Can bird feeders be too close together

Of course bird feeders can be too close to one another if it means they continue to bump in to each other, whereas this can lead to bird feed spilling on the ground.

Bird feeders can be too close if hanging up on a makeshift bracket or on a tree branch - to use a bird feeder pole a safe distance is set for you. Feeders risk swinging in any wind, thus can lead to bumps and scrapes; whereas birds who are unaware of the dangers, can be knocked off their perch or crushed.

Distance between any two or more bird feeders whilst hanging off a bracket or branch must allow wild birds to come in for a landing, while never obstructed by other feeders.

Birds can perch or cling upright or upside down while they feed, thus are unlikely to can see any danger that may fall upon them.

Unused bird feeders will see them swing into each other, and therefore would indicate feeders are hanging too close together. If this swinging persists as birds feed then birds will in time be harmed... thus you must remain mindful of potential dangers.

What you hang a bird feeder on could be a bird feeder pole for guaranteed safe spacing, whereas a single wall bracket can benefit with more feeders if its always unused.

And this is where a group of bird feeders must still be situated near to one another, though this doesn't mean so close they knock in wind or if birds actually cause feeders to swing.

Where to place a bird feeder will be on a pole isolated by other backyard objects, thus only other bird feeders can come into contact with one another.

When you think about it, more bird feeders grouped together can be an attractive view to passing birds, so should never be isolated around the yard.

Squirrels can be hard to get off a bird feeder hanging up on its own, so the bonus being as all bird feeders are hung in a group, though still at a safe distance - squirrels will never get at the feeders as long as they continue to hang on the other side of a baffle.

Similarly, nuisance birds such as pigeons or crows can use the close proximity of hanging bird feeders to perch, while reaching over to a near by feeder to eat.

Clearing can assist birds

To keep hanging bird feeders at least 1 foot apart is going to assist all bird species as they tackle the complexity of a bird feeder.

Bird feeding station poles will give you that 1 foot distance easily, though additional bird feeders can get a bit crowded.

Crowded bird feeder poles are never a good idea as birds struggle to use it, especially when said bird feeding station gets busy in the mornings.

When bird feeders are too close together, and I am talking about suet, peanut or seed feeders - it would bring all bird species into close proximity. Not usually an issue but where certain birds favor one food, others species prefer another sat close by.

What this can lead to is bringing scrappy Starlings too close to say Finches or Warblers, of who would prefer to keep their distance.

Rely on the manufacturer's spacing on a bird feeder pole, with 4 to 6 brackets used, all offering an approximate 1 foot distance.

Close proximity causes bumps

Of course while bird feeders can dangle off a bird feeder pole with little issues, here comes the wind to spoil the fun.

Wind will eventually cause bird feeders to swing and sway, thus feeders will be seen to swing back and forth - potentially bumping into each other in the process.

Bumps and scrapes are expected with bird feeders made to withstand a few scrapes, though this can lead to damage in due course while any knocking can lead to bird feed, especially seeds or nut, to spill out with every bump.

And then there's the safety of any common backyard bird who wishes to use the feeder.

You see, Chickadees, Woodpeckers, Finches and many others will perch or cling onto the side of a wire bird feeder - unbeknownst to them the bird feeders behind them are dangerously close to hitting them.

Wind can cause bird feeders to swing so much it can come into contact with near feeders, even with the foot or so distance.

In the process wild birds who are busy feeding while in an upright perch position or clinging on upside, can get seriously hurt. It may seem like a harmless bump, but imagine being squashed by an heavy feeder packed with bird feed.

Grouped feeders acceptable

Whilst bird feeders must still remain at some distance as a matter of safety for feeding birds, bird feeders should really be grouped.

Birds belonging to the same species, despite all the fighting - like to feed with the same kind - thus a group of bird feeders sat near one another is what it acceptable to them.

Bird feeders separated around the yard can be difficult to get birds to use them all, thus more waste is guaranteed with certain feeders not used at all. Again, birds like to feed in a group with spaced out feeders around the yard often ignored.

Rely on the spacing of a bird feeding station pole, with the approximate 1 feet distance created for hanging up to 6 bird feeders in one go.

With the exception of a platform bird feeder on a pole, ground feeder or hanging platform feeder, can all be situated on their own - with space offered for more birds to feed at any given time.

Bird feeders can be too close together if it means the feeders will knock into each other, or come into contact with birds as they feed in windy conditions - or if feeders swing as larger species fight over them.

Grouped bird feeders is still what you want as birds of many species like to feed this way.

Hummingbird feeder can be too close

Now with hummingbirds, that is a little different in two ways, with the most important being hummers are too timid to feed with other species.

Hummingbird feeders must never be next to a regular bird feeder for peanuts, seed mixes or suet - as other common backyard birds will scare them off every time.

Feeders for hummingbirds can be close together, though never sat by regular bird feeders or mixed in among them.

Having said that, hummingbird feeders can be hung too close if it means a bully hummer is defending the feeder - or if too many hummingbirds are scrapping over the limited feeder space available.

In which case to separate the hummingbird feeders from say 1 foot apart up to 10 feet would be the only solution.

Hummers in the most part will be happy to share a bird feeder filled with nectar for most, if it becomes too noisy then they could be scrapping - thus to move the feeders apart can quiet things down, well allowing all hummers to feed.

To summarize

Absolutely can bird feeders be too close together, and with that it can lead to all kinds of problems - for the feeders themselves or more importantly, it risk birds getting hurt.

You see bird feeders that hang off a chain or hook can swing or spin in the wind or if moved due to a large number of birds feeding off it at a time.

What a long spell of windy conditions will do is cause the bird feeders to bump in to each other as they hang; whilst feeders can put up with this bird feed will be seen to spill on the ground as its knocked out.

Birds who feed on bird feeders hung too close to one another can be in harms way.

What happens is birds can be clinging or perching on a bird feeder while being distracted as they feed; in the meantime the bird feeder behind them could knock into them, causing serious harm.

Birds can therefore by caught between two hanging bird feeders in which would lead to them getting crushed.

Close proximity of bird feeders can cause bumps and scrapes of feeders, while birds can get trapped right in the middle of it.

Hummingbird feeders are different, while these feeders can be close together for hummers to share a space - hummingbird feeders cannot be hung close too regular bird feeders for nuts, seeds, suet and other bird feed.

Hummers can get territorial with one bully taking over management, thus hummingbird feeders will need to be spaced out so hummers can continue feeding, while ignoring the bully boy or girl.

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