If you are a Bird Lover, you have certainly by now discovered the joys of attracting these lovely little creatures to your home with a bird feeder. Birds add life and color to our backyards, and fill them with song. But did you know that how you care for your bird feeder is just as important as what feed you use? You can use a variety of different foods to attract birds to your backyard. But regardless of with what you fill your feeders, make sure to follow these safety tips to keep your bird feeders clean, and your backyard free from avian illness.

Step 1: Remove Old or Rotten Seed

Bird seed gets spread around where birds congregate. So make sure to check the ground beneath your feeders. Remove any old, damp, or rotten bird food that you see. If the ground is contaminated with bird droppings, make sure to do some cleanup. This may mean re-mulching or re-graveling the area.

Step 2: Soak Your Feeders

Perch! Bird Feeder

You must clean your bird feeders at least once per month order to keep them free from bacteria, mold, and other contaminants. Glass and ceramic feeders, such as the gorgeous Perch! Bird Feeder, may be soaked with one part bleach to nine parts hot water. After soaking the feeder, rinse it with clean water for at least 10 seconds to remove any chemical residue.

Step 3: Use Proper Equipment to Give a Good Scrub

A stiff wire brush is a good tool to have for this task. Since we are big proponents of the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle mantra, we think that an old toothbrush works just as well for this task. Just make sure that you clean the toothbrush itself after using it on your bird feeder, and don’t use it for any other cleanup jobs around the house.

Step 4: Clean All Parts of the Feeder

Make sure to thoroughly clean all parts of your bird feeder. This means that if you have a feeder that is driven into the ground, such as the Glass Bird Feeding Table, you will need to clean the steel rod upon which it rests. Don’t worry, cleaning the rod is an easy task. Just fill a spray bottle with the bleach solution previously mentioned. Or, to protect grass beneath your bird feeder, fill a spray bottle with a mild solution of unscented dish detergent instead.

Eva Solo's Glass Bird Feeding Table

Step 5: Protect Yourself

Always wear rubber gloves when cleaning your bird feeders! This is very important because certain bird illnesses, such as West Nile Virus and Salmonella, can spread to humans. Wash your hands thoroughly after you remove your rubber gloves.

Step 6: Keep a Watchful Eye

Sick birds do not always exhibit outward symptoms. In the case that illness is manifesting itself symptomatically, you may notice birds with swollen eyes or membranes, poor reaction to human presence, trouble breathing, or erratic behavior. All birders will occasionally find a dead bird at or near the feeder. However, if you find more than one bird in a short period of time, or if you find several birds of the same species that have been affected, contact your local wildlife services office. Do not bring a sick or dead bird into your home under any circumstances.

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