How to Prepare Your Yard for Winter

As fall rolls out and winter prepares to roll in, there are several ways you can prepare your yard to help your visiting birds during the coldest time of the year.

 Take Stock of Feeders

During winter, birds need high calorie foods to keep their little bodies warm, especially during cold nights. Now is the perfect time to clean and repair your feeders and replace any that cannot be fixed.

Clean your feeders with warm, soapy water, and sanitize them with a 10% bleach solution. If you’re looking to replace a feeder, try a Wild Birds Unlimited EcoClean™ Feeder. These feeders are easy to clean (no bleach needed for sanitizing), and they feature a patented technology that inhibits the surface growth of damaging bacteria, mold and other microbes. This protection won’t wash or wear away, and it uses environmentally friendly technology.

 Provide Shelter

Cold winds strip heat from birds very quickly. Birds will seek refuge from the wind in dense vegetation, natural cavities or roosting boxes. Roosting boxes provide birds with a warm, dry location that can help protect them from cold, nasty winter weather.

 Offer Water

Birds need water in winter to maintain their feathers for effective insulation. Use a heated bird bath or add a heater to your existing concrete, plastic, metal or stone bird bath. This will help make some water available even on the coldest day. Some concrete baths with an added heater may not be able to handle freezing weather. To be safe, place a plastic bird bath dish with a heater on the existing pedestal.