List of safety warnings for BIRDHOUSES AND BIRD FEEDERS based on the
requirements of Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on general product safety (GPSR):
1. Intended use and general rules
• Instruction manual: Before assembly, installation, filling, cleaning or first
use, read the instructions supplied with the product and follow all limits
concerning mounting, load, weather exposure and maintenance.
• Intended use: Use the product only as a birdhouse, nest box, feeder or
related bird-care accessory. Do not modify it or use it to hold animals, food,
materials or loads for which it was not designed.
• Product suitability: Select a product appropriate to the bird species
expected in the area. Entrance dimensions, internal space, feeder
openings and food type must be suitable for the intended birds and must
not create an entrapment or injury hazard.
• Wildlife protection: Observe applicable rules concerning protected
species, nesting periods, feeding restrictions and placement of wildlife
products. Do not disturb, remove or relocate an active nest except where
permitted by law and carried out in accordance with specialist guidance.
2. Selection and safe placement
• Safe location: Install the product away from roads, smoke, exhaust
outlets, chemical sources, open flames and places exposed to frequent
human disturbance. Choose a location that allows birds to approach and
leave safely.
• Windows and collision risk: Position feeders and birdhouses so that
reflections and transparent glass do not create an avoidable collision
hazard. Use appropriate bird-visible window markings or another suitable
preventive measure where needed.
• Predators: Place the product where cats, dogs and other predators cannot
easily reach or ambush birds. Keep surrounding access routes clear
enough for birds to detect danger and escape.
• Spacing: Maintain suitable distance from other nests, feeders and
territorial areas where required for the species. Excessive crowding may
increase aggression, contamination and disease transmission.
3. Installation and structural safety
• Secure mounting: Attach the product only to a stable wall, tree, post,
railing, stand or other support capable of carrying the total loaded weight.
Use all required brackets, screws, straps, hooks and safety retainers.
• Hanging products: Check cords, chains, hooks and carabiners for correct
closure and wear. Prevent excessive swinging, twisting or contact with
windows, walls, vehicles, cables and walkways, especially during strong
wind.
• Window-mounted feeders: Clean the glass and mounting surfaces
before installation. Inspect suction cups and adhesive components
regularly, respect the stated load limit and remove the feeder if the
attachment becomes loose, cracked or deformed.
• Work at height: Use a stable ladder and appropriate protective equipment
when installing or servicing products above ground. Do not work at height
in strong wind, rain, snow or icy conditions, and do not overreach.
4. Birdhouse and nest box safety
• Ventilation and drainage: Keep ventilation openings and drainage holes
unobstructed. Moisture, overheating and poor airflow can harm birds,
damage eggs or nesting material and accelerate mould or decay.
• Internal condition: Ensure that accessible surfaces are free from
protruding screws, splinters, sharp edges, loose mesh and gaps that could
trap claws, wings or heads. Do not add loose cords, synthetic fibres or
hazardous nesting materials.
• Active nests: Do not open, move, clean or repair an occupied birdhouse
unless an immediate safety risk requires action and the intervention is
legally permitted. Avoid unnecessary inspection, noise, light and vibration
near an active nest.
• Seasonal cleaning: Clean a birdhouse only when it is unoccupied and
outside any protected nesting period. Remove old nesting material
hygienically, allow the product to dry fully and use only cleaning methods
suitable for the material and wildlife use.
5. Feed and water safety
• Suitable feed: Offer only fresh food appropriate to the target bird species.
Do not provide mouldy, rancid, salty, seasoned, fermented or chemically
contaminated food, and do not use ingredients prohibited by the product
instructions or local wildlife guidance.
• Spoilage: Remove wet, compacted, sprouting, mouldy or foul-smelling
feed immediately. Fill the feeder with quantities that can be consumed
before spoilage and rotate stored feed according to its expiry and storage
instructions.
• Nectar and liquid feed: Prepare nectar or liquid feed only in the
concentration and manner recommended for the intended species.
Replace it frequently, especially in warm weather, and never top up
contaminated liquid without first cleaning the reservoir.
• Water: If the product includes a drinker or water tray, use clean potable
water and replace it regularly. Prevent standing water from becoming
visibly contaminated or developing algae, insects, ice or debris.
6. Hygiene and disease prevention
• Regular cleaning: Clean feeding surfaces, perches, trays, reservoirs and
removable parts at the frequency stated by the manufacturer and
whenever they become contaminated with droppings, spoiled feed or dead
insects.
