Bird feeding and caring for birds have been a popular past time in the UK and it
definitely brings you enjoyment and solace through observation and companionship as human. Proper feeding methods and the use of proper feeders is quite an important aspect that you have to follow accurately when you take on this fascinating hobby.
According to recent research, it was brought into light that feeders can sometimes be a source of disease for birds who visit them if not properly cared for. Therefore for a healthy feeding station there are a number of steps that you can follow.
You can give your seed feeders, such as the ones that you use for Niger seed, a good shake before refilling to unclog the wet clumps and old seeds that have been stuck together for longer periods. You can clean the top of the bird tables with old brushes and spatulas which will easily take out bird droppings. You can also use a very mild disinfectant cleaner and scrub the surfaces once every few weeks to reduce the spread of germs. Make sure you wash your hands after filling these feeders. Always store your seeds in clean air-tight containers and do not allow large amounts of seed to become wet on tables on rainy weather. Reduce the quantity of suet that you offer if the weather patterns are hot but it is advisable to not stop the feeding entirely. Offer them other varieties of bird feed such as dried fruits, dried mealworms, black sunflower seeds, etc. You can use an ant guard to keep the ants away from the tables and feeders.
Tips for better feeding methods include a number of facts that you can easily follow. Black sunflower seeds are the most nutritious and also popular between numbers of bird species. They are rich in protein and oils. Niger is also a popular seed among the finches, tits any many other birds found in UK. Try and offer a variety of food in different types of feeders. Always try to make your feeding station as natural as it can be with branches to perch atop as well as a few creepers and hedges running through. Birds also need a proper flow of water and you can have a bird bath somewhere around your garden as well. But always keep in mind that the bath too needs to be thoroughly rinsed and scrubbed whenever they become covered with bird droppings.