Some simple advice on bird feeding & hygiene

To print & pin on your notice board for reference:

 

The Garden Bird Feeding Year

 Winter: November - March

Fat: 

• Suet and lard. Fat is 'high energy' food which helps birds build up and maintain the reserves they need for the cold weather

Seeds: 

• Peanuts - broken up so they don't choke baby birds

• Black sunflower seeds

• Sunflower hearts

• Nyjer seeds

• Millet

• Flaked maize

• Pinhead oatmeal

Make up mixes of fat and seeds in small ceramic dishes to put on the birdtable

Bread

Cooked potatoes

Cooked rice

Currants, raisins and sultanas

Fruit - half eaten or bruised too

Grated cheese

Mealworms

               

 

 Summer: April - October

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             High protein foods for while birds are mating, nest building, incubating, feeding chicks and also moulting and preparing to migrate:  

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• Black sunflower seeds

• Pinhead oatmeal

• Water soaked currants, sultanas & raisins

• Grated cheese

• Mealworms

• Waxworms

• Fruit

• Seed mixes without peanuts - Peanuts should only be fed in feeders with small mesh or as granules, so birds cannot take whole nuts on which their young would choke.

            

Try to establish a feeding routine, your birds will learn when to come to the table.

Remember to top up your bird bath, the water evaporates in windy and warm weather

as well as when it is hot.

For more detailed information, please click on this link to the RSPB website

for comprehensive advice on what it is safe to feed birds.

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The risk of your garden birds getting diseases is low, but to avoid all risk -

 Keep Feeders, Tables and Bird Baths clean.

•  Bird feeders, tables and baths should be regularly cleaned and disinfected (e.g. weekly) to avoid build-up of food waste and bird droppings.

•  Suitable disinfectants that can be used include a weak solution of domestic bleach (5% sodium hypochlorite, which is 1 part bleach to 20 parts water).

•  Before disinfecting feeders, dampen surfaces with water to reduce the chance of breathing in dry dust or aerosolised material and wash off any dirt or debris as this will neutralise the disinfectant and reduce its effectiveness.

•  After disinfecting feeders, tables and baths, rinse them thoroughly with fresh water and allow them to air dry before re-filling.

•  Regularly sweep/clean areas beneath feeders to prevent waste food and/or droppings from accumulating which may increase disease transmission and attract wild rodents.

•  Brushes and cleaning equipment for bird feeders, tables and baths should not be used for other purposes and should be kept and used outside only, away from food preparation areas.

•  Wear rubber gloves when cleaning feeders and thoroughly wash hands and forearms afterwards with soap and water, especially before eating or drinking.

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Birdtables.org.uk
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01491 825494