United Kingdom · garden birds / Decision guide
Can I put my bird feeder back out on 1 November? The UK 2026 checklist
For UK gardens. Guidance checked on 19 October 2026.
Yes: the RSPB says seed and peanut feeding can resume on 1 November 2026, with the winter feeding period continuing through 30 April. But the date does not make every feeder suitable, and it does not cancel a pause after seeing a sick bird. RSPB's October restart guidance
Start with the condition that applies to your garden:
- You paused seeds and peanuts for the summer, with no separate illness pause: prepare for 1 November.
- You use a bird table, flat tray or tray-style window feeder: change the feeding arrangement rather than simply refilling it. The RSPB advises against flat feeding surfaces. Current feeding guidance
- You have seen a sick bird at a feeder: stop all feeding, empty any bird baths, clean and put feeders away, and wait four weeks before resuming. Do not restart while birds show signs of disease; stop and repeat if another sick bird appears. RSPB's dated illness-pause instructions · Bird-bath and continuing-illness advice
Check the feeding surface, not just whether it hangs
A suspended tray still has a flat feeding surface. Look at where the food collects, rather than treating the word “hanging” on the packaging as the whole test.
Scroll the diagram sideways to read all labels.
The RSPB prefers hanging feeders and advises against tables, flat window feeders and feeders with trays because contaminated food can accumulate on flat surfaces. Check any tray attached below a tube, too. Why the surface matters
You may be able to keep your existing feeder if it suits the food and can be cleaned properly. For peanuts, the RSPB specifies rigid steel-mesh nut feeders. Seed feeders should match the seed being offered and allow drainage without old food building up. Feeder types
Set up a routine you can maintain
Before restarting, choose a regular cleaning day and a manageable amount of food. A smaller feeding station that you can care for is a more practical starting point than filling several large feeders and hoping everything gets eaten.
Use these RSPB timings:
- Offer only enough seed or peanuts to be eaten within one or two days.
- Clean feeders and baths at least weekly, and clear debris below them.
- Move feeders regularly and spread multiple feeders between different spots.
- Keep food protected from rain and condensation.
- If providing a bird bath, replace its water daily. Feeding and hygiene schedule
For a full clean, work outside with gloves: empty the feeder, dismantle it, wash, disinfect, rinse and let it dry before refilling. Wash your hands afterwards. Follow the RSPB's detailed procedure for suitable cleaning products. Cleaning steps
A simple note on the food container can help: “Next clean: ___; amount eaten after two days: ___.” Adjust the next refill to what you actually observe rather than automatically filling to the top.
Keep the two clocks separate
The RSPB pages are not fully consistent: its undated cleaning page says at least three weeks and no continuing signs of disease, while its feeding page dated 1 October specifies four weeks. This checklist uses the latter, longer pause. If birds still appear sick, do not restart. Cleaning-page advice · Dated feeding-page advice
For example, four weeks after 20 October is 17 November. A 1 November seasonal restart would be too early for that illness pause. These dates are an illustrative calculation.
Until the seasonal restart, the RSPB allows small amounts of mealworms, fatballs or suet. That seasonal option does not override its instruction to stop all feeding after a sick bird is seen. Seasonal foods · Illness pause
This checklist follows UK RSPB guidance, not a combined UK-and-Ireland rule. Recheck the linked advice if it changes, or if you are using this guide in a later season.