Cage water dispenser
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Sugar water feeding guide
Based on my study, there are a few recommendations that can be made with a high degree of confidence:
1. Choose commercially available feeders designed for native birds (below), to minimise risks of pathogen
transmission from the introduced birds species.
2. Provide sugar water only in winter during the coldest months.
I advise stopping supplementary feeding in spring and summer to let birds use natural food sources,
pollinate native plants, and minimise the risk of bacterial growth at high ambient temperatures.
3. For winter feeding, use 1 cup of sugar per 1 L of water (or more).
I linked high sugar concentrations to better bird body conditions.
4. Clean all structures used in feeding thoroughly with hot water and scrub two times a week
to minimise the risk of bird disease outbreaks. Don't use bleach or detergents.
5. Attach the feeder to a tall post away from trees and fences to minimise chances of bird predation by cats and
sugar water access by pest species.
This guide is based on the scientific research. More information here: