In the winter, the bird seed in the bird feeder can become moldy and soggy when rain, snow, and sleet penetrate through the bird feeder and gets trapped inside. When your bird seed goes bad, the birds will not be interested in feeding from your bird feeder. To help prevent your bird seed from becoming moldy and soggy, here are some easy tips to try out:
- Use a baffle on top of the bird feeder to help keep the rain and snow away from the bird feeder. A baffle will also help prevent the squirrels from getting to the bird seed, while helping to keep the bird seed dryer and fresher. The Clear Hang or Mount Baffle for Bird Feeders is wide enough to completely cover your bird feeder and also helps to keep the birds dryer when feeding from the bird feeder. The clear baffle won’t distract from the beauty of the surrounding nature or your bird feeder.
- Use a wire brush to thoroughly clean out your bird feeder before filling it up with new bird seed. The Birdfeeder Cleaning Brush by Droll Yankees is made with bristles to help scrub down the side of your tube bird feeders. Use the scrub brush with hot soapy water to kill germs and bacteria that cause mold and diseases. Thoroughly rinse the tube feeder out with clean water and make sure it is completely dry before adding the bird seed.
- Use a wall mount bracket, such as the Audubon Birds of Paradise, to hang the bird feeder near your home or garage under an over hang. By keeping the bird feeder closer to shelter, it will help protect the bird feeder from blowing snow or rain. When choosing a location to mount the bracket, place it in a location that is away from the direction of the wind and where rain and melted snow won’t drip down onto the bird feeder.