Choosing the Right Feeder and Seed: A Guide to Keeping Backyard Birds Healthy

Olivia Carvalho, Community Engagement Specialist

Feeding birds is a wonderful way to connect with nature, support local wildlife, and enjoy the beauty of feathered friends right in your backyard. But to make the most of this rewarding hobby, it’s essential to choose the right feeder and seed type while maintaining a clean and safe environment for your avian visitors. Here’s how to do it:

Six Pine Siskins defend their space on a hanging platform feeder. Photo: Kate Dagleish

Birds come in all shapes, sizes, and dietary preferences. Choosing the right feeder can attract a variety of species and create a busy feeding environment. Here are the main types of feeders and the birds they appeal to:

Tube Feeders: Perfect for small songbirds like chickadees, finches, and nuthatches. They hold seeds securely and protect them from the elements.

Hopper or “House” Feeders: This style of container feeder allows for food to be distributed continuously onto small side areas where birds are able to land and grab seeds. Hopper feeders attract a wide range of birds, including sparrows, cardinals, and grosbeaks. They hold a larger quantity of seed and are ideal for busier feeding areas. There are also hopper feeders available with suet cages attached. 

Platform Feeders: Best for ground-feeding birds like doves and juncos. However, they require more frequent cleaning since they’re open to rain and droppings.

Suet Feeders: Suet cakes attract insect-eating birds such as woodpeckers, wrens, and nuthatches, especially during colder months. Best to offer in cooler weather so it does not become rancid. Suet cakes can be purchased or made. 

Hummingbird Feeders: Designed specifically for nectar, these feeders bring in hummingbirds (and orioles) with their sugary solution.

 Blue Jay on a tube feeder filled with peanuts. Photo: Kate Dagleish

The type of seed you offer will determine the species of birds visiting your yard. Some popular options include:

Black-Oil Sunflower Seeds: If you’re looking for the seed that will attract the greatest diversity of birds to your feeder, this is the one! A favorite for many species due to their high energy content and easy-to-crack shells. Likely to attract: Chickadees, Nuthatches, Woodpeckers, Cardinals, and Blue Jays. 

Nyjer Seeds: Tiny seeds perfect for finches and siskins. They’re best used in tube feeders with small openings. These seeds closely resemble those of native hyssop, goldenrod, and coneflower plants. Already have them in your garden? Leave the seed heads all winter for birds to snack on! 

Peanuts: Offer peanuts shelled or in the shell—larger birds like jays may stash them, while smaller birds like chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice prefer shelled peanuts. Use raw, and avoid salted or flavored varieties.

Suet: Excellent for providing high-energy nutrition, especially in winter for our northern birds! A good option for attracting birds that love insects in their diet. 

Sugar Water: A hummingbird favorite. The simple recipe of one part sugar to four parts water mimics natural nectar. NEVER use honey or artificial sweeteners. Feeders should be cleaned every time they are refilled, every 2-5 days. Discard and clean immediately at any sign of cloudy water or mold.

Ready to purchase seeds? Head to Armstrong’s Store Locator to find a retailer in your area. 

Dirty feeders can spread diseases among birds, turning your thoughtful feeding into a health hazard. Follow these cleaning guidelines to keep your feathered visitors safe:

Cleaning Seed Feeders: Clean seed feeders about once every two weeks, more often in warm or damp weather.

Steps to clean:

1. • Disassemble the feeder and remove all visible debris.
   • Wash thoroughly with soap and boiling water, or soak in a diluted bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) for 10 minutes.
   • Rinse thoroughly and allow the feeder to dry completely before refilling.
   • For added convenience, some feeders can be cleaned in a dishwasher on a hot setting.

Cleaning Hummingbird Feeders: Clean and replace nectar every 2–5 days, depending on outdoor temperatures. Discard nectar immediately if it becomes cloudy or if black mold appears. Wash with soap and water, followed by soaking in a bleach or as detailed above.

Ground Maintenance: It’s important to rake the area beneath feeders to remove seed hulls and droppings. Make sure to move feeders occasionally to prevent waste buildup in one spot. Moving them helps discourage pests like rodents from coming around, and keeps the feeding environment clean.

 If there is any sign of disease, It’s important to take your feeders down immediately. Removing feeders for a couple of weeks if you spot a sick bird helps to prevent disease spread. Clean feeders and the surrounding area thoroughly. Regular cleaning, even without signs of illness, is key to disease prevention.

If possible, wear gloves when handling feeders and cleaning materials. It’s important that you wash your hands thoroughly after handling feeders or bird seed, and add feeder cleaning to your routine to protect not only birds but also humans and pets from harmful bacteria.

Now that you’re ready to support your feathered friends, why not make your birding count? Project FeederWatch is a Citizen Science program that helps track bird populations and trends across North America. By observing and reporting the birds visiting your feeders, you contribute valuable data to bird conservation efforts.

Registration is open now, so don’t miss your chance to join this exciting winter bird initiative! Visit Project FeederWatch to learn more and sign up today. Together, we can make a difference for the birds!

Project FeederWatch is a joint program between Birds Canada and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, made possible with support from Armstrong Bird Food and Wild Birds Unlimited. Thank you for supporting conservation across North America!