Cleaning chook feeders vital for spring
Published 12:30 pm Wednesday, March 20, 2024
With heat climate and longer days on the way in which, many Kentuckians will begin sprucing up their yards and gardens, and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) reminds you to incorporate cleansing your chook feeders as a part of the challenge.
As spring migration will get in full spring, feeders across the yard present an effective way to draw and consider migrating songbirds. However, it’s vital the feeders are cleaned frequently in order that they don’t unfold illness.
“Bird feeders are high contact areas where you have a lot of birds congregating around one shared food source,” stated Dr. Christine Casey, KDFWR wildlife veterinarian. “If one of the birds visiting a feeder is sick, it has the potential to spread disease to other birds at the feeder.”
To maintain birds wholesome, KDFWR recommends:
- Clean feeders each two weeks. Discard old meals and particles and wash the feeder with dish cleaning soap and water. Thoroughly rinse earlier than soaking the feeder in an answer of 1 half bleach and 9 elements water. Rinse completely and dry utterly earlier than refilling.
- Rake up seed hulls and different waste beneath feeders. Moldy or spoiled meals could make birds in poor health.
- Properly retailer meals in a closed container to maintain meals contemporary and stop pests.
- For birdbaths, clear the tub’s basin each one to 2 weeks by filling it with an answer of 1 half bleach and 9 elements water. Cover the tub with a trash bag and let it soak for 15-20 minutes. Drain the bleach/water combination in a protected space. Rinse the tub completely and let it dry within the solar earlier than refilling.
When cleansing chook feeders, observe good hygiene: put on disposable gloves, keep away from touching your face, and wash fingers with cleaning soap and heat water for a minimum of 20 seconds after dealing with feeders and birdbaths.
Sadly, if a number of deceased birds are found at feeders, report observations to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife through the net sick or dead bird reporting portal or by calling the company’s Information Center at 1-800-858-1549, from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET) weekdays, excluding holidays.
