The main reason you must clean bird houses is because birds can carry lice and mice.  While these pests cannot affect humans, they can easily spread from bird to bird.  If birds decide to live in a bird house that is infecting with lice, you can expect them to be very uncomfortable, as well as possibly succomb to an early death.

When birds leave bird houses, there is a good chance they are leaving parasites behind.  To ensure that new birds will not come in and become infected with parasites, you need to open up the bird house and remove any materials that are in the house.  You should rinse it out with water, and allow it to dry before you allow other birds to use it.  During the winter time when birds are not nesting, you should close the opening of the bird house to prevent any unwanted guests from inhabiting.

Cleaning out your bird feeder can be a difficult task.  Tube feeders are especially difficult to clean.  For tasks like this, you will require a specialized cleaning brush, like the Birdfeeder Cleaning Brush, pictured to the right. The 24 inch long natural bristles stemming from the thin wire post make for the perfect tool to clean out a variety of bird feeders.   The bristles are strong enough to remove unwanted debris, but soft enough so that they will not scratch the feeder. If you have a hummingbird feeder, you will require special brushes.  I use the Perfect Little Brushes for Cleaning Bird Feeders.  One package comes with 3 tiny brushes that will fit in the tiny opening out of your hummingbird feeders.

And finally, you need to clean your bird bath!  People may think that since the bird bath is filled with water that it isn’t dirty, but this could not be further from the truth!  Using a formula specifically made for cleaning bird baths would be best.  I recommend you use the Birdbath & Statuary Cleaner 32 oz, which will sterilize the bird bath to prevent the spreading of infectious diseases among birds.  Use it as often as you wish, but I would recommend using it at least once every 2 weeks.

To clean your bird feeders properly, use hot soapy water to kill any bacteria or mold.  Dish soap is great for removing grim and mold from the feeder and rinsing clean.  Use a brush like the Perfect Little Brushes to get into the corners and crevices and to thoroughly clean out the feeding ports. 

A kit like the Bird Feeder Accessory Starter Kit by Droll Yankees is also great for starting off your bird feeding season.  This kit contains a soft brush for cleaning out your bird feeder, a great scoop for scooping out and pouring bird seed and a chain for hanging up a bird feeder.

If you have a collection of hummingbird feeders, the Hummingbird Foam Cleaning Mop is great for cleaning out your feeders.  This soft, sponge is designed to get into all of the crevices of the feeder.  It is ideal for cleaning out a tube style hummingbird feeder or an irregular shaped feeder.

After you have scrubbed down your bird feeders, carefully rinse them out and allow them to air dry in a warm, indoor spot.  Once dry, your bird feeders are ready to be filled and hung.  Use a variety of birdseed to start off the season right!

Pictured to the right is a EZ clean bird feeder worth taking a peek at.

Homeowners can help stop the bacteria’s spread by cleaning feeders with a solution of one part bleach and 10 parts water. Hydrogen Peroxide is also an idea. Residents should rake up old seeds from the ground and spread one-quarter inch of lime underneath the feeders. The lime may harm the grass, but it will kill the bacteria. Move the feeder to a different part of the yard if sick or dying birds are present.

Dead birds should be picked up with gloved hands and disposed of immediately.

Remember, birds will also flock to a clean feeder much more often than a dirty one – an added benefit of keeping the backyard feeders a bit cleaner this year.

It’s important to make sure the food in feeders is fresh. Seed and other food can become spoiled and develop mold rather quickly. Rotting food can attract harmful pathogens, so be sure to change it out frequently if necessary.

Finally, Avoid Overfeeding:

Too many birds together is unnatural, unsanitary, wasteful and dangerous to birds. Viewing only a few birds is more appealing than a bunch of noisy fighting birds. It is best to cut them off occasionally. They will find feed elsewhere and come back when you feed again.

This will promote independence and make them more resourceful, smarter, and healthier.