Cleaning your bird feeders is essential to providing a clean and sanitary feeding environment for your birds.
Moldy and spoiled seeds on the feeder trays can make the birds sick. A dirty feeder can harbor unwanted mold and bacteria that can potentially kill your little bird friends as well as bird droppings that have been accumulated on the ground since they carry infectious diseases that can spread to other backyards and other birds. This can create dangerous conditions and illnesses for the birds but this can be avoided by taking a few necessary steps. Cleaning your feeders is an important factor in maintaining a healthy feeding ground for birds. I clean my bird feeders and the surrounding areas every two weeks and I inspect/clean up any messes immediately after heavy rain and throw away any seeds that have been spoiled. It’s a small duty of birdwatchers and backyard bird feeders to provide a safe, clean, and happy ground for your bird friends to feed on and rest up.
There are many ways to clean your feeders. I take mine apart and use dishwashing soap to clean any residue and dried up seeds with a brush. You can also soak your feeder to loosen up any dried bits. You can usually find a brush at any home and garden store or even online (I use this one, which I purchased online). You can also use an old toothbrush for smaller feeders or for areas where your bird feeder brush isn’t reaching. If your feeder is dishwasher safe, you can also place it in there. To maintain extra cleanliness and for deep cleaning, you can place your feeder in a diluted bleach solution. I like to clean with the latter at least once a month or every 2 months, depending on the weather conditions. This video goes into great detail on how to clean your bird feeders with a diluted bleach solution. Don’t forget to thoroughly dry your feeders before placing fresh seeds and nuts.