You need to check the feeder for drowned insects if you find them, wash out the feeder and replace the sugar water. You need to keep the feeder or feeders filled with sugar water, especially during the spring, summer, and fall. When you hang up hummingbird feeders, know that you are assuming a certain degree of responsibility. Stand there quietly, and you can watch the birds zipping about and eating your homemade sugar water. This tip is for your own benefit! If you hang the feeder right in front of a window, you can enjoy watching the birds come. Put your feeders up high enough that the birds won't have to worry about cats hunting them. Hummingbirds' eyes are sensitive to the color red because red flowers typically represent good food sources for them. It's best to purchase a red feeder or one that has prominent red features, like red caps, perches, feeding sites, etc. Most hummingbird food is clear now at the store, so this will be the same. Is this the same as store-bought hummingbird food? Also, like we mention above, cleaning out your feeder often in hot weather will discourage ants from getting in the feeder. If there isn’t residue, ants won’t find their way in. Ants will be attracted to sticky residue on the outside portion of the feeder. It is difficult to keep them away, but the best option is making sure the feeder is clean on the outside. You can see the ones I have used over the years below! Keeping Away Ants from FeedersĪnts also cause issues for many hummingbird feeders. Over the last ten years, I have tried out dozens of different feeders, and the ones with smaller flowers seem to attract less bees.
I also bought a new feeder which is made to keep bees away and attract more birds. Make sure there is no residue on the outside. Cleaning it out every few days helps with this along with making sure you wipe the outside of the feeder after filling. In addition to keeping bacteria away, bees are also a problem with hummingbird feeders. I have tested it out in my area which is 100 degrees in the summer, and it is essential to clean it out every day.
The first thing I did when my husband and I moved into our first apartment was by a hummingbird feeder. I have loved both since I was a little girl. My two favorite creatures in the summer are hummingbirds and fireflies.