Keep Them Clean!

Bird feeders and bird baths are a wonderful way to attract birds to your backyard. To help prevent the spread of the diseases among birds, especially salmonellosis, it is recommended by experts that bird feeders and bird baths be disinfected regularly with a 10% bleach solution. Also, periodically move the feeders and baths so that seed and feces do not collect under them.

Another communicable bird disease is conjunctivitis, which affects the eyes of house finches and some goldfinches. Tube feeders should also be disinfected regularly, since the birds pass the disease to other birds when they eat seeds from the small openings, and their eyes come in contact with the feeder. Another preventive measure is to switch to platform feeders.