Is Feeder Fresh Safe for Birds? The Science, Concerns and More

Feeder Fresh^TM is a moisture absorbing additive that can be added to birdfeeders to help seed stay fresh and make cleaning birdfeeders a lot easier by reducing seed caking.

But is Feeder Fresh ^TM safe for your backyard birds?

Feeder Fresh^TM is amorphous silicon dioxide, a material approved by the FDA as a food additive for anticaking. While it is considered nontoxic to humans, there is not enough testing in birds to determine whether it’s safe, and there are concerns over its use.

So does that mean we, as backyard birders, should or should not use it? This article aims to teach you a little more about Feeder Fresh^TM, note some concerns, even if it’s not toxic, and then we will provide our recommendation about whether you should or shouldn’t use it.

In small doses, could Feeder Fresh^TM harm birds?

A lot of backyard birders use Feeder Fresh^TM with no issue… Well, they haven’t reported birds dropping dead in their backyards, anyway. But just because birds are not dying doesn’t mean a substance is not causing them harm in other ways.

The problem is, there has not been a lot of research on this product. In browsing Google Scholar and NCBI, we did not find any studies of wild caught birds being time-tested and having blood analysis and lung health studied.

We may never see these studies either. It costs a lot of money, and the fields of ornithology and ecology have bigger concerns than a commercial product that may or may not help birdseed las longer.

The FDA has approved certain forms of food-grade amorphous silicon dioxide for human consumption (Feeder Fresh^TM is made of amorphous silicon dioxide). But that doesn’t mean it’s safe for birds.

Birds are soooo small and weigh very little for their size. That means any substance, even any inert seeming mineral can have a huge impact on a bird – even if it’s  what we would consider a very small dose.

Remember, even water in excessive amounts eventually becomes toxic to humans. For small birds, even small amounts of nontoxic minerals can actually be considered a large dose to a bird, and may potentially cause problems.

So, unfortunately, we don’t know if in small doses Feeder Fresh^TM is safe for birds. We also don’t know how small a small dose isif a bird accidentally ingested or inhaled it.

I know you’re reading this thinking – Great this article knows nothing. But there are some things we do know, and it’s worth considering.

Is Feeder Fresh^TM a toxic substance?

Feeder Fresh^TM is a type of silicon dioxide – sand. And on paper, it’s not considered toxic to humans when dust is inhaled.

It might cause some temporary inflammation, but not a lot of long-term damage.

The crystalline version of silica, on the other hand, is toxic when inhaled.

So, what we do know, is at least for humans, this substance is not toxic. And that is a little bit reassuring. We do have to remind ourselves again that birds are considerably smaller than humans. And that should give us room to pause and really think this through.

Another thing we’ve seen in the information and marketing of Feeder Fresh^TM is that birds need grit for digestion. Sand and small rock help break down seed husks.

However, not all birds need grit. And too much grit is bad for them.

Important concerns about Feeder Fresh^TM

When asking colleagues in the community about the safety of Feeder Fresh^TM, most felt it was very safe to use. And they liked it because it made cleaning out feeders so easy. Instead of cakey seed that is very hard to clean out, the old seed just pours right out when this product is used appropriately.

But a bird rehabber raised some important questions. These are questions no one has answers to, and it should concern us as backyard birders.

1. Because it is a moisture absorbing material, will a bird become dehydrated after ingesting it?
2. How much ingestion would cause dehydration?
3. If a bird accidentally ingests Feeder Fresh^TM and drinks water after, will they experience swelling?

This is why the fact that there is little research on this product means we need to be very cautious.

Why would bird companies promote this if it’s not safe for birds?

All companies promote things that may end up not being as safe for their intended user as they were told it was. Even the makers probably felt it was safe. Over time, testing and using the product introduces new variables and considerations. So, this is not usually for reasons of malice.

