Key Tips For Cleaning Bird Poop Off Of Hummingbird Feeders (& Why It's A Must)

Attracting hummingbirds to your yard comes with many benefits, but it needs to be done the correct way. More specifically, there are a number of common errors to avoid with your feeder, from cleaning it incorrectly to preparing nectar using harmful tap water. Indeed, keeping feeders tidy is key, not just for the health of your feathery friends but also your own. This is especially true when it comes to removing bird poop from a feeder and its surroundings. Bird droppings pose a very serious health risk, as they can carry over 60 harmful diseases, many of which are airborne and can easily infect people in their vicinity.

Regularly cleaning bird poop and not allowing it to pile up is therefore essential, as is following the right precautions. It's a good idea to wear plastic gloves and a mask (even protective eyewear) every time you approach this task. It's recommended that you wet the droppings first with soapy water to ensure no dust particles are released as you proceed to scrape it off the feeder. It's also imperative to clean the ground below the feeder. Again, you can dampen and scrape off the droppings, then spray the surface with a disinfecting 10% bleach solution. As for the feeder itself, you'll want to clean it thoroughly once the droppings are removed. Here's how to do so properly, and how often.

Once you've scraped off all traces of bird poop, flush the feeder with hot water and, if your model allows, take it apart. Mix a solution that's 9 parts water and 1 part bleach and soak the part for 15 minutes before scrubbing with a small brush, rinsing thoroughly, and letting it all dry completely. Alternatively, a DIY mix of 1 part white vinegar to 4 parts water can also be used. Soak your feeder for at least 30 minutes, then scrub, rinse, and dry. Avoid using dish soap, though, as this can leave behind a residue that's harmful to birds.

How often you clean the feeder is equally important and will depend on how often hummingbirds visit and the temperature in your backyard. If there are a lot of birds and they quickly drink up all of the nectar, clean the feeder every time before refilling it. Otherwise, clean it daily (or every other day) when it's hot out so the sugary water doesn't have time to ferment. In mild temps, every three days will do while twice a week is sufficient during cooler stretches. Another pro tip is to regularly move the feeder to different spots in your yard, so as not to allow droppings to pile up under it.