Moldy or decomposing seeds and hulls that accumulate on feeder trays can make birds sick. Bird droppings and other contaminants may also spread infectious bird diseases. Clean your feeders about once every two weeks, more often during times of heavy use or wet weather or if there have beenreports of salmonella in your area or you have seen sick birds in your yard. To clean your feeder, take it apart and use a dishwasher on a hot setting or hand wash either with soap and boiling water or with a dilute bleach solution (no more than 1 part bleach to 9 parts water). Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before refilling.
Clean the ground below your feeders, too, to prevent a build-up of hulls, uneaten seeds, and other waste. Moldy or spoiled food is unhealthy both for birds and for your outside pets. And bird food scattered on the ground can attract unwanted rodents.
Maintaining hummingbird feeders
Change sugar water at least every 3to 5days to prevent mold and deadly fermentation, and more frequently during hot weather. Clean feeders at least once a week with hot water and a bottle brush. Don’t use soap or a detergent. You can also clean hummingbird feeders by filling with a dilute bleach solution, but make sure to rinse them thoroughly and allow them to air dry before refilling.
Change sugar water at least every 3to 5days to prevent mold and deadly fermentation, and more frequently during hot weather. Clean feeders at least once a week with hot water and a bottle brush. Don’t use soap or a detergent. You can also clean hummingbird feeders by filling with a dilute bleach solution, but make sure to rinse them thoroughly and allow them to air dry before refilling.
Don’tput oil or other sticky substances around feeding ports to deter bees; you might contaminate the nectar. If bees, wasps, or ants become a problem, try moving the feeder, or go to our feeder pests and predators page for other solutions.
To clean your feeder, take it apart and use a dishwasher on a hot setting or hand wash either with soap and boiling water or with a dilute bleach solution (no more than 1 part bleach to 9 parts water). Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before refilling.
The National Wildlife Health Center recommends cleaning bird baths and feeders with a solution of nine parts water to one part bleach. (If there is visible debris, such as feces, scrub it off before soaking in the bleach solution.) Dry out the feeder before hanging it back up.
Mild soap: We recommend Seventh Generation Dish Liquid and Dawn Ultra. But any dish soap should work. Bleach: To properly sanitize your bird feeder, you'll need to use a disinfectant such as bleach.
Clean feeders using 4 parts hot water to 1 part vinegar or 9 part hot water to 1 part bleach using a special bottle brush to clean small holes. Visually inspect the entire feeder for black mold. Rinse all parts of the feeder with water for at least 3 times and allow it to air dry completely before refilling.
How to clean and sanitize your bird feeder. Pick an outdoor location to clean your feeder. If one isn't available, use a laundry sink or a bathtub. Don't use the sink in your kitchen or near where your food is prepared—doing so could risk cross-contamination.
Clorox wipes are great to wipe down feeders and surfaces where birds congregate. Rake up and discard seed debris and bird droppings from the ground below and around feeders. Hose off the ground under the feeders weekly to disperse any collection of bird droppings.
Strong fragrances and harsh ingredients are big no-nos. Most dish soaps, including Dawn, have fragrance ingredients in their formula. While this may not be too irritating to wash dishes in, it can be irritating to your skin or disturb your sleep if you're washing your sheets with dish soap.
Is Dawn dish soap safe for dogs to lick? Dawn dish soap is a detergent and can cause poisoning in dogs if they lick it off their fur. Even in small amounts, over an extended period of time, this can lead to GI upset in your pet. Symptoms of detergent poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, and excessive drooling.
Hot tap water and a bottle brush or special feeder brush are usually all you need to clean feeders, but white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide are safe and effective too. If your feeder has hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, avoid using soap or detergents as it can leave harmful residues.
Vinegar is a very effective solution to keep the birds away. The only problem with it is that it can cause harm to your plants. Therefore, it is a good solution for your porch and the area around your house, but not for your garden.
Evergreens are ideal—their thick foliage buffers winter winds and offers year-round hiding places from predators. Be careful not to locate your feeder too close to cover, though. Nearby branches can provide jumping-off points for seed-hungry squirrels and hiding places for bird-hungry cats.
Organic apple cider vinegar mixed with water at a 1:1 ratio. Chlorhexidine solution in water (Be advised that once chlorhexidine is mixed with water, it is only good for 72 hours. So be sure to mix a new solution every time you clean rather than mixing it up all at once.) Detergent-free soap in water.
Unfortunately, bleach solutions and the fumes they produce are toxic to living tissues. Irritation of mucous membranes including watery eyes, nasal discharge and sneezing may be noted in birds exposed to bleach fumes. Use of bleach in poorly ventilated areas can result in fatal tracheitis and pneumonia in birds.
Hot tap water and a bottle brush or special feeder brush are usually all you need to clean feeders, but white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide are safe and effective too.
A hosepipe will be invaluable if you have a substantial amount of dried droppings to remove. A disinfectant spray is a must for finishing off the area. We recommend Germ Clear™ Bird Droppings Disinfectant Spray as not only does it clean, but it kills off any bacteria that may be lurking.
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