Healthy Bird Feeding Tips

Nature Hills Nursery | February 14, 2026

There are a few things you should know about keeping your bird feeding stations healthy for your visitors.

Summertime rains can get your seed in the bird feeders wet causing clumping and mold or sprouting to occur. Regular feeding creates some debris to build up on the trays that have drainage holes (see below) to allow the rain or irrigation water to quickly drain away keeping the seed drier. Scrape away this built up debris before you clean the feeders.

The next time you go to fill you feeders, shake them a bit to see if the seed can move freely within the feeder. Maybe it is time to empty your feeder completely.

Take a bucket and put a 10% non-chlorine bleach solution in a bucket and scrub your feeders with the solution. Rinse them well. Then allow the feeders to dry in the sunshine before refilling them.

Raking up around the base of your feeders the hulls and spilled seed is a good idea too.

Some birds like Cedar Waxwings, Robins and Bluebirds will love it if you offer them raisins or berries. Orioles appreciate having a fresh orange slice available too.

Fresh water is crucial for keeping your feathered friends healthy and happy. You can use the same bleach solution for cleaning out the birdbaths using a scrub brush, and again rinse with clean water before refilling with fresh water. Keep those birdbaths clean and full and the birds will appreciate you.

Don’t forget about the hummingbirds too. Warm temperatures can cause your homemade hummingbird nectar to turn cloudy and spoil. Be sure to make a fresh batch often and it can be stored in your fridge. 1 part sugar to 4 parts water, and bring to boil and cool. Clean out the feeder with soapy water, rinse and refill to keep your hummers happy too.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I clean and maintain a platform bird feeder to keep visiting birds healthy?

To keep a platform bird feeder clean and healthy for visiting birds, start by scraping away built-up debris from the tray, then shake the feeder to make sure seed moves freely inside. Empty the feeder completely and scrub it with a 10% non-chlorine bleach solution, rinse thoroughly, and allow it to dry in full sunshine before refilling. Rake up spilled seed and hulls around the base of the feeder regularly to prevent mold and unwanted pests. Make feeder cleaning a routine habit, especially during summer when rain can cause seed to clump, mold, or sprout inside the feeder.

How can I attract more birds to my feeder quickly?

Offering a variety of foods is one of the fastest ways to attract more bird species to your feeding station. Bluebirds, Robins, and Cedar Waxwings are drawn to raisins and berries, while Orioles respond well to fresh orange slices placed near your feeder. Hummingbirds will visit reliably when you keep a clean feeder stocked with fresh nectar made from a 1 to 4 ratio of sugar to water. Add a clean, full birdbath nearby, as fresh water is one of the single most effective ways to bring more birds into your yard quickly.

Why have birds stopped visiting my feeder, and how can I get them to come back?

Birds often stop visiting feeders when the seed has gotten wet, clumped, or moldy, making it unappetizing or unsafe to eat. Start by shaking the feeder to check if seed moves freely, then empty it completely if needed. Clean the feeder thoroughly with a 10% non-chlorine bleach solution, scrub well, rinse completely, and let it dry in full sun before refilling with fresh seed. Rake up any debris and hulls from the ground below the feeder, and consider offering extras like raisins, berries, or orange slices to attract species like Bluebirds, Cedar Waxwings, and Orioles back to your station.

How much bird seed should I put out at one time to prevent spoilage and keep pests away?

Only put out as much seed as your birds can consume within a few days, especially during warm or rainy weather when moisture causes clumping, mold, and sprouting. Before refilling, shake the feeder to make sure seed moves freely inside, and empty it completely if it does not. Rake up spilled hulls and seed from the ground regularly to reduce pest attraction and keep the feeding area tidy.

Where should I place my bird feeders to keep birds safe from cats and other predators?

While this is a great question, the specific topic of feeder placement for predator protection falls outside the scope of our bird feeding health guide. As a general best practice, hang feeders at least 5 feet off the ground and position them within 3 feet of a window or more than 30 feet away to reduce collision risk. Place feeders near shrubs or trees that offer birds quick cover from aerial predators, but keep them far enough from low branches or fences that cats cannot use them as a launching point. Visit naturehills.com to explore our selection of trees and shrubs that can provide ideal natural shelter near your feeding stations.

How can I position my bird feeders to reduce the risk of birds hitting my windows?

This question falls outside the scope of our bird feeding station care guide, but it is a common and important concern for backyard birders. The two safest placement options are positioning feeders within 3 feet of a window, so birds cannot build up dangerous speed, or moving them more than 30 feet away from the house entirely. Applying window film, decals, or tape strips spaced no more than 2 inches apart on the outside of the glass can also significantly reduce collisions. Start by evaluating your current feeder placement and make adjustments before peak migration seasons in spring and fall when bird traffic is highest.

Which native plants can I grow to give birds natural food sources throughout the year?

While this article focuses on feeder maintenance and bird feeding tips, Nature Hills offers a wide variety of bird-friendly native plants that provide natural food sources across seasons. Berry-producing shrubs like Serviceberry (Amelanchier) and native Viburnums offer spring and summer fruit, while coneflowers (Echinacea) and Black-Eyed Susans provide seed heads that birds forage through fall and winter. Native hollies such as Ilex verticillata are especially valuable in colder zones (4-9) as their berries persist through winter when food is scarce. Browse the Native Plants and Wildlife Garden sections at naturehills.com to find species suited to your specific hardiness zone and regional bird population.

Which flowers, shrubs, and trees do the best job of attracting birds to a yard?

Birds are drawn to plants that offer food, shelter, and nesting sites, so focus on native fruiting shrubs like serviceberry (Amelanchier), elderberry (Sambucus), and viburnum, which produce berries during migration and winter months. Coneflowers (Echinacea), black-eyed Susans, and sunflowers provide seed heads that goldfinches, chickadees, and nuthatches depend on through fall and winter, so resist the urge to deadhead these plants in your cleanup. Evergreen trees like spruce and arborvitae offer critical winter shelter and nesting cover, while oaks support hundreds of caterpillar species that songbirds rely on to feed their nestlings. Plant a layered combination of groundcovers, shrubs, and canopy trees to create habitat at every level, and prioritize species native to your region for the greatest impact on local bird populations.

How can I make my garden more bird-friendly year-round by improving shelter, water, and food sources?

To make your garden a year-round haven for birds, focus on three essentials: shelter, water, and food. Plant native shrubs and trees that provide natural cover and berries, and keep birdbaths clean by scrubbing them regularly with a 10% non-chlorine bleach solution, rinsing thoroughly, and refilling with fresh water. Maintain your feeders by shaking them to check seed flow, emptying and scrubbing them with the same bleach solution when needed, and offering seasonal treats like orange slices for orioles or raisins and berries for Cedar Waxwings, Robins, and Bluebirds. Start by auditing your current setup, adding a clean water source if you do not have one, and committing to a regular feeder and birdbath cleaning schedule to keep your visitors healthy and coming back.

How do I stop squirrels from raiding my bird feeders?

Squirrels can be persistent visitors at bird feeders, but a few proven strategies will help keep them at bay. Mount your feeders on a smooth metal pole at least 5 feet tall and position them at least 10 feet away from trees, fences, or structures squirrels can leap from. Adding a baffle below the feeder or choosing a weight-sensitive feeder that closes under a squirrel's heavier load are both highly effective solutions. You can also try offering safflower seeds in your feeders, as birds like cardinals enjoy them but squirrels tend to leave them alone.