Overview
- Once feeding begins, keep it continuous from roughly November to February so birds relying on the site are not left without energy during freezes.
- Prioritize high‑quality, fat‑ and protein‑rich food and skip salted, spiced or moldy items; tests warn some store mixes contain Ambrosia seeds, so many recommend DIY blends such as about 300 g coconut fat with 300 g seeds plus a little cooking oil.
- Use covered houses or silo feeders that keep food dry, clean equipment frequently with hot water, remove damp or spoiled feed promptly, and halt feeding if sick or dead birds appear.
- Place feeders shaded and out of reach of predators, offer ground food on open, visible spots for species like blackbirds, and avoid plastic netting on fat balls due to entanglement risks.
- Provide drinking water through winter and keep it ice‑free by refreshing, breaking surface ice or floating a tennis ball; heated baths are an option, whereas candle‑based DIY warmers carry soot and fire concerns.