Protecting Your Bird Feeder From The Rain
- Reposition Your Feeder Relocating your feeder can be an excellent way to reduce the amount of water that gathers inside it. ...
- Add A Rain Guard You can purchase a rain guard at a home improvement store or animal-supply store for roughly $20 to $40. ...
- Add Or Increase Drainage Most feeders already come with small holes in the base to help drain rainwater. ...
- Use A Baffle ...
- Move Feeders Before the Rainstorm Hits. The easiest way to protect your seeders and feed is to move them to shelter when it rains, if possible. ...
- Install a Rain Guard. ...
- Attach a Baffle. ...
- Replace Your Feeder(s) ...
- Modify Your Feeders with Drainage.
What to put above a bird feeder when it rains?
If you live in a rainy locale like Seattle, it’s a good investment to buy a rain guard to put above the feeder. This is essentially a clear dome you place over the feeder that acts as an umbrella. Droll Yankees makes a fantastic rain guard that protects the birds and seed from rain.
How do you keep bird seed dry in the rain?
Feeders to Keep Seed Dry. The easiest way to keep birdseed dry is to use feeders with adequate protection from rain and snow. When choosing a feeder that will be protected on rainy days, look for…. Roofing: A sturdy roof with a good, lengthy overhang can cover feeding trays or ports and keep seed dry.
What is a rain guard for bird feeders?
A rain guard is usually a plastic, clear dome that acts as an umbrella for your birds and bird feeder. Simply hang it above your feeder, and your birds will stay dry while they enjoy their meal. Most feeders already come with small holes in the base to help drain rainwater. However, these holes can often be too small for adequate drainage.
How do you squirrel proof a bird feeder?
Hang feeders high enough or place them out of reach of sprinklers, and avoid windy areas where rain or snow could be blown into the feeder. Baffles. Adding a wide baffle above a feeder will not only help squirrel-proof the feeder, but it will rain-proof it as well.
How to keep birds from getting water in feeder?
What is a rain guard for bird feeders?
What Happens When My Bird Feeder Stays In The Rain?
What Problems Does Wet Bird Seed Cause?
Why do you put a baffle on bird seed?
What does moldy bird seed smell like?
How long does it take for bird seed to dry out?
See 2 more
How to keep birds from finding feeders?
Just be sure that the bulk of the feeder is in a spot where it will remain dry despite the rain. 2. Install a Rain Guard.
How to keep seeds from raining in bird feeder?
Even better, you can drill extra holes to expand the drainage system of your bird feeders. Consider adding a light layer of gravel to the bottom of the feeder to elevate the seeds, keeping them away from the rainwater. If you prefer, you can also do this just as effectively with a small patch of mesh.
Why are seeds edible for birds?
Keeping seeds edible for birds during the season means keeping feeders protected from those unexpected rainstorms that strike on hot summer days.
How to keep squirrels out of bird feeders?
Attach a Baffle. If you can’t find a rain guard, you can also use a baffle to keep your bird feeders dry during rainstorms. Though they are intended to keep squirrels out of your feeders, if you place them lower than you would for squirrel prevention, they can function similarly to a rain guard. When shopping, mention to ...
Why do feeders collect water?
Many feeders are prone to collecting water in their bases because they don’t have adequate drainage. As a last resort, you can enhance drainage yourself. A simple way is to widen whatever drainage holes already exist in your feeder’s base using a drill.
How to protect seeders from rain?
1. Move Feeders Before the Rainstorm Hits. The easiest way to protect your seeders and feed is to move them to shelter when it rains, if possible. Feeders that are on poles or stands should be placed under an awning, covered porch, or patio.
How to keep bird feeders from getting moldy?
Keep the containers in a cool, dry location, out of the sun and rain. This will ensure the moisture in the air will not get to your seeds, preventing them from getting moldy before you even fill your feeders. The rainstorms of summer don’t have to rain on your birdwatching fun.
How to keep birds from getting rain?
Hanging a feeder several inches under a roof or awning will help keep rain away from the birdseed. Positioning a feeder under a thick tree can also help minimize water intrusion. Hang feeders high enough or place them out of reach of sprinklers, and avoid windy areas where rain or snow could be blown into the feeder.
How to keep a seed feeder clean?
Allow feeders to adequately dry after they have been soaked and avoid immediately adding seed to a wet feeder. If possible, wipe down the feeder with a clean cloth and be sure feeding ports are dry before refilling. This will also help keep the feeder clean for longer periods. Seed storage.
How to keep seed dry in a feeder?
If possible, widen drainage holes or drill extra holes for more drainage. Adding a small layer of gravel or a wad of window screen mesh to the bottom of the feeder will also elevate seed away from any puddles and keep the seed dry.
What does wet birdseed smell like?
Smell. The musty, dank smell of wet birdseed makes a feeding station less pleasant, and while birds are not likely to be as bothered by odors, birders will not appreciate the stench. Strong smells will also attract predators and feeder pests such as mice, rats, raccoons, and bears, which can lead to feeder damage and other problems.
