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Hummingbird Garden

When to change the nectar in Humming Bird Feeder

9 years ago

I haven't had much success when I hang a hummingbird feeder up every year. Seems they come a day or two then that is it. I change it once a week is that too long? Do I need to change it sooner?

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Comments (10)

TomInMichigan
9 years ago
I change mine once a week and I get them from May til October.
shillanorth Z4 AB
9 years ago
It can depend on whether your feeder is in the sun or the shade and how hot and humid your area is. I can get away with once a week with the ones I have in the shade but anything in the sun usually needs changing about every 5 days around here just to be on the safe side. You could also up the enticement factor with some flowers - Raspberry Wine monarda is the number 1 attractant in my yard over and above any of the feeders.
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Comments (23)
I've seen some kind of wasp enjoying the feeders, but have seen hardly any bees at all this summer. The ants have been freaking out, trying to stay dry, and much more mobile this year, really annoying. Nicole, that was part of my thought about separating the feeders instead of having both in the same spot. They're around a corner from each other, out of sight, so maybe a diff bird will 'take possession' of each? We were watching a documentary about hummers out west somewhere and the littlest one was chasing off bigger hummers and other birds. What brave little critters! Kind of reminds me of chihuahuas, ready to take on any enemy - and they're all bigger! Mikru, glad you like them! Rhizo, here's the link. You had put it in here. I have some stuff to add to that, now that it's been brought to my attention again. Thanks for remind me of both! DH didn't do anything to alter the pics, but the flash was probably going off. It was a dark, overcast evening, just before dusk. I didn't see that gold-ness until looking at the pics later, not something I could see while they were in action. I think DH looked at this. I know we have a bookmark on this site. Don't know if we are considered gulf coast area or not, it's about 70 miles as the crow flies from our house to the sand. It says most of them would only be seen in passing, but I'm flattered that anyone might think I could tell one from another. DH thought we saw 2 kinds, but we agreed they could be male/female or juveniles/adults. I have no idea, and head is too full of plants, eyesight too poor to try to 'learn hummingbirds' but if we get s'more pics, maybe we can decide what kind(s) has (have) visited. When they go buzzing by, it's hard to even be sure that's what it was...! If they would hold still... This is the same one, forgot to ask before, is it a ruby-throated?
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Hum-brella - Feeder Shade & Rain Protection
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Comments (11)
Eigdeh, the one I have hanging in the backyard is as high up inside the bowl as possible. That's the feeder that is outside in the open & gets the most sun and rain. I haven't hung that one up yet. My other 2 feeders are under the eaves of the house and don't get rained on as much. Oh, that fitting thing may be called a copper compression coupler. I'll try to find a picture of one. After my wire went through the cork, I ran it through this fitting and crimped it to hold it in place. I'll also try to find out exactly what they're called. They either came from an electronics store or Home Depot. Susan, I think that I found a red bowl at the dollar store when I made a Hum-brella for my mom's feeder. It's certainly the best place to start. Hawkeye, a frisbee would work. I chose the bowl because I wanted the rain to roll down the side of the bowl and away from the feeder holes. I thought the hummingbirds might be afraid of the bowl but that wasn't the case. Honestly, I think it attracted more birds to my yard which was awesome.
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Is it common for humming bird feeders to drip?
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Comments (14)
I found a solution that has kept my feeders from dripping and attracting yellow jackets and other unwanted pests. This only works for Humzinger-style feeders (not the standard large flower, smaller feeders.) I bought pipe sealant in the hardware section of my grocery store; pipe sealant is non-toxic. I also bought a roll of plumber's tape--the really thin tape used to help pipes seal up. First I cleaned everything really well. Then popped out all of the flowers and slathered a bunch of I then slathered the pipe sealant around where the flowers go in--you want to use a really good amount--and pushed them back in. I then did the same where the top met the bottom "bowl". Next, I wrapped a generous amount of the plumber's tape around that same place to really seal it up. The pipe sealant comes in little tubes and is kind of like working with toothpaste and putty mixed together. (Note: It doesn't fully dry up. It's not supposed to.) The end result is somewhat ugly with the white tape and the white goop around the flowers, but it sufficiently not only stopped the yellow jackets from coming (they tried and tried, but finally stopped.) You will have to replace the tape and pipe sealant now and then around the base, as it expands and contracts with the day heating up and cooling off--and especially so if it's in direct sunlight like mine are. I have a lot of hummingbirds who come my way all summer and all winter (we have Anna's Hummingbirds here in Oregon, and they don't migrate), and they've been very happy about not having the yellow jackets scare them off in the warmer months.
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Comments (14)
The red dye really is harmful to hummers. We have a natural spring plumbed into the house for our water source. I bring the spring water to a boil, then add pure cane sugar at a 1:1 ratio. This ratio allows the female hummers more time and energy with nest building and hunting for insects to feed their young. At a 1:1 ratio, they only have to fill up on sugar water about 5 times an hour. At a 4:1 ratio, they will have to fill up about 14 times an hour, giving them less time for finding insects for protein.
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ctnchpr
9 years ago
When the nights are still cool like they are now, I don't let them go more than 3 days. With the heat and humidity of Summer, no more than 2 days.
donna_b_gardener
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Sweeten your nectar more. They need more sugar.
Rachael K
8 years ago
I change mine about every 5 days as well. I just posted about Feeder Fresh, a new product that is supposed to keep the nectar fresher for longer. It says it uses a micronutrient that is naturally occurring in the hummingbird's diet (copper sulfate), but I'm not sure about it after some preliminary research. Has anyone heard of it?
mehitabel zone 6
8 years ago
I agree with ctnchpr. Change it much oftener when it's hot. Above 90 or so you need to change it every day.
Donna R
8 years ago
When I first started feeding them years ago, I didn't understand many things about their feeding habits. When they first migrate, they are there all of the time..then when the girls are sitting on eggs, you will see them less...when good nectar plants are blooming you will see them less..when it's brutally hot, you will see them more at dusk and dawn, when it's cold or rainy and the flowers close up, you will see them more....when the babies hatch, they need protein, so they are getting insects and at the feeders less...it comes and goes in cycles, but always keep your feeders fresh, and you will get to know their cycles. Then if you're lucky...they will nest twice, and do it all over again! But even once, you should see mom bringing the young to the feeders late summer, and they all are in another feeding frenzy getting ready to migrate again.
mehitabel zone 6
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Donna, thanks for summarizing your knowledge of why they come and go. A year ago I was so disappointed not to see 6 or 8 of them at the feeders in May the way they had been in July and August. This year I knew better what to expect, but it's really great to hear from someone who's been watching them for a long time.

