Garden Bird Feeding and Wildlife Welfare

Feeding garden birds can significantly support wildlife welfare but requires attention to food quality and hygiene.

Key Facts

An estimated 60% of UK households feed garden birds
Poor-quality or mouldy food can kill birds — green peanuts contain toxic aflatoxins
Bird feeders must be cleaned regularly to prevent salmonellosis and other disease transmission
Supplementary feeding during breeding season can improve fledgling survival rates
Cats kill an estimated 55 million birds annually in the UK — feeding areas should be predator-proof

Welfare Considerations

Garden bird feeding is one of the most widespread wildlife welfare interventions in the UK. Done well, it supports birds through periods of food scarcity, provides critical nutrition during cold snaps, and supplements breeding season nutrition. Done poorly, it can spread disease through contaminated feeders, provide food that causes harm, and attract predators to areas where birds are concentrated. The welfare benefit of supplementary feeding depends entirely on the quality of food and hygiene of the feeding station.

What You Can Do

Clean feeders and bird tables at least once weekly with hot soapy water
Use only good quality bird food from reputable suppliers — avoid cheap mixes with wheat filler
Position feeders 2m+ from cover that cats or sparrowhawks could use for ambush
Provide water for drinking and bathing year-round
Vary food types seasonally to match nutritional needs — high fat in winter, protein-rich in breeding season