How to Keep Wild Birds Healthy around Your Feeders

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A Clean Feeder Helps Keep Birds Healthy

When you think about it, those cute little wild birds are pretty tough. They have to survive hot summers, cold winters, and lots of migrating. But even that tough crowd can pick up diseases from your feeders if they're not properly cared for. Here are some helpful tips to keep your feeders doing the job you want them to: feeding healthy wild birds.

Avoid Overcrowding

Having too many birds at one feeder can be a problem. They fight. They bicker. They mess up the food. If this is happening, place another feeder nearby, but not too close.

Keep Your Food Fresh

Check your feeders regularly. If the food is moldy or wet, replace it with fresh food right away.

Pest-Proof Your Wild-Bird Food Storage

If rodents or other animals are an issue where you live, be sure to store your food in heavy-duty containers and always be sure to sweep up any spills.

Protect Your Birds, and Yourself

Make sure your feeder has no sharp points or pointy objects sticking out.

Keep Your Feeder Clean

Be sure to clean your feeders regularly, every 2 or 3 weeks is recommended. Take a look at our easy steps for cleaning your feeder.
1. Clean and wash the feeder in soapy water.
2. Make a 10% solution of liquid chlorine household bleach (14 oz) in a gallon of warm water. Mix sufficient solution to enable complete immersion of the empty bird feeder.
3. Immerse feeder in the solution for a period of 2-3 minutes. Allow to thoroughly dry before refilling with seed.
Hummingbird feeders should be cleaned with a mild bleach solution each time you fill the feeder.
Around your feeder, remove any bird droppings or seed, seed bits, or seed hulls that begin to accumulate; regularly rake the ground below. Each season, relocate the feeder a few feet from its present location.