Are you searching for solutions to stop moist bird seed?
When a never-ending downpour is predicted, you need to consider how your bird feeders may be impacted.
In several respects, wet bird food can be a serious issue for both you and the birds.
Let’s look at it.
Why Wet Bird Seed Is A Problem
1. Disease
The ideal conditions for the rapid growth of germs and mold are created by wet birdseed. Birds might get sick if they consume rotten seed.
Additionally, there is a chance that the germs and mold will spread to nearby feeders and cause bird sickness.
2. Smell
It’s important to note that damp seeds emit an unpleasant stale odor.
The birds in your yard won’t care, but you will. Being in your yard will be uncomfortable because of this odor.
Additionally, these foul odors will undoubtedly draw rodents and mice that bring diseases.
3. Clumping
Some bird seed varieties are actually incompatible with rain. They group together in your feeders, as you have already noticed.
It is quite challenging for birds to get to the food inside because of this clumping effect. And removing such clumps might be a challenge.
4. Waste
After a storm, you might find that the birds are less eager to eat from your seed feeders. The seed spoils faster the less they consume of it.
Birds generally won’t consume damaged bird seed. They’ll simply avoid your feeders and move on to a nearby source of fresher food.
This means that until you straighten it out and lure them back with fresh bird food, you’ll have leftover feed on your hands.
5. Sprouting
Your feeders’ seeds will begin to sprout into plants once they are exposed to water.
Even some sprouting seeds may be seen in your feeders. These seeds won’t be consumed by birds.
Any of these sprouting seeds that fell on the grass or the soil below your feeders will begin to grow.
This is undesirable since it will result in a weedy area underneath your feeders. And everyone is aware of how difficult weed removal can be.
Therefore, it is clear why wet bird feed must be avoided at all costs.
the positive news You can watch me do that right now.
This article will walk you through 12 simple techniques to keep damp bird feed out of your yard. Your yard and your bird will remain healthy as a result.
I’ll then address some often asked inquiries about providing food for birds during rainy and damp weather.
If you reside in a state with a lot of rainfall, like Louisiana, these suggestions will be helpful to you. Or even if a couple rainstorms have damaged your bird feeders.
All right? Let’s get started.
To Save For Later
12 Ways to Prevent Wet Bird Seed
1. Clean feeders
Getting into the habit of routine cleaning is the first step to ensuring that you aren’t giving your birds wet bird seed.
You should at least clean your feeders once every month, but ideally every two weeks.
Any potential moist seed will automatically be removed when you clean your feeders. Then you will wash out any germs, fungus, or sickness that may have been hiding in your feeders.
Before replenishing your feeders with bird seed, make sure they are completely dry. Any wet areas will attract moisture, resulting in condensation.
2. Use a weatherproof guard
You should take into account using a weather guard if your tube feeder is outside and exposed to the elements.
Your feeders will have a roof thanks to this useful gadget, which will also protect the seed inside.
These are helpful if you have squirrel problems because they also function as a kind of baffle.
A feeder with a roof design (like this one) will serve the same purpose if you’re wanting to get a new feeder of that type. To assist keep the rain off the seed, make sure the roof is wider than the base.
3. Use drains
Drainage is one of the characteristics you should check for if you purchase a new feeder.
If you live in a wet climate, it might not seem like a high priority, but it will still matter.
It is simple to prevent water from accumulating in the feeder’s cupped sections thanks to these drainage holes. Your seed will definitely sprout if you leave it in puddles of water.
4. Sheltered location
When purchasing a new feeder or device is not an option, the location must be considered.
Think about where in your yard the bird feeder is located. Is there an open, exposed location nearby? After that, relocate it to a protected place of your yard.
Reduce the quantity of rain that enters your feeder by providing any kind of cover using walls, porches, trees, or shrubs.
Keep in mind that your bird feeders could get caught by lawn sprinklers, so stay away from the spray.
5. Mesh feeder
The worst feeders for collecting water are tray-style ones. Your seed will linger and stagnate once the water is inside because it has nowhere else to go.
Choose a mesh pattern if you like to utilize a ground or tray feeder. If you already use a wooden feeder, a mesh tray can still be used to raise the seed a little. Any water can then drain out of the bottom and away from the seeds in this manner.
6. Smaller feeder
Feeders can be kept dry and snow-free with the use of tube feeders. But the water inside can easily escape. When using larger tube feeders, this is significantly worse.
You’ll need to fill a smaller tube feeder more frequently if you choose it. This may be a hassle, but it ensures that the fresh, dry seed you are giving won’t be wasted.
If the birds quit visiting, large tube feeders that are frequently flooded are likely to produce a lot of wasted bird seed.
Additionally, smaller tube feeders have fewer portholes, which reduces the likelihood that rain or snow may enter your feeder.
7. DIY drainage
Try this DIY method if you frequently get waterlogging with a favorite feeder.
Simply use a drill to put a few small holes to the area where the water is pooling.
A little flattened ball of mesh may also be added to the feeder’s base. This raises the seed above any standing water.
8. Good Seed Storage
This simple action will aid in keeping moisture out of your stored seeds. after which you would feed it into your feeders.
