Moldy or decomposing seeds and hulls that accumulate on feeder trays can make birds sick. Bird droppings and other contaminants may also spread infectious bird diseases. Clean your feeders about once every two weeks, more often during times of heavy use or wet weather or if there have been reports of salmonella in your area or you have seen sick birds in your yard. To clean your feeder, take it apart and use a dishwasher on a hot setting or hand wash either with soap and boiling water or with a dilute bleach solution (no more than 1 part bleach to 9 parts water). Research suggests that soaking feeders in a dilute bleach solution for 10 minutes is a very effective step in addition to scrubbing away debris and old seeds. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before refilling.
Clean the ground below your feeders, too, to prevent a build-up of hulls, uneaten seeds, and other waste. Moldy or spoiled food is unhealthy both for birds and for your outside pets. And bird food scattered on the ground can attract unwanted rodents.
Change sugar water at least every 3 to 5 days to prevent mold and deadly fermentation, and more frequently during hot weather. Clean feeders at least once a week with hot water and a bottle brush. Don’t use soap or a detergent. You can also clean hummingbird feeders by filling with a dilute bleach solution, but make sure to rinse them thoroughly and allow them to air dry before refilling.
Don’t put oil or other sticky substances around feeding ports to deter bees; you might contaminate the nectar. If bees, wasps, or ants become a problem, try moving the feeder, or go to our feeder pests and predators page for other solutions.
The Easiest Bird Feeders to Keep Clean for Happy Backyard Birds
Keeping your bird feeders clean is essential for attracting feathered friends to your backyard. After all, birds aren’t likely to visit dirty unsanitary feeders covered in old seed and droppings. While all feeders need regular cleaning some styles are decidedly easier to maintain than others. Read on to discover the easiest bird feeders to keep sparkling clean.
Why Cleaning Bird Feeders Matters
It’s understandable if cleaning bird feeders falls to the bottom of your to-do list. After all, birds eat outside in nature all the time without tidy dining areas. However, letting your feeders get too dirty can cause a few issues:
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Birds will avoid dirty or smelly feeders and look for cleaner options.
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Messy feeders filled with old, wet seed can promote the spread of bacteria, fungi, and diseases.
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Feeders covered in droppings just look and smell unpleasant up close.
To keep your feathered friends healthy and your yard looking tip-top, aim to clean feeders every two weeks or more often if needed. Look for these signs it’s time for cleaning:
- Built-up debris on feeding ports or perches
- Cloudy nectar in hummingbird feeders
- Slimy, sprouting seed
- Visible dirt and droppings
Features That Make Bird Feeders Easy to Clean
When choosing bird feeders, look for these design elements that make cleaning a breeze:
Easy to Disassemble
Feeders that come apart into several components are far easier to scrub than solid, one-piece options. Tube feeders in particular should have a removable bottom cap for accessing the interior.
Smooth Surfaces
Plastic and glass feeders without tons of crevices are fastest to wipe down. Stay away from materials like terra cotta or porous concrete that can harbor bacteria.
Accessible Feeder Parts
Perches, ports, and nectar reservoirs should be easy to reach for thorough scrubbing. Many feeders now have removable perches or brush-sized access holes.
Dishwasher Safe
Any feeders labeled as dishwasher safe eliminate hours of scrubbing. Just pop them in for a thorough sanitizing.
Seedless Style
To avoid constantly cleaning out old seed, try seedless feeders. Nectar feeders for hummingbirds and suet feeders for woodpeckers cut down on waste.
