Here’s The Easy Solution To-How To Keep Ants Out Of Hummingbird Feeders

Ants and hummingbird feeders just seem to go together. I guess because you hardly ever see a hummingbird nectar feeder without ants on and inside it.

The same sweet hummingbird nectar that is so attractive to your hummingbirds, is also just as attractive to all the ants in your neighborhood. Once your feeder is up it doesn’t take long for the ants to find it’s location.

A lot of feeders will leak and spill nectar on the ground, alerting all the ants in the area to it’s presence. They soon find your feeder and get into the nectar and drown. Their bodies decompose and ruin your nectar.

Luckily for all of us hummingbird lovers that use nectar feeders, there is a cheap and easy solution to the hummingbird feeder ant problem.

The answer is a simple device that holds water and since the ants can’t swim, it becomes a barrier to keep the ants away from your hummingbird nectar. The device goes by several names , ant moat, ant guard and ant trap, but is most commonly known as an ant moat.

 Below is an inexpensive ant moat that will answer the question of how to keep ants out of hummingbird feeders.

Also, because it is so inexpensive, most people will buy several ant moats so that they have one for each of their hummingbird feeders. A truly quick, easy and cheap way to solve all of your hummingbird feeder ant problems.

Trap-It-Ant Moat For Hummingbird Feeder

Product Description

The first and still the best ant moat protection for your Hummingbird and Oriole feeders. Protect your feeders from ants and other crawling insects. Insert the ant moat between hanger and feeder and fill with water, providing a barrier to crawling pests. The red color is great to help attract hummingbirds to your feeder.

Click the link for more information on How To Keep Ants Out Of Hummingbird Feeders.

Everything you need to know about hummingbird feeding

Each year, especially when the hummingbird migration starts and hummingbirds begin their trip back north, hummingbird feeding will become a major pastime for many backyard birders.

And each year more and more hummingbird feeders seem to take up residence in more and more backyards.

To help you with your hummingbird feeding experience, I will try to answer some of the more frequently asked questions and talk about some of the topics that people have shown an interest in, related to feeding hummingbirds.

These categories are actual search phrases people have used in their quest to find answers about hummingbird feeding.

Hummingbird feeding in Spring

Hummingbird feeding in spring should begin according to the hummingbird migration.

Migration starting times for hummingbirds vary by species. But many Ruby-throated hummingbirds start their northward migration in March and April so mid March is a good early time to start hummingbird feeding in spring.

You can start a week or two later if you live in a more northern part of the country.

When hummingbird feeding in spring only fill your feeder about 1/3 full or less. This way you won’t be wasting too much nectar while you are waiting for the first hummingbird to arrive.

When should I start feeding hummingbirds?

Month to start feeding hummingbirds

Here are some general guide lines on the hummingbird migration to answer the question of when should I start feeding hummingbirds and the month to start feeding hummingbirds, according to where you live.

If you live in the southern parts of the country mid march is a good to start feeding hummingbirds if you want to attract some of the early migrating birds.

 Along the Gulf coast a few  hummingbirds start showing up in late February, but there are not many sightings until the first part of March.

About the first part of April the hummingbird migration starts to reach into Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri.

By the middle of April the hummingbird migration is into Ohio, Indiana and Illinois and by theend of April hummingbirds can be found as far north as the great lakes and in the New England states.

By the first part of May the hummingbird migration is into northern Michigan and Canada.

When do you start feeding hummingbirds?

I live in northern Ohio and start putting out feeders towards the end of April.

 By this time some of my early blooming hummingbird plants are starting to bloom and I can be fairly sure that there are already a few hummingbirds in my area.

When do you start feeding hummingbirds? ….start feeding them about the time you expect to see them in your particular area.

 Refer to the above information under the heading “When should I start feeding hummingbirds? Month to start feeding hummingbirds ” to get a general idea.

Hummingbird feeding liquid

The hummingbird feeding liquid, that is used in hummingbird feeders to attract hummingbirds, is a simple sugar and water solution.

The hummingbird feeding liquid should only contain sugar and water and not any other additives.

 It is made up of a ratio of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. This ratio will produce a hummingbird feeding liquid that will closely resemble the nectar found in flowers.

Hummingbird red food color

Hummingbird red food color refers to the red food coloring or dye that is used in most commercial hummingbird nectar recipes. The store-bought nectar uses the red dye to help attract hummingbirds to your feeder.

Note: hummingbird red food color is totally unnecessary and can even harm your hummingbirds, so do not use it.

