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With many different species of birds flocking to your garden for food, bird feeders often take a hit with visitors coming from far and wide to empty its contents. When you go to fill up your bird feeders you may notice it looks a little grubby, but what’s the best way to clean these awkward tube garden features? These simple methods will keep your feeders dirt-free so birds can dine safely in your garden.
Feeding birds responsibly is the number one priority when it comes to providing bird feeders in your garden.
Keeping your hungry visitors healthy shouldn’t stop at simply choosing the right kinds of bird feed – regular cleaning of your bird feeders is the key to preventing a spread of nasty diseases, so it’s important to stay on top of your feeders sanitary-state.
On their website, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) state: “Salmonella outbreaks can be seen in wild birds in Britain during the winter months.
“Flocking ground feeders, such as greenfinches and house sparrows, are most commonly affected.
“There are no symptoms specific to salmonella, but infected birds will show general signs of ill-health.”
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Using a clean, empty bowl or container, immerse the bird feeder into the solution and soak for around three minutes.
Take some warm water and rinse the disinfecting feeder before leaving to air dry on a towel or draining board.
You should repeat this once or twice a month to keep your bird feeder free from harmful disease – increase if you notice illness in visiting birds.
Soap and soak method
Mild dish soap and warm water is another scientifically proven way to remove harmful diseases like Salmonella from your bird feeder.
Mix unscented dish soap with a deep container full of warm water until it is a bubbly, soapy plunge pool for your feeder to soak in.
Leave to soak for a few minutes before scrubbing with a clean sponge or unused toothbrush.
Rinse with clean warm water and leave to dry.
Combining these two methods is a fool-proof way to ensure your feeder is completely disinfected and sterilised before allowing birds to feed again.
Top tips
Prevent disease by discarding any food that smells musty or is wet and showing signs of mould or fungus.
Disinfect any storage containers and scoops that you use to store and administer the bird feed and properly store bird feed packets accordingly.
Keep the floor area around the bird feed clean and clear of any fallen debris.
Fallen seeds and nuts could be contaminated by birds before falling and then consumed by ground-feeding species like pigeons, sparrows or starlings.
- Avoid wooden feeders as these are harder to clean safely due to their absorbent properties.
- For easier bird feeder maintenance and healthier birds, opt for plastic, metal, glass or glazed ceramic feeders.
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