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DEAR JOAN: After two years of our bird feeder hanging in a tree in our backyard, it began to appear something other than pocket-size birds were feeding there.

At first, I idea it was scrub-jays tipping the feeder as a lot of the seed was beingness dropped into the screen below. And so I noticed it appeared to exist happening during the nighttime and that sunflower seeds in the mix were of interest more than the bird seed.

In checking further, it appeared there were mouse or rat droppings in with the seeds in the trough of the feeder, along with empty sunflower seed shells.

We don't take squirrels in our copse and I don't believe they are night creatures, so they weren't considered the troublemakers. I emptied the feeder out, refilled it and hung it in an expanse where rodents couldn't get to information technology.

We accept been irksome to tempt birds back to our yard this summertime, as a lot of highway structure has been going on close by. Fields accept been turned over into large fresh-dirt piles, so I assume worms and bugs were plentiful.

Now that some of that activity has slowed down, we've noticed a few birds reappearing and occasionally starting to use our feeder again.

My concern is, should the feeder have been done out with strong soap or something to remove whatsoever trace of rodents? Are the birds probable to pick up any diseases from the rodents having been in contact with the feeder? Would rodents, having used  the feeder, left a smell or something distasteful so  birds would adopt not to eat from it?  All visual signs of rodents being there were removed when I emptied the feeder.

I want to, again, see our feeder decorated with piffling birds using information technology all mean solar day, every day.

G. Carter, Brentwood

Dear Yard.: The chances of rats transferring diseases to birds is low, but the rat droppings and urine can eventually produce a harmful leaner, which can make the birds very ill.

The birds probably are more at hazard of contracting diseases from each other, which is why, regardless of rats and other unwanted visitors, the feeders need a regular cleaning.

The Humane Society of the United States recommends cleaning hanging feeders every two weeks; more often during periods of heavy feeding. Basis feeders demand to be cleaned every two days.

The feeders should exist soaked for ii to three minutes in a solution of ane role chlorine bleach to 9 parts warm h2o. Use a stiff brush to scour the feeder, so rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry completely before refilling.

You should too rake up spilled seeds every night, or at least one time a calendar week. That will help forbid rats from being attracted to the surface area and also forestall the seeds from turning moldy and becoming hazardous to ground-feeding birds.

Rats exercise leave a certain rodent aroma, but it doesn't discourage the birds — with a few notable exceptions, birds are not proficient at detecting smells.

If you notice sick or dead birds well-nigh your feeders, stop feeding immediately, dispose of the seed, clean all feeders, rake upward and remove spilled seeds and wait at least a calendar week earlier resuming.