Time to Tidy Up for our Feathered Friends

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A Clean Bird Feeder is a Happy Bird Feeder!

The experts say we should clean our feeders monthly ~ most of us clean them once a year, if that.  If you are a once a year kind of person - now is the time!

Dirty feeders can harbor disease in the form of molds and bacterias.  Clean feeders are safer for our little friends and will actually attract more of them to our backyards!  We don't like eating at filthy, dirty restaurants - neither do the birds! 

So, let's make our Foul Feeders more Friendly!

Here are some pointers to make it easy for you and safe for them:

• The Right Tools make any job easier.  Birding stores will sell special brushes to clean your feeders, but a good bottle brush, a stiff scrubbing brush and an old toothbrush will work just as well.  Don't forget to wear rubber gloves - you can never be to careful!
• Clean Everything - From top to bottom, all of the nooks and crannies, the perches, the inside, the outside, lids, hinges...
• Use Safe Cleaners.  Again, stores will sell special cleaners for use with feeders, but if you are poor like me you can use a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water; or a mild, non-scented dish washing detergent.
• Rinse Thoroughly.  After you've cleaned and scrubbed your little heart out - rinse with clean water to remove all chemical residue, and bird poop.
• Dry.  Make sure the feeder is completely dry before filling with feed.  Water and feed don't mix - you will be back were you started with mold, mildew and rotten bird food.

Don't forget to clean the ground around the bottom of the feeder too - remove all of the rotten and moldy seed that piles up and replace with a clean mulch of your choice.

Good for us!  Our chickadee chophouse is spic and span.

Happy Birding!








Get your hands dirty!