HOW TO... Feed your garden birds safely
MINIMISING the spread of disease has been foremost in all our minds for many months, and now is a good time to check whether the same safety standards apply to your bird feeding. Birds are susceptible to a wide range of diseases, both bacterial and viral and one way these can spread is at a feeding station.
Trichomonosis is caused by a protozoan parasite which can be found in pigeons and many other garden birds especially Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Chaffinch. Salmonella is a bacterial infection which most commonly affects flocking species such as Greenfinch, Common Starling and House Sparrow. Avian Pox is a viral infection which causes wart-like growths around the face and can be easily spread.
Here are some precautions you can take to help your birds (and you) remain healthy.
Buy safe food
Buy your bird food from a reputable source. Avoid anything which seems cheap – it may be out of date or contaminated. Peanuts, especially, can contain aflatoxins which come from moulds which form on badly stored products. Keep your supplies in sealed containers where vermin cannot reach and contaminate them.
Make sure your feeders are emptied and cleaned regularly.
Simply putting new seed on top of old means that old food items can spread mould. Wash your feeders and then disinfect them with a 10 parts water to one part bleach solution (use gloves) or a veterinary disinfectant.
Remove droppings
Birds do not have the best table manners, and their droppings can easily mix with food on and around the table. Clean table surfaces regularly using a suitable disinfectant.
Move feeders
Seed from feeders often spills onto the ground below, where it can become contaminated by bird droppings. Many birds will feed under, rather than on, a feeder and run the risk of catching an infection from a sick bird’s droppings. To reduce the risk of this, move your feeders regularly and disinfect the ground below.
Spread it out
Try not to attract all of your birds into one small area. Spread your feeders out to reduce the numbers at each location and so minimise contamination.
Watch your birds
Look for signs of illness. Lethargy, a fluffed-up appearance or an open beak can mean that a bird is sick. Swellings, poor feather maintenance and growths, especially on the head, are another indication. If you see birds like this, or find dead birds near a feeding area, then stop feeding temporarily, and remove water as well.
Keep yourself clean
While you will not pass anything on to the birds, they could just pass something to you. Salmonella and E coli bacteria are found in birds and can cause illness in humans. After touching feeders or handling anything which birds or their droppings have been in contact with, wash your hands thoroughly. You could even wear a mask, gloves and protective goggles while cleaning the feeders and feeding area.
Change water
Make sure your bird baths are kept clean. Droppings will dissolve in the water and become invisible, so don’t just top it up, empty and wash out the bird bath regularly. Chris Harbard