Warm weather can cause birdseed to deteriorate or spoil. Take the following precautions to have healthy nutritious seed during the hot summer months.

• Hot weather causes seed with a high oil content to become rancid; Safflower and sunflower have insulating hulls so they can stand warm temperatures better.
• Cracked corn is susceptible to mold and mildew in warm humid weather. Whole corn is better able to withstand summer weather,
• If seed is stored for a month or more in containers or bags, insect larvae may develop. This usually is the grain moth, which will eat the seed inside out as it develops.
• Seed that is rancid or moldy could present a health hazard to birds. These seeds are also poorer in vitamins and nutrients than fresh seed.

Storing and maintaining seed:

• Use up your winter supply of birdseed before warm weather.
• In warm weather buy no more than 2 weeks supply of seed at a time. Store seed in a cool, dry place.
• Buy 10-20 pound bags of seeds and if you have spare seed. Store in the refrigerator or freezer.
• If the seed containers are kept outside or in an area that is open to the outdoors, secure the top so that raccoons and squirrels cannot get in. Plastic trashcans are subject to squirrels chewing holes in them.
• Put out smaller quantities of seed in the feeders in the summer so seed doesn’t spoil in the feeder.
• Do not put more food on the ground or feeding tray than birds can consume in one day. It is better to keep seed in hanging feeders, especially in times of rain.
• If you are unsure about the freshness of seed, it is best to throw away the seed and purchase fresh new seed.

Birds will use your feeders all year if you keep fresh, quality seed available.