How long have you been feeding them? I really hope you will share a lot more of what you do-- what kind of plants you have for them, just things you've seen and learned. I would love to learn everything about them, and I've read everything I could find, but to hear directly from someone who has done it for years-- I know there are lots of people who would welcome that.

I've already learned a lot from you in just a couple of posts. I really hope you post often.
Donna R
8 years ago
Geez...thanks so much!
I've been feeding them here for over 20 years, but only seriously for about 10...the first 10 there wasn't a lot of info, and I winged it. Now I'm retired and have a lot more time to watch them!
As you feed them year after year, you will notice that you will get more and more! I read somewhere that the young always return to within a few miles of where they hatch to breed the next year, so maybe that's why.
I have gotten so I can recognize a few of them..one has a very distinct bend in her beak, 1 is fat (really fat) and just a little different marking than the others..I look for them every year.
As for plants..just google hummingbird plants and you will get tons of plants. For a beginner, I would suggest Monarda(bee balm)..it is a perennial almost everywhere and gets bigger patches every year. The leaves are also what Earl Grey tea comes from, so great for us, too! I usually buy hanging baskets of fuchsia and petunia every year, too. As for vines, they like honeysuckle and morning glory a lot. Supposed to love trumpet vines, but my 15+ year old vines only get a couple blooms on them..I think I'm way too far north..maybe they like southern states better?
I have a very large vegetable garden, and the females especially come bug hunting when their young have hatched, so that's a bonus for me!
Good luck! And thanks for the praise! I get a lot of enjoyment from them!
Craig S
7 years ago
I know this is a year old thread but I found this chart online that gives the temps during the day and how long to change the food.....71-75 degrees-6days....76-80 5 days.....81-84 4......85-88 3....89-92 2....93+ daily.....hope this helps, I love this chart! takes the guessing out of it!

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