Wildlife

Wild Bird Supplementary Feeding Welfare

Supplementary feeding of garden birds provides significant welfare benefits but must be done correctly to avoid harm.

Key Facts

Around half of UK households feed garden birds, supporting billions of feeding events annually
Supplementary feeding has been shown to improve survival rates in winter
Poorly maintained feeders can spread diseases including trichomonosis and salmonellosis
High-energy foods such as sunflower hearts, fat balls, and mealworms are most beneficial
Water provision for drinking and bathing is as important as food for bird welfare

Welfare Considerations

Garden bird feeding is one of the most accessible public contributions to wild animal welfare, but feeders must be kept clean and food of appropriate quality to prevent disease spread.

What You Can Do

Clean bird feeders every 1-2 weeks with hot water and a brush
Provide fresh water in a shallow dish and change it daily
Offer species-appropriate foods and avoid salty, mouldy, or stale food
Site feeders to reduce predation risk from cats
Join citizen science projects such as the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch