES.htm> > > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > > *Archives:* > > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html> > > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > > ABA <https://www.aba.org/birding-news/> > > *Please submit your observations to eBird > <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>!* > > -- > > -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") 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