For example, there are so many pet toys out there that can cause choking or are made of artificial dyes that are not ideal, or a pet is prone to eating the toy, which may require a vet visit later. Or it’s not appropriate for certain breeds or certain sized animals. But it’s often marketed more broadly.

The same happens for birds. Store owners and managers are told it’s safe. And when looking at the material – on paper, it does seem very safe: It’s basically sand, some birds use grit, there are FDA approved Food Grade versions, and it solves a problem.

So, on the surface, this looks great – very reasonable – very safe.

AND it might be safe. The problem is, we’re introducing something to our backyard birds – many species are very vulnerable and need our help, but there are not enough studies confirming its safety.

This is one thing that sets Nest Hollow apart from other wild bird shops. We do our research. We work hard to only recommend products that help birds not harm. And we make you aware of items that might not be suitable for your backyard birds.

However, we’re just as susceptible to misinformation. Research and testing takes time. On the surface, things could initially be great. Over time, if something is revealed to be questionable or unsafe, we would update our information and stance.

What Cornell Lab of Ornithology says about Feeder Fresh^TM :

We reached out to Cornell Lab of Ornithology since they along with the Audubon are an authority in the birding world. We wanted to find out if there were any studies, resources or knowledge about the safety of Feeder Fresh^TM.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology advises people never to use seed or nectar additives. They are not aware of any studies, but would advise being conservative about additives.

Is there still an easy way to prevent caking seed when cleaning feeders?

The biggest problem Feeder Fresh^TM solves is keeping old seed from getting too cakey. Preventing seed caking makes cleaning feeders a whole lot easier.

But there are things you can do to help prevent seed from caking up while not using Feeder Fresh^TM:

1. Change out your seed every two weeks. Even with Feeder Fresh^TM, we would recommend staying on top of cleaning and changing out old seed.
2. During a humid week, change your seed out completely after one week or every 3 days.
3. Make sure your feeders are completely dry before adding in new seed.
4. Use a hanging baffle – basically an umbrella. This is going to help keep your seed dryer, and that’s going to help reduce caking.
5. Change out your seed right after it rains. Rain dampens your seed, and that dampness is going to cause caking. After it rains, dump out your seed. Wait to add new seed until your feeder is completely dry.
6. Don’t overfill your feeders. Feed your birds according to the volume of birds you get in your backyard. Overfilling your feeders will mean you’re going to have to dump out larger amounts of seed more regularly.
7. Empty and clean your feeders before they’re completely empty.

These tips should help reduce caking with your seed. But you’re occasionally going to have it happen. Soaking your feeders will help loosen debris, and then using an old scrub brush inside will help remove the remaining seed.

What if I really like Feeder Fresh^TM and still want to use it?

Feeder Fresh^TM makes cleaning your feeders a lot easier. It shortens the entire process. And, we’re not saying it’s unsafe either. We’re saying – we don’t know, and even an authority (Cornell) on the subject leans more conservatively.

However, given that the substance scientifically seems to be benign, and the benefits are decent, you may want to still use it.

In this case, we recommend only adding ½” to 1” of the product to the bottom of your birdfeeder. Then add seed on top of it.

Do not mix Feeder Fresh^TM in with seed. Some birders like doing it this way. And it’s supposed to be safe. However, mixing Feeder Fresh^TM in with seed as one mixture increases a bird’s direct exposure to the substance and its dust. And we don’t know if accidental ingestion is problematic for birds yet.

Nest Hollow’s recommendation on Feeder Fresh^TM

At the moment, Nest Hollow doesn’t recommend using Feeder Fresh^TM ; however, we also won’t discourage using it under certain situations. For now,  we lean more on the side of exercising caution, but we also understand the importance of keeping your feeders clean. In fact, that is extremely important.

We suggest avoiding it if possible, or using other alternatives to prevent caking. However, if you’re really struggling to keep your feeders clean, just exercise safety when using it – layer it only at the bottom, and dump out seed before it starts to get exposed so that we protect birds from accidental ingestion.

