By setting up bird feeders, you can have the pleasure of watching birds from the comfort of your Outback reclining chairs, right there in your garden.
It is important to clean them regularly though, to get rid of fungal spores and bacteria that can make birds sick. Below, we’ll explore how to do this properly.
The first step should be to remove any bird food that is left in the feeder. Put on a pair of rubber gloves to empty it out and bin the leftover food straight away. You should never attempt to compost it or reuse it, because it could potentially be carrying bacteria.
Next, it is time to clean out the feeder. This should be done using hot water combined with soap or washing up liquid. Make sure that any dried-up food or bird droppings have been thoroughly scrubbed off during this stage of the process.
After you are sure that the feeder is clean, give it a rinse under cold water. A tap that is outside will be best, but if you do not have one, an inside tap will work fine too.
Instead of using a tea towel or paper towels to dry the feeder, leave it outside to be dried by the air. Following this, give it a spray using veterinary disinfectant, to make sure that any bacteria or spores that have survived up to now are killed off.
Finally, give it another rinse and let it dry, ready to be filled with food for hungry birds again.
