It’s an average September morning in the Smith farmhouse kitchen in Hampshire: Richard has drained his cup of tea and is pulling on an overcoat; his wife Lesley stacks the dishwasher while her laptop boots up, ready to start her working day; and eight-year-old Eleanor is giving her rescue dog Lily one last pat before school.

It’s like countless scenes playing out in homes around the country but with one big difference. Clearly visible through the large glass double doors that dominate the back wall of the kitchen are a thousand golden sunflowers – and, if it wasn’t for them, the Smiths wouldn’t still be living at Street End Farm.

Regularly cleaning and disinfecting your bird feeders is just as important as filling them. Unsanitary feeding stations and bird baths can encourage the spread of wild bird diseases like salmonellosis, so good bird feeder hygiene is essential if you want to help your feathered friends stay safe and healthy.

PICTURED: Peckish Bird Feeder Cleaning Brush

Read on to learn how to clean and disinfect your feeders in order to limit the spread of disease among your local bird populations.

How often should I clean my bird feeder?

Feeding surfaces should be scraped at least once a week to remove bird droppings and old food. More frequent scraping is recommended during busy periods and spells of wet / humid weather. A scraper tool is handy for this job.

You should also disinfect your feeders once a fortnight. Use a quaternary ammonium disinfectant (we recommend Ark-Klens™) and be sure to read the instructions carefully before use. You'll need to dilute the disinfectant with water and wait a few minutes before rinsing it off.

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How to clean a bird feeder

NOTE: Always wear gloves when cleaning bird feeders. Clean your feeders outside, and don't use any of the utensils you use to clean your own dishes, cutlery, etc.

• Before you start cleaning your bird feeder, throw away the contents so that the feeder is totally empty.
  
  
• Once the feeder is empty, soak all of the parts in warm water and washing-up liquid for 15 to 20 minutes.
  
  
• Use a suitable cleaning brush to make sure the feeder is totally clean. A long cleaning brush may be needed if you're cleaning a long tube feeder.
  
  
• Rinse the feeder thoroughly with clean water to remove all soap, then let the feeder dry completely before refilling it.
  
  
• Wash your hands when you're finished.

TOP TIP: Investing in an easy-clean bird feeder can make your life much easier!

For more information about keeping your bird feeders clean, check out our Feeder Hygiene page or get in touch with the experts here at Really Wild Bird Food. We'll do our best to answer any questions you have!

Ask a Question   Wild Bird Care Tips

Latest in at Really Wild Bird Food online birdfeed store is a great variety of items to encourage a varied wildlife in addition to birds to your garden.

We now have in stock attractive ceramic Frog and Toad Houses and mini mammal houses for frogs and other small mammals. The frog houses are your best habitat options for the frogs and other small amphibians. They provide good protection from larger predators.

There is a great variety of bird feed available for the wild birds. Amongst these seeds and mealworms are the fatballs which are one of the most popular forms of bird feed. Fatballs prove to be excellent feed options for the birds especially during the winter.

Window bird feeders are perfect for bird lovers who don’t have enough space for a large bird feeding pole or table but still want to feed their local birds. These feeders come in a variety of different designs and are usually attached to the window with a strong suction cup.

However, it is estimated by the British Trust for Ornithology that up to 33 million birds die in the UK each year from collisions with windows. This begs the question: do window feeders perpetuate this issue by encouraging birds to fly close to windows for food? Are window bird feeders safe for our feathery friends? Keep reading to find out!

Are Window Bird Feeders Dangerous for Birds?

Most window feeders are actually designed to reduce the risk of window collisions. Window feeders help birds recognise the solid surface of the window, thus reducing the risk of collisions caused by reflections.

Also, if the feeder is placed close to the window, even panicked birds are less likely to gain enough speed to injure themselves if they fly into the glass after eating. This is why it is recommended to place all kinds of bird feeders within 3 feet of windows as birds approaching a feeder to eat will fly in at a very different angle compared to birds that are trying to fly through the window, believing there is a tree or tunnel in the distance.

However, if your window feeder becomes particularly busy, there is still a chance that nervous birds will scatter and see a reflection in the window that they will try fly towards, causing window strikes. For tips on how to prevent accidents like this from happening, check out the list below!

Window Bird Feeder Tips

• Using dots, decals or other window alerts will help birds recognise glass barriers and avoid collisions.
  
  
• Always elevate your window feeders at least 5 feet off the ground to protect your local birds from predators like cats.
  
  
• Position your feeder near a natural shelter like a bush or tree so that they can quickly escape if they sense danger. This will also make them more likely to visit!
  
  
• Avoid placing your window feeder near high traffic areas like living rooms or kitchens where movement and noise may scare birds away.
  
  
• Make sure you clean your window feeder at least once a week to protect your garden birds from diseases.

Benefits of Window Bird Feeders

• Window feeders are a great option for people who live in a flat or building with no outdoor space.
  
  
• Window feeders allow bird lovers to see their favourite garden birds up close without disturbing them.
  
  
• A huge variety of birds enjoy using window bird feeders, so you’re sure to see a variety of your local birds.

So, are window bird feeders safe? Yes! Window bird feeders offer a safe way to get up close and personal with your favourite garden birds while also protecting them from window collisions.

To see our full range of window feeders, click button below and if you have any further questions about the safety of window feeders or any of our other bird feeding products, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and a member of our team will be happy to help.

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What started off as just bird friendly gardens has expanded to butterfly and even hedgehog friendly gardens; and now, in an attempt to help the dwindling population of UK bats, there are many people who are encouraging bats to be their garden guests.

Photo courtesy of Jared Belson

There are about seventeen different hedgehog species all over the world. Hedgehogs are commonly found in wild, rural, and urban habitats in almost all parts of Britain.

This year’s harvest of grain for bird feed was truly a bumper crop with record yields recorded across most varieties. All our available barn space is filled to the rafters with grain and every nook and cranny (including a few trailers!) seems to be holding grain of some sort.