by DJ Featherton

Yes, it’s true. Birds, like most living creatures, need a clean environment to stay healthy. Sick birds will easily and quickly spread pathogens and disease. As backyard birders we need to be responsible to the birds we’re trying to attract, and you’ll find more birds at your clean feeders than otherwise. 

So, what does a dirty feeder look like? WE ALL KNOW! Black and hard and lumpy and unattractive! This stuff is filled with mold, harmful bacteria, bird feces, and who knows what?  Platform feeders are enjoyed by the resident birds, but they’re messy as the seed gets tossed around so much. Half of that seed winds up on the ground and becomes its own problem. Simply covering the feeder with new seed each day may hide the problem, but it simply makes things worse. Soon, you may find the dirty buildup of seed on the ground will become your rodent feeder.  Clean it up!

Laboratory testing shows salmonella bacteria still remains on a feeder even after being scrubbed with soap and water. The suggested method of cleaning is by using diluted bleach. Scrub the feeder with soap and water, then soak in diluted bleach for ten minutes, and then rinse with clear water. Vinegar works if you don’t like bleach, but the labs say it’s not as good. It’s been said that a dish washer works well if the water is very hot. Personally, that’s not for me! Nectar feeders for your hummingbirds especially need cleaning to prevent mildew and fermentation. After all, we don’t need any alcoholic hummingbirds as flying hazards!! Bird houses of any size and architecture need cleaning care, and even my favorite decorative bird bath with its solar fountain and stone island needs to be rinsed out and wiped clean quite often. Hmm, makes me wonder how much management I can manage?? Every backyard birder should take this into account. So, like me, do your best. 

I think it all starts with seed purchases and what the budget is. If you have several, or MANY, feeders ordering in bulk may be the best way to go. Then it goes to storage. My condo is in the woods with lots of vegetation. I have never seen a rat or mouse in the nine years of living here, so I nicely stored my quality seeds in heavy grade plastic storage containers with tight sealing snap on lids and put them in the garage. One day I moved things around and found big holes eaten right through the heavy plastic, and lots of evidence of furry creatures getting fat and making home in my garage! Since then, it’s been only metal containers for me. Now, my seed stays unmolested and dry from condensation and dampness. This simple management saves money and seed and is your first step to having clean feeders! 

Hope this information is helpful for you, your backyard environment, and the birds. Now I’ll have to think about that purple martin condominium on top of the tall pole over in my neighbor’s yard. YEOW!!!