Care
How to clean a bird feeder, and how often.
Clean feeder, happy birds. It's the one rule we'd ask everyone to follow.
Why it matters
Where birds gather, disease can spread: through droppings, damp mouldy seed and close contact. Regular cleaning is the single most important thing you can do to keep visitors healthy.
The routine
- Empty out old seed and husks.
- Scrub every surface in hot, soapy water. A long-handled brush gets into tray corners and tubes.
- For a deeper clean, soak in a dilute disinfectant (many guides suggest 1 part household bleach to 9 parts water), then rinse very thoroughly.
- Let it dry completely before refilling. Damp seed goes mouldy.
- Wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards.
How often?
Every week or two for feeders, more often in warm, wet weather or when lots of birds are visiting. Small trays filled little and often stay cleaner than big ones.
Bird baths
Change the water every couple of days and scrub the bath weekly. Moving water from a solar fountain helps keep it fresh, but doesn't replace cleaning.
Written by the Perchwild team. Questions? Write to us.
