Bird Feeders: Do's and Don't's
Lots can go wrong when operating a bird feeder on a bracket or branch, although I just want to concentrate on the absolute things you should and shouldn't do at this time.
Bird feeder do's will primarily focus on putting the correct bird feed in the feeder it was intended for, to avoid jamming and incompatibility issues for birds, plus a regular clean with an open feeder to attract all birds. Absolute don't's is to use scraps in feeders while never putting suspended bird feeders on the ground.
Few do's and don't's of using a bird feeder with the prime focus on do's of keeping a well maintain bird feeder over the course of its use.
To use a bird feeder for what it was intended for is also important as you don't want to damage what can be a complicated mix of tubes inside the feeder - which can block up if using the wrong bird feed, which would normally be intended for a different feeder.
Serious implications when using a bird feeder the wrong way mind, with least among them wild birds simply avoiding that particular bird feeder.
Whereby believing a bird feeder can be operated without due care and attention, when in fact the serious issue of bacteria will be slowly developing inside.
When operating a clear tube seed bird feeder for example, never put kitchen scraps like oats or bread in it.
Bird feeders are made for specific bird feed only whereas kitchen scraps are found to rot quickly outdoors, and far quicker when confined inside of a hot plastic tube.
Similarly, a fine mesh wire feeder made for peanuts is developed for birds to peck out nuts, or pull peanuts hearts through the wire.
Bird feed other than nuts - which is sometimes made for dried mealworms - will simply make it difficult for birds to access the feed.
What to DO
Bird feeders without a doubt are the best way to attract birds to a feeder, with a few absolute standards to maintain in order keep wild birds coming back to feeders. With a big one being a highly attractive, visible bird feeder location in a well lit up area.
Correct bird food in feeders
What must be the top four popular bird feeders you can utilize in most States, is a clear tube seed feeder; mesh wire peanut feeder; wire cage suet feeder and of course; some kind of open top bird feeder.
What you get with each and every bird feeder is a way to provide wild birds, bird feed in a specially developed bird feeder.
If you fail to put the correct bird feeder in the feeder it was intended to be used in, two things could happen...
One, the bird feed stuffed in the wrong feeder will jam within the interior, and two; the bird feed in the wrong feeder will be made inaccessible to the species is was made for - with the feeder not made for their size and ability at feeders.
Its imperative to put the correct bird feeder in feeders it was intended for, while baring in mind it could be too restricting for the birds it isn't intended for - when using bird feed that belongs in a another.
Regularly clean to sustain quality
What else you absolutely must do when operating any kind of bird feeder situated in your yard, is to keep up with a regular cleaning routine.
Make no mistake about it, bird feeders become a breeding ground for bacteria to develop quickly, despite it not being visible to the naked eyes.
With that to consider, I would advise you to stick to a cleaning routine that will involve quickly cleaning each and every bird feeder with a boiling hot soapy bath in a bowl of water - along with a antibacterial spray or homemade solution to kill off bacteria.
Bird feeders must be replenished with a new batch of bird feed on a regular basis, thus little bird feed must be used to avoid waste.
Never replenish any type of bird feeder until you've cleaned out the bird feeder - both inside and out - before filling it up with fresh bird feed.
Hang at 4-5 feet high
Absolutely DO of owning and operating any kind of suspended bird feeder, would be to maintain a 4 to 5 feet distance off the ground.
Why that matters is three-fold, it will keep bird feeders, and therefore the potential bacteria riddled exterior - out of reach of children and pets.
Bonus being the suspended bird feeder can now be protected from common bird feeder pests, like squirrels or raccoon's who are intent on raiding the accessible bird feeder.
Distance off the ground will begin with a 4 feet height minimum, although if you can suspend the bird feeder any higher, then do so as long as its within reach for you - in order to clean and maintain when its time to.
Rely on the default height of a bird feeding station or Shepherd's hook pole once its impaled in the ground, to get an ideal of how far off the ground your bird feeders will actually be suspended.
If bird feeders are below the 4 feet height, you might be OK if there's no kids, pets like cats and commom bird feeder pests in your yard.
Open feeder style to attract most
While most of use rely on some kind of suspended bird feeder to attract birds to our feeders hung off a pole - or perhaps a tree branch if available - don't let this rather confined type of feeder hold you back when an open top feeder is needed.
How to truly attract the most varied wild bird species to your bird feeders, would be to open up your bird feeding methods, to include a highly visible bird feeder tray or platform to put bird feed on top.
