Hummingbird question.

6 years ago

I've heard you can safely use peppermint oil on hummingbird feeder ports.

Would food grade peppermint oil be the best choice?

I don't use petroleum products of any kind but the bee's are starting already. So, thought I would give peppermint oil a chance.

TIA

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Comments (5)

dchall_san_antonio
6 years ago
What are you trying to do? Are you encouraging or discouraging the birds?
User
Original Author
6 years ago
I'm trying to discourage bees.
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If you are boiling the water and changing the feeders every three days you are doing two things right. Mold will grow under most temperatures, but grow best with heat and moisture. If you have any significant mold spores either in the feeders or the jar you store the mixture in they will grow rapidly. Generally, using very hot water and soap works, as long as the feeders and jars are very dry before you add the sugar water. In your case I recommend using a mixture of bleach and soap to clean, making sure that you rinse off the feeders and jars very well afterwards because bleach tends to adhere to most surfaces. Also, make sure the feeders are completely dry before you add the sugar water. The one thing that mold loves is moisture. If the feeders and jars are dry you can be sure that there is very little mold. Feeders aren't expensive. I put out only two. I have four feeders, so the new ones I put out are completely dry. Let us know how things go and good luck.
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catherinet
6 years ago
I totally got rid of ant problems when I got hummingbird feeders that had no yellow around the ports. I surely wouldn’t use peppermint oil on it.
anneliese32
6 years ago
I don't use anything around the feeders, but then I have no bees either, but...I have three of those pretty flat feeders with perches, 2 feeders with no perches and 1 plain old feeder with the one little feeding tube. Ants try to feed from them too, but I keep ant traps above the feeders. I have other guests who like the feeders too.

It started with a female Downy Woodpecker on the perch feeders, followed by her male. A couple of weeks later, her mate followed. Now, 4 years later, I have 5 kinds of woodpeckers (the Pileated tried too, but he was too big), a wren, an Eastern Towhee and since last week as Baltimore Oriole. They all visit the birdfeeders and the pick up whatever they can find, but I guess they all like dessert. Anyhow, it'[s fun to watch them and I don't mind to make food for them by the gallon.
catherinet
6 years ago
You just reminded me annelisse........I had downy woodpeckers at my hummer feeders all the time last year.

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Hummingbird question.

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dchall_san_antonio

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Hummingbird question.

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dchall_san_antonio

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