Should I clean my bird feeders?

Imagine you’re coming home and you spot a new restaurant. It looks good from the outside. Then you go in and they give you a water glass with lipstick on it. Yuk! And when you peek into the kitchen you see the chef pick out something moldy from the fridge and throw it in the deep fat fryer. Disgusting! You would walk out and never come back.

Now imagine a bird spots your feeder. It looks good from the outside... When was the last time you’ve cleaned it?

It can be detrimental to the birds if you don’t clean your feeders regularly. In order to keep healthy birds at your feeders, consider the following:

1. Feeders should be cleaned at least once a month, year round. Wild Birds Unlimited - East Lansing - will clean your feeder for $5.00 and it is ready the next day. Or you can purchase professional cleaners like Scoot or Poop-Off at Wild Birds Unlimited, or use a mild one part bleach or vinegar to nine parts water solution to clean all of your feeders. Disassemble feeders and immerse them completely for three minutes. Scrub with brushes, rinse thoroughly, and let air dry.

2. Check your feeders after a rain to make sure the seed is dry. If not, replace it.

3. Store seed in a cool dry location. Wild Birds Unlimited has closed Aluminum containers that work well to protect seed from unwanted seed thieves.

4. When choosing a new feeder look for something easy to clean and fill.

If you keep these measures in mind, you can keep this hobby enjoyable for your family and safe for your birds.

Bon appetite!