Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many pellets are in a quart bag?

We say that there are enough pellets for 30-33 students based on averages. We just fill quart ziploc bags with pellets - so it really depends on the actual size of the pellets as to how many actual pellets are in your quart. (We do not count them as we fill the bags.) Standards are larger (and therefore have more bones per pellet) so fewer fit into a bag. They do average around 30-35 pellets. We figure that if you have some really large pellets you can always double a couple of students up.
Bargain pellets are chunks and pieces of pellet. We recommend teachers to first seperate pellets onto the paper plates to divide them evenly for the students.

2. What is Pay Pal?

Pay Pal is basically the 'bank of E-bay'. It is an online banking service used by E-bay and thousands of small businesses around the world. We have used them for years and never had a problem with safety issues. For more information about the company and their security measures, you can go directly to their home page at www.paypal.com.

3. Are they safe?

Yes. We now heat treat our pellets. Baking them at 250 degrees for 4 hours. This is the recommended industry standard to kill bugs and bacteria.

4. What should I do with kids who are squeamish?

With most students all that is needed is a little persuasion to get them to participate. One suggestion if they will not, or can not, participate is to send them to the library. Commonly they will not be able to find a book specifically on barn owls. Either a book on owls or a book on raptors should have a chapter on them.

5. Do you have anything on how to teach with owl pellets?

Yes! We have a page written especially to answer this question. Click here

6. Why do I find the ocasional broken bone?

Sometimes during the process of the owl catching its prey, a bone or two will break. The skull is the most common bone to find broken. However, you shouldn't find many broken bones other than those skulls.

7. Do you sell any sizes appropriate for individual projects or homeschoolers?

Yes! Check out our new "Sample Size" as it's discribed on our ordering page. This should be more than enough for a simple science project or for a homeschooler or two to tackle. Have fun!

8. Can I access your bone-chart on-line?

Yes! Just click here.

9. Can I store my unused pellets?

Yes! Left over pellets can be stored for a year or more. Just keep in mind the things that destroy pellets are bugs and moisture. We add a few moth balls and store them in sealed buckets in our garage.

We will be adding more questions and answers as we think of them and as we have the time. If you have a question not answered here please feel free to e-mail us and ask. We will try to answer you as soon as possible! Plus, who knows, we might add it to this page.