Birds are at their most vulnerable during the winter months, when the weather is harsh and food is hard to come by.
You can help your garden birds to survive the winter by making sure they have access to plenty of food and drinking water. However, this can prove difficult: wet weather may spoil the food in your bird feeders, and if snow or ice accumulates on your feeders over winter, this may render the food inaccessible.
In order to prepare your bird feeders for winter and see your feathered friends through this difficult time of year, here's what you'll need to do...
Disinfect your bird feeders
To prepare your bird feeders for winter, the first thing you need to do is give them a good clean! You can find out how to disinfect your feeders by checking out our blog. Keeping your bird feeders clean is vital if you want to protect your local birds from nasty diseases.
Wet weather can cause lumps of bird food to form inside the feeder - clean these out before refilling. Seeds should be kept as dry as possible to minimise the chances of funguses and bacteria growing that could make your garden birds sick.
Clear any ice and snow
Just as humans need to clear the ice and snow to access their cars, clearing any ice and snow from your bird feeders will help your garden birds access the seed. Make sure that the seed is able to flow freely and that all openings are clear.
You should remove any frozen or wet seed from the base of the feeder to avoid mould. Feeders can also be covered in order to prevent snow and ice from accumulating on them. You could also consider moving your feeders to a covered area in the garden (if possible).
Replenish feeders frequently
A lot of wild birds rely on feeders for food when there is a scarcity. Particularly in the winter where there are long cold nights and shorter days, leaving birds with less time to forage for their food. So, keep your bird feeders full and replenish your stocks on a regular basis in order to make sure that there is a continuous food supply.
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Check your feeders for damage
In the same way that items left outside during the winter can become damaged, your bird feeders can be damaged by the cold too!
While you're cleaning your feeders, thoroughly check them for damage - any broken feeders should be repaired before use, as they may not be able to withstand the harsh winter weather.
Now is also a good time to make sure that your feeders are properly secured. You don't want them blowing away in a strong wind!
Bird Feeders from Really Wild Bird Food >
SEE ALSO: What's the best winter bird feeder?
Bullfinch photo from Pixabay