The person at my bird shop told me Feeder Fresh^TM is safe:

You may have visited your local bird shop. The workers there know a lot about birds. And they are telling you it’s safe.

This is because, on the surface, it does sound safe. Amorphous Silicon Dioxide, which is what Feeder Fresh^TM is composed of is basically sand. It’s not toxic to humans. And some food grade versions of it are FDA approved as a food additive. So, these shops are not trying to mislead you. They are going off of the information they have on hand.

However, we just  happened to dig a little deeper, and the key here is that it is not well studied in birds. And there are some very important, unanswered questions that make us unsure about whether or not it causes harm to birds.

This is where it boils down to a personal decision. If you feel comfortable using it, go for it. But if you’re feeling unsure, even after talking with your local bird shop – well, when in doubt, DON’T  is the common word of advice.

What the heck is Feeder Fresh^TM anyway?

Feeder Fresh^TM is a moisture absorbing additive you can get for your birdseed. Because of it’s moisture absorption, it’s marketed to help keep seed fresher longer and make cleaning feeders easier.

The material is composed of amorphous silicon dioxide. This silicon dioxide with micropores. These tiny pores act like little ditches that catch and trap water. In doing so, it helps birdseed stay dry.

Wet seed tends to cake up over time. And as old, wet seed binds together and hardens, it makes cleaning the feeders really difficult at times. Feeder Fresh^TM can prevent this – up to a certain point. After a while, even its moisture absorption ability gets oversaturated.

There are different commercial products out there for amorphous silicon dioxide. Some of the food grade versions are FDA approved for food use as an anti-caking agent. There are also versions FDA approved for cosmetics.

Silicon dioxide is the same substance as sand. Amorphous silicon dioxide is just another version.

So hypothetically, it seems safe for wild songbirds. But it has not been well studied, if at all in songbirds.

Is it really that important to clean my feeders that much?

It is really important to regularly clean your feeders. And you’ll want to increase your frequency in a given week if there have been long periods of heat, humidity and/or rain.

Birdseed can become great media for cell and fungal growth. And it’s worsened when it’s wet.

One common bacterium that infects birds, especially house finches, is Mycoplasma gallisepticum. This is easily transmitted from feeder to feeder and bird to bird. Many birds will not appear to be visibly symptomatic with the classic conjunctivitis. However, symptoms may appear in birds in other areas that are not visible to us.

This video has a lot more information, which also helps demonstrate the importance of cleaning your feeders.

It’s also not just for the health of your birds, but your health too. Dirty feeders can transmit all sorts of bacteria, fungi and viruses. Always wash your hands after tending to your feeders. And clean up any shell debris below.

Takeaway points:

• Feeder Fresh^TM is a sand-like, moisture absorbing product used with birdseed to help prevent caking caused by damp seed.
• It is not well studied in birds to know whether it is safe.
• Hypothetically (untested, educated guess), the science makes it seem pretty safe.
• There are still some important concerns raised: Will it dehydrate birds if accidentally ingested? Will it cause fatal swelling in birds if ingested and then a bird drinks water after?
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology takes a conservative stance – do not use any additives with birdseed and nectar.
• While Nest Hollow cannot recommend using this product, we do find value in it. At a surface level, it seems inert, and with some precautions in how it’s applied, we can reduce bird exposure.
• Use a hanging baffle over your finch feeders to help reduce moisture penetration, and clean your feeders regularly to keep seed from caking.
• If you must use it, use it as a thin bottom layer (1/2 – 1 inch) under the seed you add to reduce direct exposure to birds.
• Bird shops may still tell you this is safe to use because – hypothetically (untested, but the science seems to be there), this seems safe overall. Use your personal discretion.
• Cleaning your feeders regularly is critical for the health and safety of your backyard birds. We are here as stewards, hosting the wildlife outside. Let’s set them up for success.