OT Bees?? on hummer feeders

15 years ago

OK I know this is a Blue Bird list BUT......

My Mom is desperate! She has two hummingbird feeders I hung for her by her bedroom window and she just loves to watch the little ones eat. She has bad Osteoporosis and lays down a lot, so this gives her something to do.

WELL yesterday a BUNCH of Honey bees invaded her feeders and the little hummers cant get to the nectar.

Is there something we can do to make them leave?

We do the oil on there for wasps, but it doesnt work for the bees

Thanks in advance

Debbie

Tx

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Comments (11)

bluebars
15 years ago
Try the hummingbird forum. I'm sure they will help!
BlueBars

Here is a link that might be useful: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/hummingbird/
lindaskyview
15 years ago
My favorite Hummingbird Forum is at Network 54 - no ads, and a great bunch of folks.

A lot of people are having the same problem right now. Some recommend removing yellow plastic flowers from the ports of feeders, as yellow is a major attractant to bees and wasps. Others have tried putting out a small open dish with sugar water to get the bees away from the humm feeders.

Good luck! Love that you're doing this for your Mom; I've done the same thing with regular seed feeders.

LindaSkyview
Western NC

Here is a link that might be useful: HUMMINGBIRD FORUM (gardening, too!)
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debbie321
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks lindaskyview
She loves to watch these little birds.
I have her a seed feeder and the hummer feeders. Now the darn bees!!
I heard to put white vinegar on the feeders
debbie321
Original Author
15 years ago
Well the Vinegar didnt work, so we are going to try teh Hummzinger feeder tomorrow AND the bowl of sugar water
bluebars
15 years ago
Are you sure they are honey bees? Or yellow jackets?
Honey bees you would not want to harm in any way. Yellow jackets are a different story! And they are very active (and aggressive) this time of year.
BlueBars
debbie321
Original Author
15 years ago
Yep they are Honey Bees, not aggressive, just love that hummer feeder and running off my Mom's Hummers
Nothing seems to work to deter them
bigmatt
15 years ago
Debbbie,
I read somewhere,That you can cut down the water/surgar mix to 5:1,instead of 4:1.Then put another feeder nearby with a stronger sugar mix (alot sweeter)The idea is, that the bees will be more attracted to the sweeter mix,And the hummers won't mind the 5:1 mix.I have never tried this,but I do remember reading it somewhere.If your mother does try this ,please post the results.
Your mother could also get a Hummzinger feeder which is Wasp and bee proof,they have a built in ant mote ,and they are very easy to clean.See the link below.

Matt

Here is a link that might be useful: Hummzinger
debbie321
Original Author
15 years ago
Well I got her the Hummzinger type feeder, and IT WORKED!! The bees can not get into it and gave up after a few hours of trying.
I wish it was a bigger feeder since she has so many she will have to refill it a lot BUT at least the Bees are GONE, at least for now!!
Thanks everyone for your help!!!
gymell
15 years ago
I just got one too, based on reading this thread. It really does seem to work. The hummingbirds figured it out quickly and the bees seem to have disappeared. I noticed that the hummingbirds spend more time at the feeder now that the bees are gone. I just captured this on my live feedercam.
debbie321
Original Author
15 years ago
WOW you have a LOT of bird feeders! I thought I did LOL
My Mom still has Bees,but I cant seem to get her to NOT put out the other feeders just yet!
I may have convinced her yesterday, I noticed this morning that there was just one feeder out and it was the Hummzinger,
Guess I need to buy her another one.
I live next door and we have a LOT of Hummers, mostly RT's
I have noticed a LOT of males lately.
AND I saw a BEE on my feeder, I know this is BAD but a swatted it, I sure dont want her Bees coming over her LOL
gymell
15 years ago
I've got a lot of hungry woodpeckers so I have to keep them happy. ;-) I put all of my feeders in one place for the webcam - except for my thistle feeders because the goldfinches are shy. I'm thinking of putting up a 2nd Hummzinger off camera. I'm really impressed with how well it works! The hummers are definitely spending more time at the feeders now.

Since we're on the bluebird forum I should mention that I didn't ever have bluebirds nest in my yard this year. Instead I had chickadees nest twice, which is unusual. I was all ready for the blues to move in. Last year I had chickadees nest and then bluebirds came along later to use the same box. Hopefully next year! The nest box is visible in the photo further back in the yard behind the feeders. I put a camera in there and got some good videos of the chickadee nest. Hopefully next year I can get some of a bluebird nest as well!