When Is the Best Time to Put Out Your Bird Feeders?

With the end of summer and the start of the fall migration, you may be wondering how long your bird feeders should stay out. The answer isn’t so simple, according to Maria Kincaid, an ornithologist at FeatherSnap, a company that manufactures bird feeders. “There are a lot of opinions about when you should and shouldn’t have your feeders out, so I think it’s definitely a personal preference at this point,” Kincaid says. 

But some general guidelines can help you make the most of your bird feed. 

When Is the Best Time to Put Out Bird Feeders?

It depends on the type of feeder you put out, the birds you want to attract, and where you live, Kincaid explains. Here’s what to know:

• Hummingbird feeders can be put out a week or two before the birds are expected to arrive in your area, according to Kincaid. And you can leave them out until the majority have left. (You can monitor hummingbird migration using the 2025 map from Hummingbird Central.) If you live in the southwest, some areas have hummingbirds year-round, so you could leave your feeder out all year. 
• Suet feeders are best used when the temperatures aren’t warm (otherwise the suet will melt), Kicaid explains. “I like to have mine up in the spring, fall, and winter, taking them down in the summer season,” she says. 
• Seed feeders can be up year-round, though you may see dips in the number of visitors, depending on the time of year. “I find that I get quite a bit of a slowdown in visitors during the breeding season, as many, but not all, songbird species vary their diet based on what’s needed nutritionally at the time,” Kincaid says. 

Can You Leave Feeders Out All Year?

“There are quite a few arguments for and against leaving bird feeders out during the nesting season, but I leave mine out,” Kincaid says. Know that you may see fewer birds during nesting season for a variety of reasons, she says. “During nesting and brood-rearing, many songbirds that would visit our feeders switch to a more insect-heavy diet to keep up with the protein requirements of their nestlings and fledglings,” she says. There’s also an abundance of native food sources during breeding seasons, so birds may not need to visit your feeders as often. 

Regardless of when your feeders are out, regular cleaning is important so you don’t attract pests or allow food to spoil. This is especially important in less-than-ideal weather conditions. “Rain and warm temperatures increase the risk of the food you’re offering spoiling, and the number of birds flocking to your feeder during the period just before breeding increases the risk of diseases spreading,” Kincaid says. 

So, it’s up to you how long you leave your feeders up—as long as you follow a maintenance schedule.