When your nectar drips out, this can attract other pests to your hummingbird feeder. You can try replacing the feeder tube with a REPLACEMENT HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER TUBE WITH BALL BEARINGS to help stop the dripping, but chances are, you will still get dripping. Many hummingbird feeders that use a gravity fed tube like the picture above, will drip. After all, what’s the harm in seeing more birds? Dripping Hummingbird Feeders ![]() There aren’t any good solutions to keep other birds off your hummingbird feeder, so the best course of action is to embrace them. In fact, the only way I learned that orioles were in my neighborhood, was when an oriole helped themselves to my hummingbird feeder! I soon went out and bought a good oriole feeder that would accommodate their larger size. Other wild birds have a sweet tooth too! Hummingbirds probably won’t stop at your feeders when larger birds are there but seeing a new wild bird like an oriole on your hummingbird feeder isn’t a bad thing either! Some excellent hummingbird feeders like the Aspects HummZinger Excel Hummingbird Feeder shown below, have built-in ant moats and bee guard ports:Īspects HummZinger Excel Hummingbird Feeder with Built in Ant Moat Fill the ant moat up with water, and insects will not be able to climb on your feeder. Wildlife Accessories Red Trap-It Ant TrapsĪn ant moat is an external cup with two hooks that sits between your hummingbird feeder and your hanger or hook. The easiest way to keep these pests off your hummingbird feeder is to keep it free of dripping, add feeder ports that keep bees from getting to the nectar or add an external ANT MOAT that sits between your feeder and your hook: Bees, while beneficial pollinators in your garden, can keep hummingbirds away from your feeder. Ants can crawl into the ports of your hummingbird feeder and clog them up. Bees will swarm at a hummingbird feeder when flower availability is low. Here’s Some Common Hummingbird Feeder Problems and How to Solve Them: Insects Like Ants and Bees on Your Hummingbird FeederĪnts and bees pose the biggest problems with nectar feeders. Hummingbirds aren’t the only animals that like it sweet: Bears, insects, and other birds often find your hummingbird feeder and can cause problems. Mix one part sugar with four parts water until the sugar is dissolved.Hummingbird feeders are an excellent way to attract beautiful hummingbirds to your yard. What else attracts hummingbirds to a feeder? Fresh nectar! While you can buy premade versions, it’s simple enough to make yourself with just two ingredients: refined white sugar and water. ![]() Want to hang a few feeders? Great! Just be sure to place them at least 50 feet apart or on opposite sides of your house - hummingbirds can be extremely territorial. You should also find a spot that's easy for you to access every couple of days to clean and refill the feeder. Pick a spot in your backyard with vegetation no more than 10 to 15 feet away: Hummingbirds feel most comfortable where there's cover nearby, explains Rowden. Where is the best place to hang a hummingbird feeder? You can rinse with a weak vinegar solution but don't reach for soap since it can leave behind a residue. Be sure to let all parts dry thoroughly before reassembling to avoid mold growth. "Scrub all the parts thoroughly with hot water and a bottle brush," like this all-in-one set from Oxo, advises Carolyn Forte, Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab director. To clean the feeder, pour out any remaining nectar and then disassemble the parts (avoid feeders with tons of tiny parts). If your nectar does spoil, it could turn hummingbirds away from your feeder forever! This is one of the most important things, stresses Rowden: Feeders must be cleaned every couple of days to ensure that the nectar doesn't spoil, especially in the summer. You'll also want to look for feeders that are easy to clean. What should I look for in a hummingbird feeder?Īll of our picks are red, and that's no accident - hummingbirds prefer red feeders because most of the flowers they feed from have red in them. We talked to John Rowden, director of community conservation at the National Audubon Society to find out everything you need to know about creating your own hummingbird oasis that's safe for the birds and stress-free for you. But with so many hummingbird feeder options on the market, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. ![]() Whether you're a pro or novice bird-watcher, bird feeders are a fun, easy way to add a little life to your backyard.
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