birdfeeder and waterbath killers?

[mrbright]

my neighbour has just informed me that there was an article in her daily paper about disease being spread from feeders and waterbaths, could someone advise me what is the proper course of action regarding these because i have to say i have never cleaned any of them before, apart from rinsing out extremely green water and leaves from the birdbath.many thanks.

[shaun a]

Everytime we refill our feeders we wash them in hot soapy water to kill salmanella (think thats how its spelt) this is a very common killer in seed eaters who visit our bird feeders

[astarsdad]

I use Miltons sterilising fluid. It is used for baby bottles and utensils and should be entirely safe for birds. Just add a cap full of fluid to a about 5 pts of water, immerse feeders and leave for 15 mins, rinse and leave to dry. Then use the remaining mixture to scrub the bird bath.

[AndrewB]

Hi mrbright, I think this was possibly the article your neighbour was referring to, it was in yesterdays Mail.

Infected garden feeders and bird baths blamed for deaths of one fifth of Britain's greenfinches | Mail Online

I have quite a few greenfinches visiting the feeders, and have never noticed any obvious sign of infection, but I am a lot more aware now, and make sure I clean the feeders regularly.

[mrbright]

many thanks for that link, unfortunately have never seen a greenfinch in my garden, i do however have flocks of sparrows, so will improve my hygiene in future, better safe than sorry.
thanks also for the earlier replies, all taken on board.

[snowdrop]

Cleaning your feeders is basic common sense. After all you would not feed your children or pets from dishes containing the residue of stale food.

[mrbright]

thanks for your patronising response, i am trying my best to keep birds alive in winter thats all. glad not all members are as rude as you. i thought that was what these forums are for, learning.

[shaun a]

Some people are passed the learning stage,I am with you mrbright still one of lifes learners,I hope to progress to the higher levels very soon though

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by mrbright

glad not all members are as rude as you. i thought that was what these forums are for, learning.

Although the response you are referring to does seem rather blunt, it may not have been meant to seem so offensive.
Written responses do not always come across in the way they are intended! Most people are only trying to help, so don't be put off by the occasional response that doesn't seem friendly (and that one does look patronising!).

Food residue is actually not the main problem at bird feeding stations. The main problem is that large numbers of birds are coming to the same spot - if one visitor has a contagious viral or bacterial infection it can quickly spread to many of the birds that are visiting.

[googler]

Originally Posted by RoyW

Food residue is actually not the main problem at bird feeding stations. The main problem is that large numbers of birds are coming to the same spot ......

The main problem at our feeding station is that they poop all over the feeding table.

That can't be good for them .....