Even though it's winter and cold out, seed bird feeders still need cleaning maintenance on a regular basis. With wind blowing snow into the tray area seed will freeze and thaw as the sun and temperatures rise and fall. This will cause seed to get moldy and rancid. A bad food source will make birds sick or even kill them.
Simple cleaning will prevent seed from going bad in feeders. Time between cleanings has many variables, weather is the main one. If you see moldy seed in the feeder, you must disinfect the feeder. Use a solution of 10 parts water to 1 part bleach. Soak the feeder for a couple of minutes if possible. Otherwise just keep pouring the solution through the feeder. A small soft brush can be used to remove any mold stuck inside. It is VERY important to rise the feeder thoroughly! Let the feeder air dry so fresh seed will not absorb the moisture. You can also use an air hose to speed up the drying time. Our goal is to never see moldy seed in a feeder.
Cleaning your feeders will keep them looking good for years to come. Different bird feeders require different cleaning and maintenance. Check requirements on the package of all new feeders.
Fill bird feeders with fresh seed. To help keep feed safe for birds store in a location that rodents can get at. Rodents can carry diseases to birds that don't effect them. Never put rancid seed back into a feeder.
If we want to welcome and enjoy birds in our yard we need to make it a safe environment for them. Don't over crowd them, more bird feeders is better then less. Clean fresh food and water is a must. If we can"t live up to these simple rules, then we shouldn't invite birds to our yard.
Visit Chimes and Birds for many styles of seed feeders for year round use.
Enjoy them birds!
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