Feeding orchard apples to my starlings?

[leoniep]

Can anyone help with this one please. We live near an orchard, and it drives me mad seeing all the apples that have been left unpicked. I want to pick them and feed them to my starlings who love them, but I have been told the trees may have been sprayed to make the apples drop.

The apples have definately not dropped, there are hundreds. Does anyone know if this means they haven't been sprayed, or even if they have will they be okay for birds?

Hope there's someone out there who can advice.

Thank you,

Leonie

[ashby_1963]

I've not heard of apples being sprayed to make them drop before! although I think I would wash them in a bucket of water anyway just to be on the safe side before giving them to the birds.

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by leoniep

Can anyone help with this one please. We live near an orchard, and it drives me mad seeing all the apples that have been left unpicked. I want to pick them and feed them to my starlings who love them, but I have been told the trees may have been sprayed to make the apples drop.

The apples have definately not dropped, there are hundreds. Does anyone know if this means they haven't been sprayed, or even if they have will they be okay for birds?

Hope there's someone out there who can advice.

Thank you,

Leonie

Hi Leonie, welcome to WAB.

Who owns the Orchard? I would dissuade you from taking apples from an Orchard without permission of the legal owner.

[2dogs2000]

I don't think you should pick the apples from a private orchard without permission.

Surely if the apples have been sprayed they are going to end up being eaten by the birds.

I just can't see anyway of preventing birds from eating them if they have been sprayed.

[2dogs2000]

I don't think you should pick the apples from the orchard without permission. I know what you mean about the waste. Eventually the apples will fall from the trees and will be eaten by the birds. Sprayed or not

[Pippa]

Hi Leonie,

If you are allowed to take the apples ,just wash them before feeding, if you are worried.

[leoniep]

Thank you everyone, the orchards are private, and massive, with lots of dog walkers using them, and the waste is truely disgusting, just because an apple has a little mark it's left. Drives me potty!! I have been have a closer look today, and there are quite a few that are being eaten on the branches, so I presume they must be okay (the birds are still flying) - and I did a test on myself this morning!! No stomach ache yet (fingers crossed).

The lady who told me about it said ithey sprayed them as the crop should be removed or else it can spoil next years harvest - so in my mind if I pick a few for the birds I'll be helping!! If you read about a mad woman being caught with bags of rotting apples being arrested it'll be me!! (only joking).

Thank you for your advice, and what a great forum!

Leonie