Supplementary winter feeding of garden birds is practised by millions of households and can provide genuine welfare benefits, but poorly managed feeding stations carry real risks including disease transmission and dependency.
Garden bird feeding provides measurable welfare benefits in cold winters when natural food is scarce, but the concentration of birds at feeding stations creates disease transmission risk that can outweigh the benefits if feeders are not maintained hygienically. Regular cleaning with a 5% bleach solution, rotating feeder positions, removing uneaten food and providing fresh water separately are not optional extras - they are welfare-essential practices. Window strikes kill birds instantly or cause delayed mortality from concussion; placing feeders either very close (under 1m) or far (over 5m) from windows substantially reduces collision risk.