Best Practices for Safe Bird Feeding

The risk to birds can be greatly reduced if very regular and thorough cleaning of feeders is carried out weekly. Food waste and dirt which can build up around the ports and perches of feeders and remain damp, is just the sort of place the Trichomonosis parasite will live longer and therefore present a greater risk of being transferred to another bird

Regularly clear up waste below feeders, and if time prevents this then switch to husk-free seed and mixes to minimise waste. Seed husks and bird droppings can quickly build up below a feeder, so ensure this waste is regularly cleaned up

However thoroughly you clear the waste up, the ground below feeders can still become contaminated. Therefore the best approach is to regularly move feeders to a new position in your garden and sweep or hose areas beneath

Avoid cheap seed mixes which are just full of fillers, as these are a contributor to the disease issue. These mixes might seem like a bargain when bought from discount stores and supermarkets, but the reality is that they’re not only a false economy because birds eat so little of the food, but when they remain in a feeder for too long they start to become damp and mouldy. When birds drop seeds and grains on the ground as they search for something potentially edible, it will just stay there and soon start to rot

Providing garden birds with food on bird tables, ground trays and other small and confined flat surfaces, carries particular risk to the health of birds and a higher risk for disease transmission, so only use them if you’re able to thoroughly clean on a daily basis – or don’t use at all

For birds like Robin, Blackbird and other ground-feeding species, a much safer alternative to bird tables is simply to scatter husk-free seed and seed mixes directly on the ground. Scattering bird food such as Sunflower Hearts on larger flat areas in and around gardens such as decking, patios, driveways and short-cut lawns, is a good alternative to bird tables and ground trays, but be sure to rotate the areas used

Only put out as much food that can be eaten in one day

Trichomonosis can live longer in damp or wet conditions. It therefore makes sense to keep feeders and the food in them as dry as possible, which can be achieved by using a rain guard which is suitable for any type or size of hanging seed or peanut feeder.

Always have at least one spare and clean feeder ready, so you can use this in place of the one you’ve taken down for cleaning

Feeding stations have long been popular because they present a practical solution for sighting different types of feeder and foods together. But the problem is that it’s inevitable that large numbers of birds of different species are attracted in an unnaturally close way. This therefore increases the risk of disease transmission. Only use feeding stations with one or two feeders hanging from them, and instead spread the other feeders out around your garden

A further step you can take to minimise this risk, is to make live mealworms one of the main foods you put out. Live food is far better for young birds in the nest and when they fledge, as it is full of protein and moisture as well – which is essential to keep the young birds hydrated. But it’s also about the way adult birds quickly gather live mealworms, whole in their bill rather than trying to process the food into a form they can feed to their young, as they would do seed. Plus and importantly, no waste at the feeder is created

All the other usual types of bird food, including seed, seed mixes, peanuts, and suet products can continue to be provided throughout the summer, but generally speaking, in reduced amounts. It’s good practice in the spring and summer to reduce the quantity of seed and peanuts from the levels used in the winter months. Still make these foods available, but in smaller quantities, so birds are encouraged to search for more natural food – both invertebrate and seed – to feed to their young. The extent to which you reduce other foods down can depend on where you live and the extent of likely available natural food close-by.

Bird baths can also present a risk of disease transmission, and especially for Trichomonosis because the parasite lives longer in water than in dry conditions. It’s very important to clean bird baths thoroughly and refill with clean water, and if they’re used frequently then do so every day. Allowing the bird bath to dry before refilling it is also good practice as it further reduces the chance of the parasite surviving.