How to keep birdseed dry?
The easiest way to keep birdseed dry is to use feeders with adequate protection from rain and snow. When choosing a feeder that will be protected on rainy days, look for: 1 Roofing. A sturdy roof with a good, lengthy overhang can cover feeding trays or ports and keep seed dry. Check how the roof is attached to be sure water cannot seep through joints or holes into seed trays or birdseed holders. 2 Mesh. Mesh construction promotes air circulation so the water evaporates quickly before the seed spoils. Mesh trays or sides under a solid roof can be ideal, but be sure they are well sheltered so water cannot get in through the mesh. 3 Drainage. When a little water does get into the feeder, there should be adequate drainage so it does not create puddles. Very small drainage holes may be inadequate in wet climates and could easily be clogged by small seeds or discarded hulls. 4 Feeding ports. Investigate how birds access seed in the feeder. If feeding ports feature small covers or are somewhat recessed, water will be less likely to get into the seed and it will stay dry more easily. Open trays or broad hoppers are more likely to get wet.
Why is mesh important for seedlings?
Mesh construction promotes air circulation so the water evaporates quickly before the seed spoils. Mesh trays or sides under a solid roof can be ideal, but be sure they are well sheltered so water cannot get in through the mesh. Drainage.
Why do we need mesh?
Mesh. Mesh construction promotes air circulation so the water evaporates quickly before the seed spoils. Mesh trays or sides under a solid roof can be ideal, but be sure they are well sheltered so water cannot get in through the mesh.
What is a good rain guard for bird feeders?
If you live in a rainy locale like Seattle, it’s a good investment to buy a rain guard to put above the feeder. This is essentially a clear dome you place over the feeder that acts as an umbrella. Droll Yankees makes a fantastic rain guard that protects the birds and seed from rain.
Why do birds need to be in the feeder when it rains?
While birds often seek shelter when rain’s falling, that doesn’t mean they don’t need a little help with the bird feeders. When it’s raining or there’s a lot of moisture in the area, the birdseed in your feeders becomes susceptible to bacteria and sprouting.
What are the downsides of rain?
For some parts of the country, like the West, rain provides a much needed reprieve from the arid conditions, but there are also a lot of downsides to rain: mudslides, car accidents, flooding, etc. Like us, birds face their own challenges during the wet weather. It becomes more difficult to fly in the rain and hummingbirds face even bigger obstacles ...
What is an all weather bird feeder?
The All-Weather Feeder from Songbirds Essentials is storm-proof with a cover the prevents a buildup of snow and rain.
Can you use a baffle for squirrels?
These are typically designed to keep squirrels away, but if they’re placed just low enough, they also act as rain guards. Here’s a great Woodlink baffle that is intended for squirrels but can also be used for the weather.
Can bird feeders be used in rain?
Not all bird feeders are maximized for rainy weather. Some feeders have no proper drainage system to remove water from inside the feeder. If water continually collects inside the feeder when it’s raining, it’s better to take down the feeder than let the seed fester in the water and allow birds to eat seed potentially plagued by bacteria and mold.
Can you modify a bird feeder?
You can also modify your existing feeders if there’s poor drainage. Patty from over at Birds and Blooms modified one of her feeders so that the seed did not rest at the bottom of the feeder since it drained very slowly.
How to keep birds from getting water in feeder?
Relocating your feeder can be an excellent way to reduce the amount of water that gathers inside it. You can hang it under a covering like a patio or an awning to help keep it dry. However, make sure it is in an area where you don’t mind attracting a lot of birds.
What is a rain guard for bird feeders?
Make sure you get a size that is large enough to accommodate your feeder. A rain guard is usually a plastic, clear dome that acts as an umbrella for your birds and bird feeder. Simply hang it above your feeder, and your birds will stay dry while they enjoy their meal.
What Happens When My Bird Feeder Stays In The Rain?
You might think it’s no big deal to leave a bird feeder in the rain, after all, they’re typically designed to be outside. However, it’s not the actual bird feeder you need to worry about; it’s the bird seed inside it.
What Problems Does Wet Bird Seed Cause?
Not only is it extremely unhealthy for the wildlife that frequents your birdfeeder, but it also causes problems in your yard and it wastes our hard earned money.
Why do you put a baffle on bird seed?
Baffles are actually used to keep hungry squirrels from snapping up your bird seed. You usually install a baffle beneath your feeder to keep squirrels from climbing up to it. You can also install a baffle high above your feeder to prevent access from squirrels coming down from treetops.
What does moldy bird seed smell like?
Moldy bird seed can give off a musty smell and also appear discolored. The seed might also feel softer to the touch than it should or have a slimy texture, indicating mold spores.
How long does it take for bird seed to dry out?
In addition to cleaning your bird feeder, it’s also vital that you check your bird seed often. If you notice dry seed still in the feeder after about five days , it’s best to replace it with some fresh seed. If the seed is wet, dump it, clean your feeder and fill with fresh, dry bird seed.
