How to stop bird seed from growing?
There are two ways to prevent seed from growing. First, you can use a hulled seed (e.g. hulled sunflower seed, hulled millet). These seeds don't have a shell to protect the seed, and it prevents the seed from germinating. The other way is to "heat treat" your bird seed in the oven. Fill a casserole dish with about an inch of bird seed and place in the oven at 220 degrees F for about 20 minutes. Don't let the seed roast as this will decrease its nutritional value. The heat treating will sterilize the seed so it will not germinate.
The bird seed is always wet! What can I do to limit the amount of bird seed I have to throw out?
If you have a wood feeder, simply add an asphalt roof shingle to each side for an extra large overhang to protect the bird seed. You can also finish the wooden feeder's exterior with a stain so water cannot penetrate the wood. If your feeder isn't wood there are options to purchase rain covers for your feeders. Some customers find it easier during the rainy season to feed less bird seed (e.g. enough for day rather versus a couple of days) to help keep from seed spoiling from the rain.
How can I keep cats away from my bird feeders?
Cats hunt birds for sport. Since most house cats are well feed and have a good home, you may not be able to completely get rid of the cat but you can slow it down or deter it from your bird feeders. One solution is to use a 2-3' high chicken wire with a hole side of 2-3". Standing the chicken wire on end make a 3' diameter hoop and place under your bird feeder with a couple of bean poles for support. As the birds feed on the ground in this area, the cat has to jump over the chicken wire, giving the birds time to escape through the holes in the wire. If a cat is jumping out from under some shrubs, place some holly clippings, blackberry bush trimmings or chicken wire placed flat under the shrub. Cats don't like to walk on sharp or prickly things. Bells sometimes work on cats, but you need to use at least 2 bells so they can rattle against each other as some cats learn how to muffle them.
Why do birds hit the window?
Bird strikes are usually caused by reflection in the window, or if there is another window on the other side (think tunnel). To prevent window strikes you can try closing your shears, blinds or vertical blinds. You do not need to completely close them, just draw them together enough that you can still see through them, but the birds can see something is there. Window decals do work, but not in all instances. Decals can be as simple as yellow post-it-notes, hawk outlines or even sun catchers, it just lets the birds know something is there. Hawks can also be contributors to birds crashing into the window, as the birds try to escape from the predator. We recommend ultraviolet decals placed on the outside of the window to help prevent window collisions. Ultraviolet decals are semi-transparent to our eyes, but because birds seed in ultraviolet they fluoresce. The shape of the decal doesn't matter to the birds, as they don't see the design as animal.
How do I keep larger birds out of the feeder?
Try a bird feeder that has a large overhang and minimal distance between the rough and try (e.g. 4-5"). Another option is to cover your feeder with 2" chicken wire so only small birds can get through (smaller than a Spotted Towhee). On tube style feeders cut the perches so they are only 1" long, making it difficult for a large bird to perch. Which ever method you use, remember to leave a feeder in which the large birds can feed at without scaring off the little ones. All sizes of birds are enjoyable to watch.
My hummingbird feeder keeps having wasp (or ant) problems. What can I do?
Why do I have so much bird seed on the ground under my bird feeder?
How can I prevent squirrels from eating all my bird seed?
Do you have any birdbaths for hummingbirds?
Short answer: Unfortunately we do no carry bird baths for hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are unable to wade into water like other birds and can only bathe in really shallow water. Most people find it easier to have moving water available for a hummingbird (e.g. misting water) that you can set up over a perch, allowing them to sit on the perch and preen there. We do carry an assortment of options to make your birdbath hummingbird friendly.
What should I use to disinfect my bird feeder/ birdbath/ hummingbird feeder?
We recommend dilute bleach to disinfect your feeders and birdbaths (9 parts water to 1 part bleach). We recommend cleaning your feeders and birdbaths often with soap and water, but then to incorporate disinfecting your feeder/ birdbath at least twice a month. Cleaning with soap and water will remove general grime, but disinfecting will help prevent bacteria growth and viral transmissions among your birds.
I have a woodpecker trying to excavate a hole in the side of my house.
