Maintaining A Healthy Bird Feeder

Bird feeders can bring many wonderful creatures to your door, both local birds and the occasional traveler on migration. Though there are ongoing debates regarding how feeders affect a bird’s food gathering patterns, it is entirely possible to make your feeder a safe and healthy place for little visitors. A small amount of effort and attention can go along way in caring for your bird feeder.

When you set up a bird feeder you also have to be aware that squirrels and other creatures might come across it. They can cause havoc chewing through it and spreading the seeds all over the place. This will in turn attract other ground-feeding creatures. The best way to avoid this issue is to include a squirrel baffle which is placed below or above the feeder and this will stop that problem. Another thing you can do is place a dedicated squirrel feeder nearby to keep them away from the bird feeder.

One of the tips you can use to keep your bird feeder healthy for birds is to give it a shake before refilling it. This will loosen any stuck clumps which attract moisture and start going moldy. If there are any wet seeds that you can see you should clean out the bird feeder first. The hulls should also be cleaned regularly to prevent a buildup. You can just use a brush to clean this and keeping it near the feeder will make the job easier.

Every few weeks a feeder should be disinfected. The best approach is to disinfect the feeder by scrubbing it with a weak bleach solution, which would consist of 2 gallons of water and one fourth cup of bleach. During wet weather more frequent disinfecting is required. It is important that the feeder be completely dry before more seed is added.

If you live somewhere where there is constant wet weather during either your winter or summer season, you should invest in a covered bird feeder. If using an exposed feeder, just put out a tiny bit of feed that will be used up in one day. An additional option is to place the entire feeder under shelter.

Suet should only be put out during cold seasons. In hot weather, the suet can melt and end up sticking to a bird’s feathers. It can also create quite a mess.

Along with bird feeder care, you should also take care of the food storage. The seeds must be kept in a sealed airtight container that is always dry. The best containers to use are the plastic garbage cans with tight lids. This will also keep rodents away. Suet should be stored in the freezer.

If a dead or sick bird is ever spotted at or around the feeding area, remove the bird food for a couple of weeks in order to disperse healthy birds. This will lessen the possibility of disease spreading. It is also a good practice to report sick or dead birds to wildlife officials so that they can monitor the local bird population.

If you want to enjoy watching birds from the comfort of your home, then take care to maintain your bird feeder and take measures to eliminate rodents and prevent diseases. It is also helpful to check consumer resources for best products before purchasing a new feeder.

Robert Mann is a devoted outdoorsman who has observed birds on four continents. Following these passions, he has developed websites for finding specific birdhouses and binoculars.