Throughout the year, many homes across the UK put out birdfeeders to help wildlife and encourage more birds in their gardens. However, as the winter months draw on, gardeners are being urged to check their feeders for hidden dangers.
While birds definitely benefit from having additional food out in the colder months, if these feeders aren’t checked frequently they can easily spread disease. If you want to keep wildlife safe in your garden, there’s one thing you need to remember. Richard Green, a bird feeding specialist from Kennedy Wild Bird Food & Pet Supplies is urging households to check their bird food for warning signs.
The most important thing to check is that your bird food isn’t sitting out and getting wet.
Richard said: “Once damp, within 24 to 48 hours, seed can harbour moulds, bacteria and parasites that spread illness among birds sharing the same feeding space.”
Make sure you know the warning signs of food that could make animals sick. This includes seeds clumping together, changes in colour or musty smells.
He continued: “Any black, green or white fuzz on the food means it should be discarded immediately.
“Even condensation inside a feeder can create the right conditions for mould growth, so drying feeders fully before refilling them is a must.”
If you notice that the seed you’ve put out for birds has gotten wet, it must be removed, Even if it dries, birds eating the seed can still get sick.
Richard said: “It should always be removed and disposed of, never dried out and reused, as it can carry mould spores and bacteria that remain active even after drying.
“Birds will sometimes eat damp seed naturally, but feeders concentrate the risk. Cleanliness is what makes garden feeding safe.”
If you’re looking to buy a bird feeder, try and get one that is sheltered from rain to keep the food dry. It can also be helpful to place it somewhere sheltered, such as under eaves, patios or tree branches to lower the risk of food getting wet.
Comments are closed.