Metal or plastic cylinder type feeders usually have instructions for cleaning on the paper wrapped around it, but these either get removed when they are first filled with seed or they become illegible after a few downpours of rain. So for a quick reminder here goes.
- Dismantle the feeder the best you can, that's the lid, base and perches.
- The base and bottom two perches on the seed feeder will come apart together by removing the screw in the centre of the feeding port. Depending on the size of your seed feeder, if it as more perches just remove the screw from in the centre of each port and pull apart.
- To remove the lid, lift the lid as high as it will go on the wire hanger and carefully prise the wire hooks out of the holes in the plastic cylinder.
- Just reverse the process after cleaning.
- To clean use a bottle brush with warm water and washing-up detergent, to remove stubborn deposits of seed on the inside of the cylinder.
- Tubular wire nut feeders only need a quick tap on the base holding it up side down, to let debris from nuts fall out.
Simple repairs can be done when the perches break by keeping all damaged feeders and use the good parts to make up one good feeder.
Wash tables and feeders every three weeks, all droppings and old bird food should be removed to prevent salmonella contamination.
This is a simple task and only takes about half an hour but the birds will appreciate it.
By Brian Thomas
