Three Shortages. What Gives? - Aluminium Cans, Coins, and Lumber.

[Disgruntled Pupper]

There's also a mealworm shortage apparently. I found that out last Saturday at the wildlife clinic, there was a note in the baby bird room instructing volunteers to be careful with how many worms we dish out to our birds. I don't know what's going on in the world to make that happen.

With the coin shortage I've tried to give exact change everywhere I've shopped, I don't imagine giving the candy store my extra quarters will fix the whole shortage but whatever helps!

Thanks for the heads up about the mealworms. Most of my birds have stopped giving a shit, but the wrens have been absolute fiends for them the past few weeks and I'm almost out. I'll have to see if my local shop still has some.

 

[Brahma]

Thanks for the heads up about the mealworms. Most of my birds have stopped giving a shit, but the wrens have been absolute fiends for them the past few weeks and I'm almost out. I'll have to see if my local shop still has some.

You've pet wrens? Is that common

 

[MerriedxReldnahc]

Decided to look up what the deal is with the mealworm shortage and the most information I managed to find were a few suppliers and other wildlife clinics stating "yeah, there's a mealworm shortage." What I did find that was interesting is that there's a cricket shortage this year too:
https://charlotteledger.substack.com/p/the-latest-shortage-is-live-crickets
The article says that the shortage is due to a reptile-buying boom relating to people staying home more. The article suggests mealworms as an alternative. A wildlife clinic in Tennessee was posting that they're struggling with the lack of mealworms and aksed for donations of crickets, sooooo the shortages are probably not helping each other.
(You also probably could breed your own, at the clinic we keep our worms in a set of plastic storage drawers in substrate with some kale and sweet potato slices thrown in. We have a mesh bag with newspaper that we keep in the fridge for storing worms long term and keeping them dormant.)

 

[Long Tongue Silver]

Disinfectant spray is another item in short supply, but at least I can understand that one's coof-related. Wipes are slowly coming back in stock at most places.