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Oklahoma Gardening

Hummingbird Feeders

13 years ago

Have several Hummers, now, and the agressive little Ruby-throats are already fighting over the feeder. Just went into town to WM and bought another el-cheapo red plastic feeder. I have started buying the red plastic feeders with "rest rings" and ant moats on them. Have spent many $$$$ on cutsy expensive feeders, most of which don't have "rest rings" or ant moats, and the Hummers couldn't care less what the feeder looks like and they usually start leaking, so, wasted money. Besides, the red plastic homely ones are so cheap, you can replace them every year, if need be. My advice? Put that $20.00 bill, or more, back in your pocket and pick up a cheapy feeder for about $6.00 at WM.

Jeanie

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Comments (5)

susanlynne48
13 years ago
That's exactly what I am going to do next time! However, I would love to have a Hummzingsr one day. They are supposed to be easy to clean, with a built-in ant moat and a bee guard. They come highly recommended on the Hummingbird Forum.

Susan

Here is a link that might be useful: Hummzinger Feeders
PunkinHeadJones
13 years ago
For ants I do this. I use fishing line to suspend the feeder, about a foot above the feeder tie a small knot, thread the rest of the line through pin hole in the center of a lid from margerine, sour cream etc. even thogh ants can climb down the thinest of lines they can not make the over the edge turn.
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Chances are it is yellow jackets that are around the feeder, if so, put a piece of meat a few yards away from the feeder and the yellow jackets will go for that too, and you will know that they are yellow jackets and not honey bees (which are not attracted to meat). Yellow jackets are more aggressive than honey bees and should not be messed with during daylite hours. Wait til dark and take the feeder down. If they are honey bees take the feeder down (if you are afraid of bees, again do this at night) and leave it inside for a few days. Honey bees will discover their nectar source is gone and move on. they have short memories and will forget it was ever there until a scout finds it again. I doubt it is honeybees because the feeder is not what they would consider a good source of nectar unless there is nothing else available. I have hives and feeders and the only tijme I have any problems with bees at the feeder is with yellow jackets, which sends me around the yard in search of their nest, so I can destroy it.
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Comments (3)
I have the same base as in the first picture. I fill it from the top when washing and then dump it out by tipping it over. If the bottom comes off I haven't picked up on that. I also have a similar hanging setup as in the second shot - where the feeder also appears to be getting pushed to the side by wind, as often happens at this time of the year where I live. When it is gusty here the feeder is soon emptied by the wind action. So that I suspect you are having the same problem.
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Comments (6)
Thanks for the advice, guys. I'm a complete newbie comes to hummingbirds and feeders. We didn't get them in NYC! Morz8, I think it would be wasteful to fill my feeder to the top, especially if the hummers don't know about it yet. I intend to plant some fuschias I already have in hanging pots near the feeder, plus I have some window boxes on the nearby railing to plant with the fuschia geraniums, purple petunias, and multi color portulaca I brought back from a fabulous nursery near Gettysburg, PA. I haven't planted them yet, they're sitting in their greenhouse pots on my wire shelving until I am really sure we won't have an overnight frost. If one suddenly came up, I could place my beautiful plants into a big Rubbermaid tote I have at the ready on the balcony. Accuweather, Weather.com, and the National Weather Service do not indicate any temps near freezing right up until Mother's Day, but I am erring on the side of caution. I am really looking forward to planting these gorgeous plants and hope they also attract hummers.
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It's been 2 weeks or more since I installed a hummingbird feeder.
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Comments (4)
It takes time to get the first ones. After getting a few, it is possible to slowly increase the traffic over a few years. People who live in areas with a lot of hummer traffic can attract them quickly, but people who are off the hummers' beaten path have to be patient and consistent. You may only get a few this year, but keep trying. Consistency is the big factor. Sugar water sours fast in a warm/hot environment. Hummers leave if they taste sour juice. Only put up small amounts of juice till you have enough birds to drink more. About every third day take the feeder down, thoroughly clean it with something that will kill all bacteria, thoroughly rinse it, then put fresh clean juice in it. Be consistent. Every hummer that gets good juice at your feeder will visit again. If it is migrating, you will see it and it's offspring in the late summer as they head south. If it is nesting, you will see it all summer. Presently I am keeping three feeders up. I clean and refill one of them every day.
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Pallida
Original Author
13 years ago
Susan,
Wow! The Hummzinger really IS cool. Haven't seen these in the stores, but really cannot afford them as I like to hang, at least two feeders, and this is just not within my budget, but would definitely purchase this product, if they brought the price down.
Punkinhead,
(Love your "handle".). What a great idea for ant guards! I have no trees close to my house for observation, so hang my feeders from those "shepherd hooks", and use to spray the poles with Pam, which works, but a bit messy and has to be repeated periodically.

Jeanie
lucas_tx_gw
13 years ago
I use hummzingers because they are soooooooooo easy to clean but on top of that they never leak, have a built in ant moat that works, are indestructible and the birds like them. Worth every penny, they last forever.

Teri
susanlynne48
13 years ago
Teri......one of these days I'm going to break down and get one, or two, or......

Right now, I am just like Jeanie, can't afford them. I had a feeder port break on my old one last year, and I just plugged it up with glue so it wouldn't leak. So it's now a 3-port feeder rather than a 4-port one. I also have another one. So far, the hummers have not minded that I don't have a Hummzinger, it's just me who has to clean them that complains! LOL!

Susan

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