Hummingbird Feeders

[CDE Driver]

Any good ideas on how to keep ants from crawling in to them? I was going to try and figure out how to put some double stick tape on the top but was hoping for better ideas!

[cloudyandcallie]

Hang feeder from limb or from metal holder.

Put cooking oil or WD40 (don't spray it towards the feeder, of course) on branch or metal. Things slide off including ants.

[RainyDayRide]

Ant baffles ... fill them with water.
http://www.duncraft.com/Red-Ant-Baffle-P137C0.aspx


Some feeders have built in ant moats.
http://www.duncraft.com/Aspects-HummZinger-Fancy-P1909C0.aspx

[MyGiantPony]

OT, but last night, there was a hummingbird darting around in the pine tree outside my picture window.

I thought they stuck to certain flight patterns? I've never seen one here before. I think they are the coolest little things - if I get a feeder, would it encourage more to come? Is it too late in the year?

[JSwan]

I thought they stuck to certain flight patterns? I've never seen one here before. I think they are the coolest little things - if I get a feeder, would it encourage more to come? Is it too late in the year?


You'll get more. Keep your feeders out until October- migrating hummingbirds have one heck of a long journey and they need all the help they can get.

Also planting red flowers like beebalm will encourage them to visit.

[Amchara]

The Barn has yearly resident 'hummers', as well as the species that migrates away during the winter. There are three feeders off the house porch. In the winter the feeders come into the house when temps dip below 32' and go out first thing in the morning where the little guys meet you at the door they are so hungry. They also like the bleeding hearts growing in the garden and hanging off the porch.

A hummer family keeps a square mile or territory, this elicited a chuckle of "I wonder what good the three feeders do, then?" Funny because we do see quite a bit of aggression between individuals from the porch swing or picnic table. I also had a female or females that buzz me periodically around the house.

I had one fly into my own house which was trying to escape through the glass window :eek: cupped it into my hand and carried it outside. This spring one evening I went to feed some neighboring horses and though I heard/saw a huge moth up in the cupola. Next evening a hummingbird was trying to escape through a glass window. I was luckily able to capture it and carry it outside where it immediately found a tree to perch on. Poor little guy. The stalls are kept open for the horses, I assume it got in that way, I wish it had been able to leave that way as well.

[2DogsFarm]

Ant baffles ... fill them with water.
http://www.duncraft.com/Red-Ant-Baffle-P137C0.aspx


Some feeders have built in ant moats.
http://www.duncraft.com/Aspects-HummZinger-Fancy-P1909C0.aspx

Excellent!
I bet I can rig something up to baffle the ants I rinse out of the feeder every morning.
Of course, the goldfish will be disappointed they aren't getting their morning "spicy" (formic acid) treats...

[BuddyRoo]

I use a metal plant hanger thing and don't seem to have any ant issues.

[2DogsFarm]

I use a metal plant hanger thing and don't seem to have any ant issues.


aaarrgghh!
My feeder is a tube type and hangs from a metal hook much like a plant hanger.
The $#%& ants do their highwire act down the metal hook right into the tubes!
I find them drowned inside every morning :mad:

[cloudyandcallie]

OT, but last night, there was a hummingbird darting around in the pine tree outside my picture window.

I thought they stuck to certain flight patterns? I've never seen one here before. I think they are the coolest little things - if I get a feeder, would it encourage more to come? Is it too late in the year?

Depending on where you live, you can keep them year round if you are diligent in filing the feeder and keeping it full. This means in winter when it is cold, going out first light and filling with warm water.
Our hummers used to go to South America each fall, leaving when the 'canes were coming up thru the gulf of mexico.:eek: Now they stay all year round, but will actually come to the door if we don't fill their feeders with fresh sugar water each morning in winter. They can be very pushy and insistent.:lol:

[Creaghgal]

There was no room at the bar for my little hummers this week. They were taken over by yellowjackets so I ran out and purchased two new feeders and solved that problem.

I went from this (http://www.a1glasshummingbirdfeeders.com/sitebuilder/images/A1_DD_Solid_Red_Glass_Hummingbird_Feeder-240x226.jpg) pretty style to this (http://www.birdzilla.com/images/stories/backyard/saucer-hummingbird-feeder.jpg )

[Nes]

Also planting red flowers like beebalm will encourage them to visit.

Scarlet Runner Beans! I`ve finally managed to lure our humming birds across the pasture and near to the house. Plus tasty beans!

[FatPalomino]

What can you mix up to put in the feeder?

We've mixed sugar and water, at a friend's recommendation. Anything better?

[angie j]

I've got this set up... it's quite attractive!

http://thebluejaysgarden.com/9antmoat.html

[angie j]

What can you mix up to put in the feeder?

We've mixed sugar and water, at a friend's recommendation. Anything better?

NOthing better. 4 cups water/1 cup suger. Don't add red dye or anything else. And the mixture should be changed at least weekly. The feeders should be well scrubbed with soap and water; They are highly susceptable to bacterial infections from stagnant, dirty feeders.

http://www.hummingbirds.net/index.html