Regularly cleaning and disinfecting your bird feeders is just as important as filling them - especially when it comes to preventing salmonellosis, a bacterial disease that kills many small birds.
Salmonellosis occurs when a food source is contaminated with faecal matter. Since 1970, when the bacterial disease was first diagnosed, fatalities around bird feeders have become more common and have been witnessed in many bird species throughout the world.
So it's crucial to keep your bird feeders clean in order to prevent salmonellosis and diseases like it (as well as fungal growths, which can be hazardous to the health of many birds).
How often should I clean my bird feeders?
Knowing how often to clean bird feeders is very important. Feeding surfaces should be scraped at least once a week to remove bird droppings and old food. More frequent scraping is recommended during busy seasons. A scraper tool is handy for this job.
Additionally, you should clean your bird table with a suitable disinfectant every two weeks. We recommend Ark-Klens™ disinfectant for this job.
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How to disinfect bird feeders
Disinfect your feeders once a fortnight. Use quaternary ammonium disinfectant 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.
Tips on how to clean bird feeders
• Don't allow lots of droppings and old, mouldy food to accumulate on your bird tables. Scrape feeding surfaces regularly.
• Use easy-clean bird feeders to make your life easier.
• A long cleaning brush is useful when cleaning tubular feeders.
• Clean bird feeders outside and DON'T use any of the utensils you use to clean your own dishes, cutlery, etc.
• When cleaning bird feeders, wear gloves. Be sure to wash your hands afterwards.
• Make sure your birds aren't dropping lots of food on the ground, as this can attract vermin. If you're having this problem, try our no-mess bird seed mixes.
• Every so often, move your bird feeders to a different part of your garden. Leaving them in the same place for too long can result in a build-up of bird droppings, which increases the risk of disease.
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For more information about keeping your bird feeders clean and hygienic, check our Wild Bird Care 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!
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