Why You Should Clean Your Bird Feeder
Whether you're highly familiar with the enchanting world of bird watching or you want to attract local birdlife to your property, it's crucial to understand the importance of bird feeder care and cleaning.
That is why we've broken down the why and how to clean your bird feeder properly. Depending on your type of bird feeder and the exact method you choose to clean it, you'll likely need to set aside between 30 minutes to an hour per feeder, depending on whether it's a routine or rigorous deep clean.
Risks of Unclean Bird Feeders
Apart from maintaining a tidy property, it's crucial to know how to keep bird feeders clean because birds, like us, are susceptible to sickness and disease. We all want to help out the birds that flutter into our garden with deliciously healthy food and thirst-quenching water or nectar. However, if our feeders become dirty and contaminated with harmful mold and bacteria, we might do more harm than good.
Spread of Diseases
Although birds can contract disease in different ways, droppings are a prevalent means of disease transmission. The contaminated droppings can mix with the food and infect other birds.
There are several common bird diseases and ailments that are either caused by dirty feeders or spread through unclean feeders, which promote transmission. Among these are:
- Salmonellosis
- Avipoxvirus
- Trichomoniasis
- Conjunctivitis
- Aspergillosis
A significant way to help prevent the spread of these diseases is to set aside a small amount of time every week or two to ensure that feeders are clean and disinfected.
Mold and Spoilage
If you notice your seed clumping, this could signify pre-mold dampness, and you should clean the feeder. Besides increasing the spread of other diseases, moldy and spoiled food becomes a breeding ground for dangerous microorganisms and spores. These conditions also attract disease-carrying pests such as certain insects, rats and other rodents.
One of the best ways to prevent mold in bird feeders is regularly throwing out old food and seeds and cleaning the feeder. Another preventative measure is to reduce the amount of water or moisture that gets into the feeder or remains trapped inside. To do this, you can:
- Place the feeder under some form of shelter.
- Purchase a feeder that has effective drainage.
- Install a weather guard over your gravity feeders.
Signs of a Dirty Feeder
To prevent fungus, bacteria and pathogens, keep an eye out for the following signs that your feeder may need cleaning:
- Visual indicators: Look out for uneaten food, especially if it starts to clump. Other concerns are mold, strange discoloration on the food or feeder, and bird or other animal droppings.
- Unusual bird behavior: If birds act incredibly lethargic or aggressive or show difficulty eating, this is cause for concern. Also, if birds hesitate to eat from the feeder or stop visiting it, you likely have an issue.
- Unpleasant odors: If foul smells come from the feeder or surrounding area, this could be a sign of mold, accumulated droppings or decaying food.
How to Clean a Bird Feeder
Below, we look at how often to clean bird feeders, the supplies you'll need to ensure a hygienic dining experience for your local avian visitors and how to clean your bird feeder.
Preparing to Clean Your Bird Feeder — Frequency and Supplies
You should clean your bird feeder approximately once every two weeks. However, if conditions are particularly hot, humid or damp, you'll want to clean it more often. Additionally, if your bird feeder receives many visitors, refill and clean it more often. Try to clean the feeder when it's least busy to avoid disturbing the birdlife.
It's essential to know how to sanitize bird feeders and which disinfectant is safe for bird feeders. In most cases, mixing a 10% bleach solution is safe if you thoroughly rinse and dry the feeder afterward. Alternatively, you can use a solution of diluted white vinegar — this is the best option for wood feeders. Another convenient choice is a quality bird feeder cleaner spray.
You'll need the following supplies to clean your bird feeder:
- Gloves to protect your hands
- A bucket or container to soak and rinse the feeder
- A non-abrasive bottle brush to clean hard-to-reach areas
- A cleaning cloth or non-abrasive sponge
- Bleach, vinegar or a bird feeder cleaner spray to disinfect and sanitize
- A mild dish soap to help scrub off dirt
- A dirt or garbage bag to dispose of old food and other mess
- A fine rake or broom to collect unwanted debris around the feeder
Generally, it's best to clean your bird feeder outside, as it'll be easier to keep the mess contained. Avoid using your kitchen sink for cleaning, as you may risk infecting yourself and your family. The laundry sink, a portable plastic washbasin or a bucket are better alternatives.
Steps to Properly Clean a Bird Feeder
The following steps breakdown the best way to clean your bird feeder:
- Wear gloves to protect and keep your hands clean while you empty the old food and debris from the feeder into the dirt bag.
- Disassemble the feeder to wash the trays, perches and feeder body separately.
- Fill your bucket or container with warm water and mild dish soap.
- Soak the feeder in the soapy water to help loosen dirt and debris.
- Use your cleaning cloth and tools to thoroughly scrub the feeder components.
- Refill your bucket or container with clean water.
- Rinse all the feeder components to ensure no soap residue remains.
- Disinfect the feeder by creating a bleach solution with nine parts water and one part bleach, or equal parts white vinegar and water, and soak for 15-30 minutes. Use your bird feeder cleaner spray as directed after drying if you prefer not to use bleach or vinegar.
- Rinse the bird feeder in fresh, clean water after disinfecting.
- Dry the bird feeder completely to ensure the new food stays dry and that no moisture is left, which could promote mold growth.
- Reassemble the dried bird feeder and refill it with new bird food — do not reuse the old food.
While your bird feeder is drying, this is an excellent opportunity to clean up unwanted debris, such as droppings or old food, from beneath your feeder or in the surrounding area.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When discovering how to clean your bird feeder thoroughly, there are certain things you want to avoid:
- Using harsh cleaning chemicals and not rinsing and drying properly
- Neglecting to clean hard-to-reach areas
- Allowing seed to accumulate below or around the feeder
- Ignoring filling and cleaning bird baths
Maintain Your Bird-Friendly Feeding Environment
Now that you know the best way to clean bird feeders, the reasons to do so and how frequently you should tend to the feeders, we at FeatherSnap would like to encourage you to follow these best practices and establish your bird feeder cleaning routine.
Keeping an eye on your feeder's hygiene and food levels and looking out for any signs of contamination will help provide a safe sanctuary for our feathered friends and encourage them to return to your garden. Make your feeder your window to the wild. Browse our smart bird feeders today, and explore more about birds through our blog.
