When bird food gets wet it can become moldy, especially in hot & humid conditions. To make cleaning easy, look for a bird feeder that can be easily disassembled and made of non-porous materials such as recycled plastic or metal. Allow it to air-dry completely before refilling.Wood is extremely difficult to remove the bleach smell after soaking and rinsing which can be toxic to birds.Rinse with clean water thoroughly until all scent of bleach is removed.Soak in 1:9 water/bleach solution for 10 minutes (e.g.Scrub in a bath of boiling water and dish soap.Not sure how to properly clean a bird feeder? heck out The Best Cardinal Feeder is Easy to Cleanīird feeders need to be cleaned on a regular basis in order to keep wild birds healthy and prevent the spread of disease. The cardinals’ favorite feeder foods in order of preference include:ģ. Look for a bird feeder that holds one or more of the cardinal’s favorite feeder foods. The Best Cardinal Feeder Holds Cardinal-Favorite Food Plus, we want the wild beauties to return again and again so why not make it comfortable and easy for them to get at the food? 2. While any bird will make the perch work if they’re hungry enough, we’re interested in the best bird feeder for cardinals without them having to twist themselves into a pretzel to get at the food. Cardinals require a longer perching distance from the food than smaller birds. If you’re visual like I am, check out the illustration below.

The Best Cardinal Feeder Has a Cardinal-Friendly PerchĬardinals are almost 9″ long making them relatively large perching birds compared to chickadees, another common feeder bird, which is only about 5″ long,īecause of their size, cardinals need a perch that’s further from the food than a smaller bird would need. If you want to attract cardinals to your yard, focus on these six key factors when shopping for a bird feeder for cardinals:ġ. There are hundreds of bird feeder options available. If bees, wasps, or ants become a problem, try moving the feeder, or go to our feeder pests and predators page for other solutions.Factors to Consider When Buying a Bird Feeder for Cardinals You can also clean hummingbird feeders by filling with a dilute bleach solution, but make sure to rinse them thoroughly and allow them to air dry before refilling.ĭon’t put oil or other sticky substances around feeding ports to deter bees you might contaminate the nectar. Clean feeders at least once a week with hot water and a bottle brush. Maintaining hummingbird feeders Ruby-throated Hummingbird by Jason Means via Birdshare.Ĭhange sugar water at least every 3 to 5 days to prevent mold and deadly fermentation, and more frequently during hot weather. And bird food scattered on the ground can attract unwanted rodents. Moldy or spoiled food is unhealthy both for birds and for your outside pets. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before refilling.Ĭlean the ground below your feeders, too, to prevent a build-up of hulls, uneaten seeds, and other waste. To clean your feeder, take it apart and use a dishwasher on a hot setting or hand wash either with soap and boiling water or with a dilute bleach solution (no more than 1 part bleach to 9 parts water). Clean your feeders about once every two weeks, more often during times of heavy use or wet weather or if there have been reports of salmonella in your area or you have seen sick birds in your yard.

Bird droppings and other contaminants may also spread infectious bird diseases. Moldy or decomposing seeds and hulls that accumulate on feeder trays can make birds sick. Carolina Chickadee by Linda Petersen/Birdshare.Ĭleaning your bird feeders regularly helps keep your backyard birds healthy.

Easy platform bird feeder