Is there a SAFE way to deal with droppings from bird feeder?

12 years ago

Hello all,

I recently mounted a six-perch tube feeder to the railing of my three-story porch deck. We're getting lots of Finches -- Red, Yellow, House, etc. -- along with a few other types. They've brought a lot of happiness to me, my wife and my two cats, who love to watch from inside the big windows.

But now, I'm beginning to wonder how sanitary and safe this whole arrangement is. At 12' by 7', the deck is pretty small, certainly smaller than the yards that many people participating in the Bird Forum discussions have. I'm concerned that the lack of grass and the relatively small size just isn't enough to absorb the considerable amount of bird droppings being generated.

To counter the effects, I planted a Ceanothus shrub in a large pot (here in California, they're known as half wine barrels.) The idea is that the droppings will fall onto the shrub and get worked back into the soil, where it will act as compost. I've also started keeping the tube feeder only partially full, so that only four of the six perches can be used. The idea is to reduce the number of birds who can feed at one time.

I've spent the past few days reading a variety of websites about the health effects of bird droppings, and some of the material is pretty scary. The amount of bacteria and disease can be very hazardous. Most of the material warns against using bare hands when cleaning feeders. I'm just not sure that this space is suitable for a feeder that produces this amount of droppings. In addition to the size of the deck, there's a small table that we use for meals when the weather is warm.

We'll be heartbroken if we have to take the feeder down, but we're concerned about the health effects on us, our cats, and on a possible child that may be joining our family. We have no yard at all, and our unit is pretty small.

For a couple photos of the porch and the Ceanothus, please see the following images:

http://s1095.photobucket.com/albums/i465/sanfrancisconewbie/?action=view&current=planter.jpg

http://s1095.photobucket.com/albums/i465/sanfrancisconewbie/?action=view&current=birdporch.jpg

Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions about our situation? Do you think buying another planter, or taking some other action, would be enough to absorb the droppings, or is this space simply too small?

Many thanks, and great to join your community.

Comments (7)

Kimmsr
12 years ago
Some concern about potential disease problems from bird droppings is healthy, paranoia is not and some of the web sites can lead people in that direction. While there is the potential that bird droppings could cause diseases it does not happen all that often, and many of us are exposed to a great extent. Soap and water are among the best means of disease prevention around and regular cleaning of the area as well as the feeder will help limit your exposure, as well as the birds, to these disease pathogens.
I have 4 feeders in various locations around the yard that do get cleaned periodically but it is just the feeders, the ground around them just gets mowed and watered as needed.
sanfrancisconewbie
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks so much for the response, kimmsr. I know so little about the make up of droppings that I have no idea how safe or dangerous they may be.

I do know that they eat right in to the paint on my deck, so at the very least, I want to contain the damage. It's a wood deck with slots, so hosing things down just washes the mess onto my neighbor's space. I don't think that's a good idea, especially since I don't (yet) know how dangerous the poop is.

I'm still thinking the best way to go is to put a bunch of potted plants underneath and let them catch the droppings and break them down as fertilizer. Unfortunately, one of the Ceanothus bushes I planted that's right underneath isn't doing very well. I'm wondering if the acid or something else in the droppings is causing problems.

I'm really in need of someone with expert knowledge of the properties of bird droppings. I'm not sure if I've come to the right place or not. I'd be grateful for any help people here can provide.

Thanks again!
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Kimmsr
12 years ago
It takes a fairly large amount of bird droppings to become potentially hazardous. Much of what I read that is available on the internet exaggerates the potential risk of exposure. Unless the droppings accumulate in fairly large quantities and are left for some time there is little danger of contracting a disease from them.

Here is a link that might be useful: bird droppings
groem
12 years ago
What is over the side of the deck? why not just swing the feeder so it is over the side?
sanfrancisconewbie
Original Author
12 years ago
Over the side of the deck is my neighbor's porch. Swinging the feeder just relocates the mess to an area that doesn't belong to me.
nygardener
12 years ago
Bird droppings directly applied as fertilizer can burn plants; they need to be composted first. So putting planters right underneath them might not work.

Have you tried putting a small tarp underneath? You could scrape and/or hose it into your compost pile or the trash once in a while. Hold it down with rocks or clips.
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
12 years ago
I was just on the Lee Valley website looking for hose guides and I happened to see this seed saucer that attaches under a bird feeder. Maybe this would help you to collect droppings.

{{gwi:295949}}

{{gwi:295950}}

Seed Saucer

Claire

Is there a SAFE way to deal with droppings from bird feeder?

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Kimmsr

sanfrancisconewbie
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Is there a SAFE way to deal with droppings from bird feeder?

Comments (7)

Kimmsr

sanfrancisconewbieOriginal Author

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Kimmsr

groem

sanfrancisconewbieOriginal Author

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claireplymouth z6b coastal MA

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sanfrancisconewbie
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