Aussie Finch Forum

I suspect it's the ammonia you're smelling so if you can get rid of the old medium they're in then the smell should be much better. They usually clump together as the fridge cools them down which simplifies separating them. Try to mix some fresh bran/pollard in with them or at a pinch a few crushed weetbix might do the job.

Possibly the time of year they are being sent. Warm in Melbourne, warm in Sydney?

I managed to keep gents in the kitchen fridge for 3 weeks without the wife knowing. She has a very sensitive noes and is the first to complain when anything smells.

SamDavis wrote:I suspect it's the ammonia you're smelling so if you can get rid of the old medium they're in then the smell should be much better. They usually clump together as the fridge cools them down which simplifies separating them. Try to mix some fresh bran/pollard in with them or at a pinch a few crushed weetbix might do the job.

Totally agree sam,so finchy put as much dry bran with them as you can,that will remove the smell.Sam mentioned them clumping together to get warm and there right,but don't let this happen as they can produce enough heat to pupae in the fridge.Each day as you remove the amount you want,give the container a good churn to separate them,after a couple of days,they stay separated as they become to cool to move around and can be fed out in this bran.
By the way,are we talking about bush fly maggots or blowfly maggots as blowfly maggots are too big for finches. Craig

Thanks guys.

They are apparently housefly maggots, and look pretty tiny.

My other half is going out so I have between 6pm and 9pm to transfer the critters (cue Mission Impossible music)! They are so small though, and so well blended through bran which looks almost as big as they are. Not sure how well this is going to go!?!

I have oat bran on hand. Sound good? Will they need a moisture source too?

Ta

Finchy wrote:Thanks guys.



I have oat bran on hand. Sound good? Will they need a moisture source too?

Ta

Definately no moisture,it will allow them to escape the container in the fridge.I don't know about oat bran as i have only used wheat bran. Craig

Holy [bleep]!!! I ordered some gents yesterday; they have just arrived and they stink!

I went down the same path initially (Ordering online), and those things stink. These sound/and smell like household blowfly/maggots. It really is simple once you set yourself up to breed bush-fly maggots. With a little bit of mucking around you soon get the hang of it, and you can reduce the smell significantly by perfecting your fly breeding mix. Too much milk powder and you get the added smell of stale milk.

I have a separate fridge for storing all things bush-fly/and maggots, and my flybox is in the laundry. My misses doesnt have a drama with my set-up, so just put your foot down!

OMG, fire in the Harbour Tunnel - he had to turn back, meaning home by 7pm, not 9pm...aaaaarrrrgh! Thank the lord he called to tell me. Tubs of maggots and maggot poop dust, sieves with crawlers wriggling through the holes, super-stinky bran all over the place, the occasional escapee... I have never cleaned a kitchen of so much, so fast .

I swear I can still smell it. It's horrible.

The Misses or Hubby, is irrelevant. My advice is just that. Hopefully to make things easier for you, that is if you don't want to handle/and pay for blowflies

Well,Finchy,it seems that you are so petrified of your hubby and your maggots that one of them has to go,which one gets the chop? Craig

they can get hot and sweaty in transport - also they will smell if they die (this will happen if its toooo hot)

place them in a tray in the fridge and all the live ones will clump together in the middle to stay warm. the next day you can collect the clump and move them to fresh bran for storage in the fridge or freezer.

I assume they are from us as i don't know any other suppliers - so if they are dead - contact us direct via your account and we will replace them.