One of the most important tasks to undergo if you own a bird feeder is to keep it clean.  This should be done thoroughly and at frequent intervals.  If you don’t keep the feeders clean, you will see a decline in the birds using it, or worse yet, they can suffer disease as a result of moldy or spoiled food.

One of the rules of using feeders is to be sure not to place fresh food in the feeder without removing the old, moldy, food.  Nothing is worse than placing fresh food on top of old spoiled food.  Always remove the old food before re-filling the feeder with fresh food.  Even a little moisture can cause fresh seeds to spoil and spread bacteria.

Salmonella is one of the leading diseases associated with dirty bird feeders.  Birds that suffer from the effects of this disease look emaciated and will show signs of weakness, and dehydration.  The birds that are affected by salmonella may even roost close to the feeder, or even within it before they die.  A recent study has shown that house sparrows suffered the most mortality, followed by juncos, goldfinches, mourning doves and grosbeaks.

These are some simple tips you can follow to minimize or eliminate this needless suffering and keep your feeders clean and safe:

Try using a weak bleach to totally disinfect your feeder at least once a year, maybe more if you use a platform feeder.  For more frequent cleaning, you can also use a mild detergent to scrub your feeder, especially if you have a tubular feeder where the food portals can clog easily.

Be sure to disinfect and clean all surfaces, interior and exterior.  If you haven’t cleaned your feeder for quite some time, then you may need something to scrape away the hard packed seeds and hulls.   A long handled brush is a good tool for use in the hard to reach areas of your feeders, or for scraping seeds and hulls.

Remember, it is far easier to empty the feeder before any moldy debris accumulates and then keep the surfaces as clean as possible with your cleaning materials.

For those of us that enjoy feeding our feathered friends, a few minutes of routine care and cleaning can keep our birds healthy, safe and happy.

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This entry was posted on Monday, October 27th, 2008 at 3:53 am.