It could be a bird table, a platform put on top of a stand - it could also be suspended or be a ground bird feeder - of which you will find a bird feeding station pole would normally come with a pole mounted metal mesh wire tray.
What bird feeder type attracts the most birds is indeed a platform feeder: its wide open to the elements; it isn't size restricting; and you can put any kind of bird feed on it imaginable.
Bird tables can be used to put on dried or live mealworms that don't normally fit inside a confined feeder, whereas this bird table will benefit fruit-eating birds - because again you can't put fruits inside confined suspended bird feeders.
What NOT to do
Lots of negatives for making use of a bird feeder hung up in your yard, although I will concentrate on only the few don't's of owning a bird feeder to keep you on top of what it entails to operate bird feeders to attract as many wild birds as possible.
Put scraps in bird feeders
You got your seed, peanut and suet bird feeder - and of cause a nectar-filled Oriole or Hummingbird feeder - of which all are made to be filled with the feed it was made for.
With that in mind its never ever advisable to fill these bird feeders with anything it wasn't made for - as it risks jamming up the internal port wells - which was only developed to dispense the bird feed it was meant for of course.
Well, what some people will do in an effort to use any food to store in the wrong bird feeder - or should I say all kinds of kitchen scraps - is to put normal grocery food inside feeder where it absolutely doesn't belong.
Putting scraps of food you'd normally find in the kitchen like oats, cereal or bread must never be put in any bird feeder.
Human food for one thing will rapidly rot in an outdoor environment, whereas people food trapped inside what can be a hot and humid container, will cause it to do unholy things other than rot, including smelling really rancid.
Never put on ground
Unless its made to be a ground bird feeder - to put on the lawn or decking - then you must never put a bird feeder intended to be suspended, on the ground.
If the seed or peanut bird feeder has a flat bottom, it can be placed on an elevated surface like a garden table or wall; whereas a too low down location can in fact cause the bird feed to react badly to the ground atmosphere.
Bird feed put on top of a ground bird feeder is fine because it isn't in any way exposed to the floor, unlike say a seed feeder where the port wells will come close to the ground.
Don't put bird feeders made to be suspended on the ground because this location can change the atmosphere of the bird feeder interior.
And with that, don't forget bugs and insects will access the bird feed with ease.
Again, suspended bird feeders like a Hummingbird feeder can be put on a table, much like those belonging to a suet or seed feeder - although to put it directly on the lawn, deck or concrete must be avoided at all costs.
By the way, with a Hummingbird or Oriole feeder you must never put plain water in it when only homemade nectar should be. Benefits of a Hummingbird feeder is its the only way to attract Hummingbirds, thus you don't want to waste an opportunity.
Small bird feeders for large birds
What you might not realize when birds are not partially biting at your bird feeders, could be because the bird feeder isn't compatible with the available wild birds in your yard.
Starlings are big on bird feeders and for now, it may only be Starlings attracted to your feeders.
With that in mind, the bird feeders currently in use - like a small compact seed tube feeder - could be kicking off Starlings rather than allowing them to feed.
If you don't mind attracting Mourning Doves to feeders then of course any kind of small confined bird feeder, isn't going to allow such a large bird to feed at all.
You use small bird feeders only to stop larger birds raiding the feeders, whereas if this doesn't bother you at this stage, then its imperative to open up your bird feeders to all the birds - both large and small - who are willing to come to your bird feeder to eat. I would personally do all you can to keep crows eating out of feeders at all times.
Spill some bird feed on the ground to keep birds unable to reach feeders at this time, as there's certainly benefits to be had when not always utilizing any kind of bird feeder.
Summary
Do's and don't's of using any kind of bird feeder for the wild birds in your yard shouldn't result in anything too damaging, unless the local government advises against use of bird feeders for now, due to the spread of disease at feeders.
In the meantime, the few things you must do is clean the bird feeders on a regular basis, which is before replenishing them with a fresh batch of bird feed.
You must also put the correct bird feed in the right bird feeder to at least stop too small or too large feed blocking the feeders. And if the bird feed is put in the wrong bird feeder, it may no longer be a compatible feeder for the birds it was intended for.
With that, suspend bird feeders at a minimum of 4 feet or higher off the ground, while utilizing an open to the elements platform bird feeder; even if it has to hang, be mounted or it could be a ground platform bird feeder.
Absolutely don't of using any bird feeder would include never putting human food in feeders, when bird feed it was intended for must only be used.
Suspend bird feeders on a bracket or pole, or sit it upright on an elevated outdoor table or wall if you must.
While never put a bird feeder directly on the ground as the atmosphere can quickly change the bird feed quality.
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