How to keep bird seed dry in feeders

Prioritize keeping the seed feeders dry as this would in turn keep the bird seeds dry if exposed outside of the feeder, or if the seeds are stored away in the feeder.

How to keep bird seed dry in feeders is to hang seed feeders under the cover of a tree, roof overhang or someway under the porch, if access remains unobstructed. Better still hang a squirrel baffle above hanging seed feeders to act as shelter, or mount a umbrella on the pole to keep all bird feeders dry.

Don't be to concerned about keeping bird seed dry in bird feeders, as a little dampness isn't going to damage bird food more than those that are not exposed to the elements.

Truth is bird seeds have a short expiry date as soon as they are hung up outdoors in a bird feeders, thus to keep dry or allow to get wet can see a similar expiry date.

To keep bird seeds dry can certainly fend off bacteria growth for longer, that's for sure.

How to keep bird seed dry in feeders is to simply hang bird feeders under shelter. It can be someway under a porch or roof overhang - while the natural coverage of a mature tree can keep feeders dry at all times.

To take in bird feeders when it rains is never a good idea, for hygiene reasons and the fact being birds continue to happily feed in rain.

Rain can't damage a bird feeder, with bird food exposed to the rain or sun - including with humid conditions - can rapidly speed up the germination process.

I will then whip out a hanging-style squirrel baffle, regardless of a squirrel issue or not - to hang above the seed feeder. What this will do is offer some protection from the rain, if only the feeder was hung deep up into to it - so the baffle provides more shelter.

Rain will get bird seeds wet if exposed on the outside or stored in the plastic tube, its just a matter of keeping as much damp off them as possible.

Mount a wide squirrel baffle

How to keep bird seed dry in its bird feeder as best as you can is to attach a squirrel baffle above the seed feeder.

I am not talking about squirrel baffles that are mounted to a pole, what I am referring to is a wide disc shape baffle that hooks above a hanging seed bird feeder only - as with any other type of baffle, this solution won't do work

How it goes is you simply hook the hanging style squirrel baffle on a corresponding bracket or branch, then hang the seed feeder beneath it on the squirrel baffles underside hoop for hanging feeders.

And that's it, the squirrel baffle can be up to two feet wide or more, and will provide enough shelter for any bird feeders.

Seeds should remain dry inside the feeder if its vertical rain with little wind, otherwise any horizontal rain will soak seeds exposed on the outside.

In which case proceed to hang the squirrel baffle as you do, though do try to lower the baffle, or raise the seed feeder beneath the baffle more to protect it from rain as best as you can.

Fashion umbrella roof

Little bit of an unorthodox trick this one but have you thought about mounting an actual umbrella above the seed feeders.

To hang bird feeders off a bird feeding station on a pole, would mean to secure the umbrella handle to the pole with wire or rope.

A large umbrella is sure to not only protect the seed feeders, but offer protection from the elements for all feeders in use. Bonus of fashioning an umbrella as a feeder shelter, is the bird feeders can be sheltered from the sun.

Fashion an umbrella on top of the bird feeding station pole, with the feeders hanging as far up as they'd go as rain can still shower bird feeders situated too low down.

For now I would say this method is only suited to bird feeder hanging off a bird feeding station pole - as no other object would allow such a big umbrella to be tied on to it.

Designate this umbrella exclusively for keeping your seed bird feeders dry, while cleaning up of muck or bird poop once in a while, just as you do to maintain bird feeders.

Site feeder under shelter

Obvious as it may seem, a backyard can provide some sheltered areas where the seed can remain dry in the wet weather, yet allow birds to continue feeding in safety

What I am referring to is perhaps the side of the house that is close to it as possible - in which the rain hits the house on one side, while remaining more dry on the opposite side.

If this applies to you be sure to mount a wall bracket on the sheltered side of the house, then hang the seed feeder on this bracket. I will recommend to continue to use a squirrel baffle as its never going to remain dry just because there's a little shelter.

Similarly, in many respects you can hang a seed seeder under the porch of the house.

