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Hummingbird Garden

Hummingbird feeder fluid level question

6 years ago

Hi,

Lately I've been wondering if sometimes the fluid level in the feeder might get low enough that the birds have trouble or can't reach it. I change feeders and fluid twice each week and clean out all signs of mildew and taste the sugar water so I know it's not fermenting in that time period. What I'm wondering is if the level in the base of the feeder can get low enough that the birds can't reach it. Out of concern that it might after dark when the birds have gone I've been tipping the feeders until bubbles rise up in the fluid and after that until a bit of fluid drips out of the feeding ports. Is that something we should do, or is it really not a concern because there's always enough fluid in the base of the feeder that the birds can reach it?

Thank you for any input about this!

David

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Comments (6)

mblan13
6 years ago
I wouldn't be concerned. The engineers got that stuff figured out pretty well.

I change mine every other day, and don't have too many hummers at one time, so I usually only put in a few ounces of nectar at a time.
arcy_gw
6 years ago
As often as you are changing the nectar it amazes me yours gets low enough to be concerned. I have a hand full of hummers, my feeder goes empty and needs to be filled about every 10 days at the height of its use. We returned from vacation to an empty feeder, filled it and they returned with in 24 hours. This time of year in particular they aren't going to starve if a feeder goes dry over night as you fear.
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David Harrison
Original Author
6 years ago
Here in GA where it's 90°+ all day and often 80° all night I'm afraid the nectar will ferment if I leave for 10 days. Probably not in a week, but I change it twice a week to be sure during July and August. Also only keep nectar refrigerated for about a week. In the past I've made up a gallon and kept it for a couple of weeks but it started to turn a dark color and I didn't trust it. It still tasted okay, but since then I've only been making a half gallon at a time which is plenty for 2 fillings of 2 feeders. Whatever's left over dump it out and then a few days later make up a new batch for the next week.
bouquet_kansas
6 years ago
Could someone please explain why you need to boil your sugar water? Why can't you just add sugar to cold water and stir until dissolved, then put in the feeders?
David Harrison
Original Author
6 years ago
I think people do it to kill bacteria and mildew etc. I clean my feeders to get rid of any mildew and heat water in the microwave to get it hot enough to make the nectar. Sugar won't dissolve as well in cold water, but it doesn't have to be boiling.
bouquet_kansas
6 years ago
OK. Thank you David.

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