This is my favorite feeder-Juegoal feeder. It comes totally apart for easy cleaning, has a built in ant moat and the birds can always be seen when feeding--can't hide behind part of the feeder.

I have been having great luck with this brand

https://classicbrands.net/more-birds/

they are very pretty too!

I’ve gone through quite a few lately . One the bees kept getting in , one broke , one leaked .. I decided I’m sticking with this brand .

I did try a perky pet top fill

I like it but the rubber gaskets let the bees get stuck ? Homeowner was yours the same kind ? I actually called perky pet to complain and they did send me a new one but I loved the color of the top fill kind

Lily finch, no it wasn’t a perky pet. It was a gift and I think it came from Amazon. I haven’t had any problems with bees or wasp. I’ll try to see if it has a brand listed on it.
I’m going to add another next year, so I’ll check out your favorite brand!

@Rs S @Lilyfinch z9a Murrieta Ca @frankielynnsie How often would I have to clean a hummingbird feeder?

The best, sturdiest one I have I got years ago at a farmers market. https://www.kscanuck.com/hummingbird_feeders.html

I like the smaller size that holds 1 cup and change the water every few days so that mold cannot develop in the sugar water. I clean it every time I change the water with Dow scrubbing bubbles, rinse well. I have four and keep 2 out at a time and swap them out as needed. Mold is bad for hummies and I don't want to make them sick. It gets hot in GA so I have to change them out every 3 days during the summer. I also have 2 of the classic brand but my hummies will hide behind the bottle part and I like to see them. I have 2 other brands too. I think I have tried everything.

I love the disc style feeders since they are soooo easy to clean and have ant traps built in.

Aspects HummZinger HighView 12 Oz Hanging Hummingbird Feeder ... https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B003XL7WZO/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_i_jsXMFbHBA6QK5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I have multiple feeders in summer and one year round. The “Best-1” feeder is always the most popular among the birds.

The year round one is a plastic saucer type. Although I bring it in at night we do occasionally have daytime temps below freezing. I’m just being overly cautious in case a glass bottle breaks with the frozen fluid expansion.

I think you have picked a lovely gift for someone.

Another vote for bees knees one ! I had that too . It came from a different website but also I bought it at the home and garden show when i lived in Nashville. I love that you can see the hummer no matter where they sit . For the life of me , I don’t remember what happened to it when we moved and why i didn’t put it up here .

I’ve also had the hummzinger and it was great too , I bought the smallest one and it was so cute hanging in my trellis with cardinal vine. I need to find a pic .

of course the pics are not what I thought they were . Lol

I only use a cup of nectar food in my feeders at a time and change it Every 3/4 days . And I try to keep the feeders near some plants that hummers love too

This style is absolutely the best for viewing,cleaning, filling, built in ant moat if needed. I have 5 around my home, all situated so they can be seen from inside the house. I like the “umbrella” tops - separate deal which provide some shade & keep rain off I’m in PNW - rain!

KW, Yes that’s exactly like the one I use! They are great!

I love the Hummzinger feeders. I have two of the smallest size, like Lilyfinch's. Less nectar gets spoiled and wasted with a small feeder. Make sure your friend knows the premade nectar is unnecessary. All you need is white sugar and warm water, changed frequently.

Hmmm...next problem - there are trees in backyard...what could I use as a stake to hang the feeder from? Does anyone have any clever ideas? Thanks.

You don't need anything very fancy :-) I have used the Perky Pet brand disc feeders for more than 30 years of hummingbird feeding! And they are year round residents here, so these stay up all year and deal with both heat and extreme cold and all kinds of adverse weather. And although relatively inexpensive, they last a long time. I only need to replace maybe every five years or so.

I use an old rusted metal shepherd's hook with 2 hooks for potted plants for the ones in the front yard. It is in front of my chairs on the porch and in a flower bed. A straightened plastic covered coat hanger hooked over the gutter for the ones in the backyard in front of the windows so I can watch them from inside. I also have the coat hanger hooks over tree branches. I try to keep them separated during baby hatching/growing season so they won't fight each other as much. Then in August I move all the feeders to the front porch so we can watch the show of all 8 of them (4 adults, 4 babies) feeding/guarding/fighting before they leave in Sept. I have many flowers that they like that bloom throughout the spring-fall.

I prefer a shepherds hook too . I recommend one of those ant repel ant disks , they sell them at Lowe’s for 5/$6. It lasts a very long time. I do use the gel repellent too , also sold at Lowe’s but it looks gross after a while not to mention accidentally touching it is gross too . And it washes away with heavy rain .