Now this seed feeder can't be hung all the way in, so then align the seed feeder with the boundary of the porch with the feeder located in such a way birds can still see it - whilst remaining confident enough to continue to use it.

In addition to all this, to hang a seed feeder under the cover of a leafy, dense tree can provide natural cover from the wet weather all year.

Rain guard must be low down

Now that you've decided to keep your bird seed dry in the bird feeder in any method I've explained thus far, there's one thing to consider in doing so.

Rain guards that are mounted above the seed feeder, such as a squirrel baffle or if fashioning an umbrella - is to be sure either are sat as close to the feeder hanging below it as possible.

If using the natural shelter of a roof overhang or hanging a feeder under the porch, then reduce the hanging wire or raise the seed feeder further up.

Rain can be kept off a bird feeder in many ways, yet in reality the seeds cannot remain completely dry.

Once the heavy rain hits the cover sitting above the bird feeder, rain can splash or sprinkle onto the seeds, exposed on the outside of the feeder. With that in mind, vertical rain will hit the seed feeder in any direction.

To raise the seed feeder up under the baffle, umbrella or natural shelter can bring the feeder up to half way up beneath shelter, thus providing more cover than allowing it to hang far to low down.

Never rely on seed feeder alone

Unfortunately, whilst I can recommend you make use of a seed feeder that has a wide roof to offer some rain shelter, in reality this isn't going to work out as expected.

Bird seed feeders can be made with a roof to shelter the feed, but the rain falling at one degree off can come into contact with the seeds.

Feeders themselves tend to be waterproof, but seed feeders of the hanging hexagon or panoramic seed feeder type exposes seeds on the outside; thus rain will flood this seed tray with nothing to stop it other then drainage holes.

What you can do is use a hanging seed feeder that keeps seed mixes dry, while baring in mind it can be very hard to use for many birds.

Seeds are stored in a clear plastic tube, with only the port holes used for birds to feed off seeds where they must poke their beaks in.

Smaller, side situated holes they may be, but again there's no guarantee rain can't filter in these openings in due course.

Seed mixes can get wet

In reality, wild bird seed mixes stockpiled in a seed feeder are going to get wet, with the good news being, bird seeds can get wet in feeders.

I would recommend proceeding to follow my methods for keeping seeds dry, and therefore keeping all types of wild bird food out of the rain - while baring in mind any of it getting wet isn't going to be an issue.

Damp bird seeds do have a shorter expiry date, while all bird seed has a shorter life span once its stored outdoors in bird feeders.

With that in mind you'll still probably need to replace the seed mixes just as often, as if they were in fact kept dry the whole time.

Seed mixes for wild birds are developed to be exposed to the elements, so come rain or shine the bird seeds do have a few days on them.

Trick is to use less seed mixes at a time to be sure they are all eaten up quickly before they go to waste.

To summarize

Don't feel its absolutely necessary to keep bird seed dry in feeders, because its not, but it certainly can help to keep bird food out of the rain.

How to keep bird seed dry in bird feeders is to hang a wide squirrel baffle above the hanging bird feeder types.

What it involves is hanging the squirrel baffle off the corresponding bracket, branch or random object in the yard; then simply hang the seed feeder beneath this squirrel baffle to the hook that is located on the underside, of the center.

Seed feeders will in the most part remain waterproof as any rainfall will bounce off the roof of the baffle, while the seed feeder is kept dry underneath it.

Similarly, you can use an old, cheap umbrella to mount on a bird feeding station pole, tied on with rope or wide.

How this will keep bird seed, and other bird food hanging up in their respective bird feeders - is that bird feeders are grouped under a wide umbrella so remain dry if they are hanging under the umbrella.

Fashioning an umbrella as a way to shelter your seed feeders is quite effective, yet your backyard birds can continue to perch on these feeders just as they normally would with no restrictions.

I will say to hang a squirrel baffle or mount an umbrella low above the feeders can actually deter large unwanted birds.

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