The first question is always: is the woodpecker simply drumming, or truly excavating?Woodpeckers drumming on objects is different than if they are excavating. When we refer to woodpecker drumming, we are talking about a woodpecker pecking at an object in a pattern,, and they tend to find the few objects that make the most noise (e.g. drain spouts, metal siding)
There are two ways to prevent seed from growing. First, you can use a hulled seed (e.g. hulled sunflower seed, hulled millet). These seeds don't have a shell to protect the seed, and it prevents the seed from germinating. The other way is to "heat treat" your bird seed in the oven. Fill a casserole dish with about an inch of bird seed and place in the oven at 220 degrees F for about 20 minutes. Don't let the seed roast as this will decrease its nutritional value. The heat treating will sterilize the seed so it will not germinate.
The bird seed is always wet! What can I do to limit the amount of bird seed I have to throw out?
If you have a wood feeder, simply add an asphalt roof shingle to each side for an extra large overhang to protect the bird seed. You can also finish the wooden feeder's exterior with a stain so water cannot penetrate the wood. If your feeder isn't wood there are options to purchase rain covers for your feeders. Some customers find it easier during the rainy season to feed less bird seed (e.g. enough for day rather versus a couple of days) to help keep from seed spoiling from the rain.
How can I keep cats away from my bird feeders?
Cats hunt birds for sport. Since most house cats are well feed and have a good home, you may not be able to completely get rid of the cat but you can slow it down or deter it from your bird feeders. One solution is to use a 2-3' high chicken wire with a hole side of 2-3". Standing the chicken wire on end make a 3' diameter hoop and place under your bird feeder with a couple of bean poles for support. As the birds feed on the ground in this area, the cat has to jump over the chicken wire, giving the birds time to escape through the holes in the wire. If a cat is jumping out from under some shrubs, place some holly clippings, blackberry bush trimmings or chicken wire placed flat under the shrub. Cats don't like to walk on sharp or prickly things. Bells sometimes work on cats, but you need to use at least 2 bells so they can rattle against each other as some cats learn how to muffle them.
Why do birds hit the window?
Bird strikes are usually caused by reflection in the window, or if there is another window on the other side (think tunnel). To prevent window strikes you can try closing your shears, blinds or vertical blinds. You do not need to completely close them, just draw them together enough that you can still see through them, but the birds can see something is there. Window decals do work, but not in all instances. Decals can be as simple as yellow post-it-notes, hawk outlines or even sun catchers, it just lets the birds know something is there. Hawks can also be contributors to birds crashing into the window, as the birds try to escape from the predator. We recommend ultraviolet decals placed on the outside of the window to help prevent window collisions. Ultraviolet decals are semi-transparent to our eyes, but because birds seed in ultraviolet they fluoresce. The shape of the decal doesn't matter to the birds, as they don't see the design as animal.
How do I keep larger birds out of the feeder?
Try a bird feeder that has a large overhang and minimal distance between the rough and try (e.g. 4-5"). Another option is to cover your feeder with 2" chicken wire so only small birds can get through (smaller than a Spotted Towhee). On tube style feeders cut the perches so they are only 1" long, making it difficult for a large bird to perch. Which ever method you use, remember to leave a feeder in which the large birds can feed at without scaring off the little ones. All sizes of birds are enjoyable to watch.
My hummingbird feeder keeps having wasp (or ant) problems. What can I do?
Why do I have so much bird seed on the ground under my bird feeder?
How can I prevent squirrels from eating all my bird seed?
Do you have any birdbaths for hummingbirds?
Short answer: Unfortunately we do no carry bird baths for hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are unable to wade into water like other birds and can only bathe in really shallow water. Most people find it easier to have moving water available for a hummingbird (e.g. misting water) that you can set up over a perch, allowing them to sit on the perch and preen there. We do carry an assortment of options to make your birdbath hummingbird friendly.
What should I use to disinfect my bird feeder/ birdbath/ hummingbird feeder?
We recommend dilute bleach to disinfect your feeders and birdbaths (9 parts water to 1 part bleach). We recommend cleaning your feeders and birdbaths often with soap and water, but then to incorporate disinfecting your feeder/ birdbath at least twice a month. Cleaning with soap and water will remove general grime, but disinfecting will help prevent bacteria growth and viral transmissions among your birds.
I have a woodpecker trying to excavate a hole in the side of my house.
The first question is always: is the woodpecker simply drumming, or truly excavating?Woodpeckers drumming on objects is different than if they are excavating. When we refer to woodpecker drumming, we are talking about a woodpecker pecking at an object in a pattern,, and they tend to find the few objects that make the most noise (e.g. drain spouts, metal siding)