Ants will absolutely swarm your feeder and ruin it for you so fast . Lesson learned ! Lol

Plantmomzone...sorry so late to respond! I have two feeders out that hold four cups of sugar water each. During the summer I have so many birds! I end up filling my two feeders every other day, usually every day. I’ve counted 30/@ one time. I may add another feeder next year. I also have many flowers that they are attracted to, so they enjoy these as well. I clean them every time I fill them. I use the 4 to 1 method. 1 cup of sugar to every 4 cups of water. I bring the water to a boil, stir in my sugar, then let it cool before I fill the feeders.

Lantmomzone...This is just one f my feeders this summer!

Sorry plantmomzone, the above was a video where there were so many it was hard to count! But just came up as a photo. Sorry. At any case, whatever feeder you get, the birds don’t care! The recipient will get much enjoyment.

I would love to have a swarm of hummies. My yankee hummy is still here and he may have a friend. They drank a lot today.

How wonderful to have a swarm of hummers. I have one feeder and almost alway just one bird guards it. In the spring sometimes a male and female at the same time. And then later perhaps a mamma and her babies. So there are a few times I see more than one.

Alright- I'm super excited about this...what color feeder should I get - red or purple? Also, if I attached the hanger to a window - do you think the birds might accidentally crash into the window?

Hummers are can be territorial and defend their feeder. I have a mean rufous in spring passing thru in migration. He won't let any others near it. But then I have also had a dozen anna's around and some waiting to feed at same time and all being friendly.

I have had several in their fights chase each other and hit my patio doors. I think 6 in 14 years have been found dead, but I hear at least 2-3 thumps each year.

It doesn't take much red to attract them, but if your friends are not familiar with feeding them, please remind them no red food coloring.

Well, I got the hummingbird feeder, but now we need some kind of a stake to hang it from as the only backyard tree fell down last year. Any ideas for how to fabricate a hummingbird feeder hanging stake that doesn't look really ugly and doesn't cost a fortune?? Thanks so much!

Oh, also, how do you make the syrup for the feeder? Can I just mix granulated sugar and water? Thanks and happy holidays!

A tall garden hook is what I use for 2 feeders. I have the other 2 hanging on plastic coated straightened coat hangers that hang over the gutters in front of windows.

Nectar--1 cup boiled water in microwave, allow to cool a little then add 1/3 cup of granulated sugar mix together. Do not add the sugar immediately after removing from the microwave or you will have a scarey boiling Mt Vesuvius mess.

I always triple and just make it fresh but my daugeter makes it up and keeps it refrigerated. I don't use the whole cup in each feeder during the heat of summer because it can go bad and I don't want them to get sick. The funny thing is that they can tell if you get more sugar in the mix and will choose the one that is the sweetest. I usually will make it sweeter in Sept and Oct to fatten them up for their journey south and I have fewer flowers during that time.

https://www.audubon.org/news/how-make-hummingbird-nectar

@frankielynnsie Thanks for the info...so do you hang your feeder hook on the gutter? We have a metal gutter. I wonder if it's strong enough

Yes, but I only use the plastic coated ones to avoid rust stains. The 'gaurd' hummy sits on the top of the hook that goes thru the feeder and chases everyone away at times. We have metal gutters with gutter gaurds but the hook slides thru the opening of the gutter gaurd with no problems. I use smaller plastic feeders for this and they aren't very heavy. In front of the kitchen and dining room windows so I can look at them when doing stuff.

You could put a hook in the fascia under the overhang for your feeders. I like them to be under the overhang so they can eat without getting wet when it rains. My garden hooks are also under the eaves and they will sit on the porch during a storm. I am bird crazy--I will zip tie a dead branch to the porch post so they can have a protected place to sit. I sit on the porch and watch them most evenings right before sunset when they are getting their last feeding. It is a very calming relaxing 20 minutes. They get so use to you that they will fly right close and look at you and talk to you.

Ive tried many of them, and this is definitely my favorite: https://smile.amazon.com/More-Birds-Hummingbird-13-Ounce-Capacity/dp/B007G2P0FA/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=More+Birds+Glory+Hummingbird+Feeder,+Glass+Bottle,+5+Feeding+Ports+and+14-Ounce+Nectar+Capacity&qid=1609471091&sr=8-1. It is easy to clean and fill, it’s attractive, doesn’t leak sugar water on my deck, and best of all, the birds seem very happy with it.

I appreciate all the good information here. Our feeder has been empty for over a year. Last week I saw a hummer checking it out, so I filled it. I also put a fake read poinsettia near it in the tree. So far, after 4 days, no hummers have come. I’m thinking of moving it to a different location.

I found this fun video, to "repurpose" empty bottles of Soy sauce and make them into Hummingbird feeders. If you feel "crafty" this might be another option. https://youtu.be/wDTmVcid7Tc 

Socks, just place in a spot with good visibility to the sky and keep nectar fresh. If you saw one already I am sure they will come. Then you can move it back to a better viewing location for your enjoyment once they find it. I love sitting at my window watching them at our feeder.

That is fun Frank... I might have to make one because it's cute.