Top 5 Easiest Bird Feeders to Clean
These styles rise above the rest when it comes to painless cleaning:
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Bottle Style Feeders
These enclosed tube feeders with removable bottoms are a cinch to take apart and clean. Their smooth plastic components and lack of nooks and crannies speed up scrubbing. For the easiest experience, choose a quick clean model with a slide-out base. -
Window Suction Cup Feeders
Stick one of these acrylic feeders right on your window for up close viewing. The minimal parts come apart for cleaning and can even go right in the dishwasher. Just watch out for cats trying to pounce on your window birds! -
Hummingbird Feeders
Since you’re filling these with fresh nectar every few days anyway, take a quick minute to rinse out the bottle whenever you refill. Focus on giving the feeding ports an extra scrub to remove sugary buildup. -
Suet Feeders
With no loose seed, suet feeders avoid the soggy, messy remnants that can gather at the bottom of seed feeders. Just use a damp cloth to periodically wipe down the exterior and interior. -
Hopper House Feeders
These completely enclosed feeders with roofs keep seed fresh and dry. If seed gets wet and moldy, just dump it out through the bottom opening. The lack of cracks and corners makes wiping them out fast.
Tips for Cleaning Bird Feeders
Once you’ve chosen an easily cleanable feeder style, be sure to follow proper cleaning protocol.
Here are some top tips for keeping your bird buffet sparkling:
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Use hot, soapy water and a scrub brush on caked-on debris. Avoid harsh chemicals that could leave residue behind.
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Disinfect feeders monthly with a bleach solution to kill bacteria. 1 part bleach to 9 parts water works well.
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Always wear gloves when handling dirty feeders to avoid spreading germs.
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Rinse very thoroughly after using any soap or disinfectant.
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Dry feeders completely before refilling to prevent mold. Sitting in the sun works great.
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Focus on frequently handled spots like perches, feeding ports, and nectar reservoirs.
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Replace nectar and clean hummingbird feeders every 2-4 days.
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Scrub birdbaths and hanging hardware in addition to the feeders themselves.
By picking bird feeders designed for easy cleaning and staying on top of a monthly scrubbing schedule, you can keep your feathered friends happy, healthy, and flocking to your yard. Simple maintenance will attract more species and let you enjoy watching backyard birds all season long.
Runner-up: Droll Yankees 15-inch Sunflower Tube Feeder
This Droll Yankees feeder works just as well as the Onyx, but it doesn’t hold as much seed and lacks the removable base of our top pick.
If the 18-inch Droll Yankees model seems like too much of a financial commitment for a single bird feeder, the company also makes a nice entry-level model. The Droll Yankees 15-inch Sunflower Tube Feeder comes with the same lifetime guarantee and sturdy metal ports (though without the horizontal alignment) but lacks a removable base and holds about 1½ cups less seed than our top pick.
It’s a well-made feeder, but with a smaller diameter and overall seed capacity than the 18-inch Onyx, this model will require far more refills every week. And without a removable base, regular maintenance quickly becomes annoying and difficult to do well.
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WBU Quick Clean Tube Feeder
FAQ
What is the ultimate easy clean cheater bird feeder?
The Ultimate easy-clean cheater feeder features a solid metal tube with powder-coated metal fittings, designed to withstand the elements. Its lid and base are made of durable zinc alloy, so they’re longer lasting and more resistant to damage from unwanted visitors such as squirrels and parakeets.
What is the 5 7 9 rule for bird feeders?
In birding circles, it’s common to hear about the 5-7-9 rule, which is something you’ll definitely want to know! It refers to how you should place your feeder. The ideal spot should be 5 feet off the ground, 7 feet away from any structures (especially trees), and nothing less than 9 feet hanging above it.
What is the least messy bird food?
- Peckish Complete Seed Mix. Rating: 95% 48 Reviews. …
- Robin & Blackbird No Mess Wild Bird Seed Mix. Rating: 95% …
- Premium No Grow / No Waste / No Husk Wild Bird Seed Mix. Rating: 95% …
- Value Four Seasons No Grow/No Waste/No Husk Wild Bird Seed Mix. Rating: 93% …
- Value Four Seasons No Mess Seed Mix. Rating: 95%
What bird feeders don t get moldy?
Available exclusively at Wild Birds Unlimited, our EcoClean® feeders and accessories are the most advanced bird feeding products available on the market. EcoClean products feature a patented technology that inhibits the surface growth of damaging bacteria, mold and other microbes.