Good seed storage will also help to stop mice and rats from consuming the seed for the birds to.
Before putting your seed in your feeders, if it smells musty, throw it out and acquire a proper storage container.
9. Bring the feeders in
Consider removing your feeders if you know the weather won’t be ideal for several days.
The water makes it very simple for birds to spread disease to one another. And if the weather is warm as well, it’s even worse.
Even if you take measures to keep bacteria and mildew from growing in your bird feeders, it doesn’t guarantee that your neighbors do. By removing your birdfeeders, you can stop birds from spreading illness they have acquired elsewhere.
Another advantage of pulling down your feeders is that you can extend their lifespan by shielding them from weather harm.
10. Different foods
You might want to think about feeding your feeders with anything other than seeds or peanuts in inclement weather.
Mealworms or raisins are both suitable substitutes. Even a little hydration from the rain will help make these meals more palatable to the birds.
Another excellent choice is suede, which is comprised of waterproof pure lipids. In the fall and winter, when it’s a little cooler outside, I’d choose suet more frequently.
11. Don’t overfill
Try not to overfill your feeders if you can’t bring yourself to take them down in the rain.
I advise only using the amount of seed that corresponds to your bird’s hunger. They avoid leaving anything behind that might collect.
Anything they do leave behind can be disposed of. This is probably much less than if you filled the feeder to the brim.
12. Use feeder fresh
If dealing with moldy feeders is driving you crazy, you should think about utilizing feeder fresh.
This material transforms lives.
You add the birdseed on top after sprinkling it in the bottom of your feeders. The feeder fresh prevents waterlogging by removing all the moisture from the seed.
It is comprised with completely safe for birds harmless sand particles. Additionally, it’s well worth it to save the aggravation of dealing with moldy feeders.
Wet Bird Seed FAQ
How to keep bird seed dry in feeders
By initially selecting the ideal feeder design, you can keep your birdseed dry in your feeder.
Choose weather-resistant feeders.
- having a roof
- Drainage openings
- Mesh
- lesser feeder
Use the aforementioned advice once you have the appropriate feeder to prevent your bird seed from becoming soggy.
How to dry wet birds seed
It makes sense to try and stop wasting a lot of seed that hasn’t yet gone bad because bird seed can be pricey.
I completely agree that it’s not a good idea to throw away food. However, it’s not a smart idea to try to rescue your wet bird seed.
Water activates seeds, signaling to them that it is time to begin sprouting. The seed will begin to change after you start that procedure.
From your feeder, sprouting seeds won’t be consumed by wild birds.
The seed will immediately begin to harbor germs and mold in humid circumstances.
You can distribute the seed in areas of your yard where other animals would happily consume it if you really don’t want to waste it.
Will birds eat wet bird seed?
Birds will consume freshly wet seed. However, if the seed keeps festering and becoming moldy, it’s doubtful that they will keep returning to your feeders.
If the seed doesn’t get eaten or dries out quickly, the bird will quit circling if it does.
Cleaning out your feeder and filling it with new, clean bird seed will quickly bring them back.
Do birds feed in the rain?
Birds will continue to visit your feeders even under light rain storms.
You’ll note that the smaller birds are absent at times of intense rain and storms. They are making an effort to safeguard themselves from the dangerously hostile conditions.
Smaller birds are probably scurrying for food if you spot them braving a storm. A weather guard on your feeders will offer some protection while the animals are feeding.
Because there are so many fresh worms near the surface, ground feeders will typically be out foraging in light rain.
How do you dry out wet bird seeds?
Will birds eat moldy bird seed?
Although birds may not have a particular food preference, rotting birdseed can be hazardous and unpleasant. In addition to being less nutrient-dense for birds, substandard bird seed may even be harmful to them if it is polluted with chemicals, feces, fungus, mold, or other contaminants.
When should you not put out bird seed?
In warm weather, it’s a good idea to remove suet feeders. Suet that is handmade or raw shouldn’t be served throughout the summer. Some suet producers claim that their blocks won’t melt in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, but if really high temperatures continue, these may still quickly develop rancid.
Should you leave bird feeders out in the rain?
Get Feeders Moving Before the Storm Arrives Move your seeders and feed to a dry location when it starts to rain, if as all possible. Feeders that are mounted on poles or stands ought to be put on a patio, covered porch, or under an umbrella.
What do you do with moldy bird seed?
Birdseed that has been contaminated by mildew or bug infestations needs to be thrown away. Before restocking the storage container with new seed, carefully clean, disinfect, and dry it. Dispose of the seed in a bag or container that is out of the way of birds and other pests.
Final thoughts
It’s crucial that you learn how to handle this situation so that birds don’t become sick, bring in bugs, waste seed, or make a weedy mess in your yard.
Start by selecting a reliable weatherproof bird feeder or protecting existing feeders with a weather guard. If you still have issues with waterlogging in your birdfeeders, you can utilize the additional advice in this book.
Please leave a remark below if you have any questions. I do make an effort to respond to everyone of them.
Please let your friends and family know about this article if you find it helpful.