Home : Do It Yourself : Feeding & Feeders : Bird Watcher's Digest: How To: Seed Storage

Bird Seed Storage Solution

It was common practice, when I lived in South Texas some years ago, to keep a bay leaf in the flour canister, "to keep bugs out."

After fighting an infestation of Indian mealmoths in stored bird seed, I remembered this custom. In subsequent years I've used bay leaves. A large container of the inexpensive California laurel leaf has lasted several years. When filling metal or plastic containers from the 20-to-50 pound sacks, I drop in one or two bay leaves for every five to six inches of fill and place three or four leaves on top before replacing the lid. I reuse the leaves, replacing as they become brittle. The absence of moths in my birdseed may only be coincidence - but I wonder if others have tried this method, or if any other natural repellent has been investigated.

This year, as a trial, in one metal container of black oil sunflower, I put a mesh bag with 15 to 20 leaves on top only, with success so far.