If you want to be successful in your bird backyard feeding, you need to give high-quality fresh food all the time. This situation can be achieved if you know how to store the bird food properly. But, do you know how to store bird seed so that it will last longer? Please check this article as we listed several tips for properly storing your bird seeds.
Choosing the Right Location
Choosing the location is essential in properly storing a birdseed. In general, the area should be outside your home and near where you are feeding the birds. But how to store bird seed outside? First, you need to find a cool and dry place outside your home. It can be in the garage, a patio storage box, a shed, or any other location which meets the requirements.
Also, you need to make sure that the storage is strategically located where refilling of bird foods to the bird feeders can be done quickly and efficiently. It should provide easy access to the bird seeds once it is needed. Meanwhile, storing in a dry and shaded area is equally important since it helps in keeping the seeds fresh and last for a more extended period.
Choosing the Right Container
Having the correct container when storing your birdseed is also very vital. First, choosing the right size will depend on the number of seeds you want to keep. If you need small containers, they are usually lighter and easier to move around from one place to another, especially if you own many bird feeders.
Meanwhile, if you choose large containers, its upside is its ability to hold a large volume of bird seeds. If you are feeding many birds and keeping bird seeds in large volumes, then a large container is the best way to go.
Apart from the size, you will also need to choose the type of containers you will use. One of the more popular storage containers is galvanized metal cans and plastic bins. Another option is plastic zip bags. Whatever you choose, make sure that the container is rodent and insect-proof.
Quality of Materials
The quality of the material being used in birdseed containers is also essential to consider when choosing a container. First, it should be durable enough to secure and protect the seeds once stored inside. You need to ensure that the container will not crack, bend, chip, or even break over time.
Meanwhile, if you are using a metal container, the most ideal is the galvanized one as it can prevent rust from forming outside and inside. In terms of design, rounded containers are challenging to invade from rodents and other similar animals as they are difficult to chew.
Tip No. 4: Containers Must Be Properly Sealed
Whatever containers you choose must be sealed tightly to prevent rodents and insects from invading inside. They must be stopped at all costs, or they can have a negative impact on the quality of the bird seeds.
Containers with watertight lids are also a must to minimize the risk of molds. Tightening the containers using weights or nylon cords can ensure that rodents and insects can find their way inside the containers.
Also, you can check the containers regularly for any sign of leaks, opening, or damage. You can also check for any infestations on the inside. The moment you smell a strong odor from insects and rodents, it is a sign that there is a problem.
Labeling
Labeling is also very essential if you are using several types of bird seeds. This step will allow you to categorize the seeds according to their type. It will also help you quickly identify the seeds once they are used to feed the birds.
Labeling can also help you in refilling bird feeders efficiently and accurately. This method also helps other people feed the animals in your absence since every container is already identified with names and labels.
Birdseed Storage Quantity Depends on the Season
The storage of bird seeds is different depending on the climate. When it is very hot, it is better to store a quantity that the birds can consume for two weeks during the summer season. This method prevents the seed from spoilage because of humidity and hot conditions. During the winter, you can store seeds that the birds can consume for four weeks.
Handling the Bird Seeds
You need to monitor the quality of the seeds inside the containers constantly. It is important not to mix the old seeds with the new seeds. From time to time, you will also need to throw those moldy, rotten, and foul-smelling seeds as they can be a health hazard to your birds.
Also, when feeding the birds, you need to fill the bird feeders with one or two day supply only. Doing this step will help in keeping the seeds fresh in the feeder. It also helps prevent waste because the birds will just kick out spoiled and old seeds.
Conclusion
If you are planning to attract more birds in your backyard, you need to give them lots of seeds for them to keep on coming back. However, you need to learn how to store bird seed if you will be stocking a large volume of bird seeds in your home. This knowledge is essential to keep the bird fresh for a more extended period.