• Personal hygiene: Wear protective gloves when handling droppings, old
nesting material or visibly contaminated components. Avoid inhaling dust
and mould, wash hands thoroughly afterwards and keep cleaning tools
separate from items used for food preparation.
• Signs of disease: If sick or dead birds are observed, stop using the feeder
when appropriate, remove contaminated feed and clean the product
according to instructions from the relevant veterinary or wildlife authority.
• Pests and waste: Remove spilled feed and waste from the surrounding
area to limit rodents, insects and other pests. Do not allow waste to
obstruct drainage, create a slip hazard or contaminate neighbouring
property.
• Allergens and dust: Seeds, nuts and feed dust may cause allergic
reactions or respiratory irritation in sensitive people. Handle them carefully,
avoid creating airborne dust and use suitable protective equipment where
necessary.
7. Materials and weather conditions
• Material condition: Do not use products with cracked plastic, rotten wood,
sharp rust, exposed wire, peeling coatings or loose fasteners. Replace
components that could injure birds or cause the product to collapse.
• Paints and preservatives: Use only coatings, adhesives and wood
treatments expressly suitable for the product and safe for wildlife after
curing. Do not apply chemicals to internal nesting or feeding surfaces
unless the manufacturer permits it.
• Heat and sunlight: Avoid locations where direct sun, reflected heat or
poor ventilation could cause dangerous overheating of the birdhouse,
feeder, food, water, battery or camera components.
• Severe weather: Inspect the installation after storms, frost, heavy rain or
snowfall. Remove, secure or relocate the product when weather conditions
may exceed its design limits or cause falling, flooding or structural
damage.
8. Smart feeders, cameras and electrical components
• Power supply: Use only the supplied or manufacturer-approved adapter,
solar panel, charging cable and charging parameters. Keep plugs, ports
and electrical connections dry, and disconnect the device before cleaning,
refilling or removing a blockage.
• Batteries and overheating: Do not use a battery that is swollen, leaking,
unusually hot or damaged. Stop using and disconnect any device that
emits smoke, a burning smell or abnormal heat, and keep batteries away
from fire and extreme temperatures.
• Automatic mechanisms: Keep fingers, feathers and loose objects away
from dispensing doors, motors and other moving parts. Switch off and
disconnect the product before clearing jammed feed or carrying out
maintenance.
• Camera privacy and security: Aim cameras so that they do not
unnecessarily record neighbouring property or private areas. Follow
applicable privacy and data-protection laws, use a strong unique password
and keep the application and device firmware up to date.
• Monitoring limitations: A camera image, recognition result or application
alert may be delayed, incorrect or unavailable. Do not rely on a connected
feeder as the sole method of detecting injured wildlife, feed shortages or
an unsafe installation.
9. Children, pets and small parts
• Small parts: Screws, clips, hooks, caps, batteries and camera
accessories may present a choking or ingestion hazard. Keep loose parts
away from children and animals and ensure they are correctly secured
during use.
• Children: Installation, filling and cleaning should be carried out by or under
the supervision of an adult. Do not allow children to climb structures, pull
hanging products or handle contaminated feed, droppings or nesting
material.
• Domestic animals: Keep cats, dogs and other pets away from feeding
and nesting areas where they may injure birds, damage the product or
come into contact with contaminated waste.
• Packaging: Remove bags, films, cable ties and protective materials before
use. Dispose of or store them safely to prevent suffocation, strangulation,
entanglement and ingestion.
10. Inspection, storage and disposal
• Regular inspection: Check the product, support, mounting hardware,
drainage, hinges, cables and electronic components regularly. Stop using
the product if it becomes unstable, damaged, excessively worn, blocked or
unsafe.
• Repairs: Use only compatible replacement parts and do not make
modifications that reduce stability, ventilation, drainage or species
suitability. Do not open sealed electrical housings; use an authorised
service provider where required.
• Storage: Before storage, empty, clean and dry the product completely.
Store it away from moisture, pests, chemicals, direct sunlight, fire and
extreme temperatures.
• Disposal: Dispose of spoiled feed, old nesting material and contaminated
waste hygienically in accordance with local rules. Electrical components
and batteries must be taken to an appropriate collection or recycling point
and must not be placed in unsorted household waste.
Following these rules reduces the risk of injury to people and animals, product
failure, property damage and loss of data or privacy. Ignoring them may lead to
serious health, safety and technical consequences.
Detailed information and additional warnings can be found in the instruction
manual supplied with the product or in the PDF documentation available on the
manufacturer's or supplier's website.