Hummingbird Feeders

[Nancy5]

I just googled feeders and it said since the feed is sugar put cooking oil on the pole.  It will stop the ants from climbing the pole and going into the feeder.

[pectacon]

The red kind you buy is actually very bad for the birds, I've read, due to the coloring. The red is just so you, the consumer, think it looks pretty/special; the birds don't care. We made our own for a long time, just sugar and water, and those little guys loved it. We eventually stopped though because sugar is cheap but not free, but even more than that, it's a hassle to keep cleaning out the feeder every couple of days (it gets gross fast especially when it's hot outside).

I also noticed that when we first put it up, a handful of hummingbirds would all come to drink, but after a while we had one tiny bully who declared it HIS feeder and he'd chase any others away.

[aflyingmonkey]

The red kind you buy is actually very bad for the birds, I've read, due to the coloring. The red is just so you, the consumer, think it looks pretty/special; the birds don't care. We made our own for a long time, just sugar and water, and those little guys loved it. We eventually stopped though because sugar is cheap but not free, but even more than that, it's a hassle to keep cleaning out the feeder every couple of days (it gets gross fast especially when it's hot outside).

I also noticed that when we first put it up, a handful of hummingbirds would all come to drink, but after a while we had one tiny bully who declared it HIS feeder and he'd chase any others away.

Hummingbirds are VERY territorial by nature, one will drive out the others as part of their normal behavior... that is part of the reason why I have two feeders.

[pectacon]

The red kind you buy is actually very bad for the birds, I've read, due to the coloring. The red is just so you, the consumer, think it looks pretty/special; the birds don't care. We made our own for a long time, just sugar and water, and those little guys loved it. We eventually stopped though because sugar is cheap but not free, but even more than that, it's a hassle to keep cleaning out the feeder every couple of days (it gets gross fast especially when it's hot outside).

I also noticed that when we first put it up, a handful of hummingbirds would all come to drink, but after a while we had one tiny bully who declared it HIS feeder and he'd chase any others away.

Hummingbirds are VERY territorial by nature, one will drive out the others as part of their normal behavior... that is part of the reason why I have two feeders.

Boy they sure are. I like when you see two of them having a teensy little swordfight in midair.

[Nancy5]

The red kind you buy is actually very bad for the birds, I've read, due to the coloring. The red is just so you, the consumer, think it looks pretty/special; the birds don't care. We made our own for a long time, just sugar and water, and those little guys loved it. We eventually stopped though because sugar is cheap but not free, but even more than that, it's a hassle to keep cleaning out the feeder every couple of days (it gets gross fast especially when it's hot outside).

I also noticed that when we first put it up, a handful of hummingbirds would all come to drink, but after a while we had one tiny bully who declared it HIS feeder and he'd chase any others away.

Hummingbirds are VERY territorial by nature, one will drive out the others as part of their normal behavior... that is part of the reason why I have two feeders.

Do you have the feeders close to each other?

[countrygirl12]

I just googled feeders and it said since the feed is sugar put cooking oil on the pole.  It will stop the ants from climbing the pole and going into the feeder.

Or hang it from a tree.  That is what I done.  I don't remember if there were ants or not.  I don't think there were.

[Tresbn00]

Up until about a month ago we would see/hear humming birds every few days. Our neighbor, as part of their stay at home orders, took to doing arts and crafts. One day was spent making humming bird feeders which they gave to us and several other neighbors. We had to order special feeder tubes but put ours up as soon as possible. We now have dozens of humming birds. We have all started putting more flowers in our yards as well which is probably helping the ever increasing hummingbird population. I especially love it because my mother, who has alzheimers, loves hummingbirds, and it is one of the few memories that still manages to light up her life. I have tried to get pictures for her but those little rascals move pretty darn quick.