Keep A Clean Establishment
To help reduce chances of spreading avian diseases, maintain clean equipment and fresh food supplies.

• Even if new, clean feeders thoroughly with mild soap and hot water before first setting them out.
• Clean seed feeders again whenever they become wet and seed sticks to their corners.
• Clean suet feeders often if the weather is warm enough to melt suet or suet cake.
• Change hummingbird nectar at least weekly in cool weather, twice a week in warm weather.
• Clean any feeder when you suspect the food has spoiled or could make birds sick.

The Food Supply
The following hints will help you avoid problems that sometimes beset feeding stations.

Plan for how much food you wish to dispense per day. Within reason, birds will eat as much as you provide once a feeding station is established.

• Feed early in the morning, when birds are the most active and are hungry for high energy food.
• Use seed mixes that have a high sunflower, corn, and millet content.
• Avoid overfeeding; leftovers may attract squirrels, mice, rats and unwanted bird species.
• Don't let feed collect on the ground; rotting seed can cause disease and also result in weeds sprouting.
• Maintain a source of water for the birds. Always keep it clean and free of ice in the winter.

Beware of Toxins
The safest and most welcoming backyard habitat for birds is an organically gardened area.

• Do not use insecticides, pesticides, fungicides or herbicides while maintaining a feeding station.
• If you must spray, stop feeding at least a week before using toxic products.
• Use bio-degradable products and spray late in the day.
• Do not resume feeding until past the contamination period specified on the label.
• Unless you've had rain since spraying, water the garden well before you start feeding again.
• Allow bird feeder and bird house wood to weather naturally without potentially harmful stains, paints or preservatives.

Provide Protection
At feeders, birds are slightly less vigilant and more vulnerable than usual.

• Place feeders within 20 feet of cover, but keep them a safe distance from low shrubs and ground cover where crouching cats could hide.
• Don't position feeders where they might lure birds to fly into windows.

Be Patient
Attracting birds can become a great source of pleasure. But sometimes birds keep you waiting a long time. If your feeder is new expect several weeks to pass before birds find it. The first birds to show up will belong to the most common species for you area. Others will eventually notice the commotion and join in.