Found a rat dropping in Wilko budgie seed

[criswell]

I was disgusted to find what looks like a rat dropping in my bag of Wilko budgie seed. Does it look like one to you? I've only seen mouse and gerbil droppings before and it looks like a bigger version of them. If it's not a dropping I can't think of anything else it could be.

I've emailed Wilko about it and have had an automated reply asking for photos which I have sent. I don't know if I should contact environmental health too or if there is anyone better to contact.

Dean Stockwell has been eating the food for the past 4 weeks and the other boys have had a bit too. I hope none of them are going to be harmed by this.

[suesbird]

How awful. I was told an adult mouse dropping can be similar to a rat. It certainly looks like one to me. Hope the birds will be ok.

[ffiscool]

Is it their own make?

I would report it. They need to do a recall

[ffiscool]

Sorry just read - it is their own. Who ever actually produces it needs to be informed too

I once had to report my local Tesco. They continually left out out of date yoghurts, other food even though I told them when in the store.

[BloomCountyLover]

I am glad you informed them. That definitely looks like a rodent dropping. Yuck...I see that their promise is Buy me, Love me, Keep me....well not this way!

[Hezz]

Glad you found this when you did, although if Dean Stockwell has been eating it for a few weeks and it hasn't harmed him, that is very good. I certainly wouldn't be feeding him any more, though!!

Let us know what happens from now on, criswell. It is good for everyone to know what sort of response companies give to this sort of thing.

[criswell]

I let you know what their response is when I get one. The automatic email said it might take up to 5 days for them to reply.

[jellybean]

Glad the birds are ok criswell. Will be interesting to see Wilkos response.

[criswell]

I sent an email to the Environmental Health Office this morning as I thought they would like to know and I had a reply almost straight away asking which store I bought the bird seed in.

Dean Stockwell isn't showing signs that there is anything wrong with him so I think he's ok. I'll still be keeping a close eye on him though.

[Hezz]

That does sound as though they may want to chase it up. A good start, anyway.

[Marianne Marlow]

Oh God, that's horrible, yuk.

I see little things that look like droppings but are tiny slightly curled pieces of twig in my seed sometimes.

I wonder if they will ask for it so they can do an analysis.

[criswell]

I've not heard any more from Environmental Health but I did get an email from Wilko yesterday saying they were looking into it.

I have thought that either Wilko or Environmental Health will want the dropping. I'm tempted to tip out the bag to see if there are any more in there but they might want the bag of seed back too.

[helenmat]

pour it into a jug or bowl to have a look then you can pour it back in the bag.

[criswell]

I thought about doing that Helen. Will give it a go tomorrow.

[starrymist]

Not a dropping but I’ve had an issue with seed recently & thought should mention it as a warning to others. I’ve had an infestation of Indian meal moths - we had no idea until the moths kept appearing. Turns out they came in with some bird seed. My mum said the seed mix looked slightly different especially at the end with more ‘dust’ than normal but that sometimes happens doesn’t it so she didn’t think anything much of it. Brodie ate it & is fine (thankfully) - again, a reason not to think there was an issue.
I honestly hadn’t realised moths could come in like that & I suppose others may be in a similar position. Everything in that cupboard has been thrown out & I’ve had no new moths but there is the possibility they have bred. 😬
Anyway, it’s a lesson to check your seed mix rather than assuming it’s fine!