How To Clean Bird Poop Off Plants

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The Wildlife Trust has reminded people to clean out their bird boxes during autumn to stop the spread of bacteria and make sure they are safe for birds looking for shelter during winter.

Nestboxes provide a safe and warm habitat for garden birds to feed and raise their young in private – but if they aren't cleaned properly, they can harbour nasty parasites and pose a risk to the animals inside.

A well-designed nestbox will only need cleaning once a year, in the autumn, but it's vital it is done correctly to prepare for the arrival of new birds in need of winter refuge.

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How to clean a nestbox

After the end of each nesting season, remove the nesting materials inside the nestbox and clean well to kill any parasites.

Follow these simple cleaning steps:

Before you begin, it's advised you wear surgical gloves and a dust mask
Before you remove the box, keep an eye open for any small birds that could still be hiding inside
You may find flees, ticks and lice when cleaning out the box, so put these straight into a bag and seal it tightly before disposal
Use a small brush to remove any debris from the corners
Use boiling water to sterilise the inside
Let the box dry out before placing the lid back on
Remember to avoid using insecticides or flea powders

If you don't clean out your nestbox properly, it could become filled with old nesting material. This could result in the nest being closer to the entrance hole, meaning that predators could easily reach the small birds inside. Cleaning also stops the spread of diseases.

House wren feeds bug to babies in birdhouse

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How often should you clean your nestbox?

The RSPB recommends cleaning your nestbox in the autumn, from September onwards, once the birds have stopped using the box. Before you remove the box, keep an eye open for any small birds that could still be hiding inside.

According to the Wildlife Trusts, under the terms of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, if unhatched eggs are found in the box, they can only legally be removed from October to January, and they must be destroyed – it is illegal to keep them.

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