Hummingbird food clear

Hummingbird food clear refers to hummingbird nectar that does not use the red dye to color the nectar. Without the addition of the dye to the hummingbird nectar, the water and sugar will produce a clear nectar.

More and more companies are offering clear hummingbird food as a response to the growing belief that the red die will harm the hummingbirds.

The red dye in the hummingbird food is not necessary to attract hummingbirds. Use a feeder that has red on it or tie red ribbon to your feeder or add some red silk flowers to your feeder to attract hummingbirds.

Avoiding red hummingbird nectar will insure that you will not harm the hummingbirds you are feeding.

How do we make hummingbird food

Making your own homemade hummingbird food is easy to do.  All you need is ordinary white granulated table sugar and tap water.

Don’t add anything else to the nectar recipe.

in a pan on your stove, add 1 part sugar to 4 parts water.

stir in the sugar until it is completely dissolved, while bringing the hummingbird food mixture to a boil.

boil the nectar for about 2 minutes then remove from the heat to cool.

when your homemade hummingbird food is cool you can add it to your feeder.

This will prevent the nectar from fermenting as quickly and make it last longer in your feeder before needing changed.Boiling the the hummingbird mixture for about 2 minutes will release the chlorine from the water and kill any mold spores that might be in the sugar.

Click on the link hummingbird feeding /feeder cleaning to read about changing the nectar and cleaning your feeder, two important issues when hummingbird feeding.

You will have to change the nectar every now and then or the nectar will get moldy. The above article will tell you how often to change it and how to keep your feeder clean.

Feeding hummingbirds maple syrup

Never use maple syrup, honey, molasses, corn syrup, brown sugar or artificial sweeteners when hummingbird feeding – just plain white granulated table sugar.

Feeding hummingbirds corn syrup

Never use corn syrup, maple syrup, molasses, honey, artificial sweeteners, brown sugar or anything else when hummingbird feeding. Use only white granulated table sugar, the stuff you put on your breakfast cereal.

Choosing a hummingbird feeder

Now that I have answered How do we make hummingbird food?…….let me give you some advise about choosing a hummingbird feeder.

Click this link choosing a hummingbird feeder to learn what type of feeder is best. You will want one that keeps away ants, bees and wasps, and is also easy to take apart and clean.

Where should I put hummingbird feeders outside?

The ideal location for hummingbird feeding, would be close to a window in your house so that you can watch the hummingbirds when you are indoors.

The feeder should also be hung in a shady spot if possible, to keep the nectar from spoiling as soon.

Hummingbirds are more likely to spot feeders that are hung  near plants that attract the hummingbirds.

If you use more than 1 feeder for hummingbird feeding, hang them so that both feeders can’t be seen at the same time.

 Hummingbirds are very territorial and will guard the feeder by chasing off other hummingbirds that try to use the feeder. This is usually done by a dominate male hummingbird.

If the hummingbird can find a spot where it can see both feeders, it will be able to guard both of them at the same time. This will make it difficult for other hummingbirds to sneak in to get a drink.

To hang the feeders on opposite sides of the house is a good way to prevent this aggressive hummingbird behavior and will improve your hummingbird feeding.

I hope this answers the question Where should I put hummingbird feeders outside?

Feeding habits of hummingbirds

Ruby throated hummingbird food intake

Besides the sugar water in your feeder, hummingbirds also feed on flower nectar, insects and spiders.

When flowers are in bloom, the hummingbirds won’t be visiting your feeder as often. Nor will they when the nesting season begins.

 Click on the link hummingbird seasonal feeding patterns for more information about the feeding habits of hummingbirds.

How often hummingbirds feed depends on the caloric content of the food they are eating. Flower nectar from different kinds of flowers vary in the amount of calories they contain. The more calories they consume at each meal, the less often they have to feed.

In general though, a hummingbird will feed every 10 to 15 minutes, all day long. They might eat up to their body weight in food each day. Especially when getting ready for the migration when they will sometimes double their body weight.

Click the link what do hummingbirds eat to read more on the feeding habits of hummingbirds.

Why is my hummingbird food jelling?

I searched the web and could find no answers for why is my hummingbird food jelling.

This seems to be a problem though as 22 people a day are searching this term.

My best guess would be you are adding red jello to your nectar. Stop it and your problem will dissappear.

Let me repeat, don’t use anything but white granulated table sugar and water in your hummingbird nectar. Follow this advise and you won’t have any trouble hummingbird feeding with your homemade hummingbird food.

When to stop feeding hummingbirds

When to stop feeding hummingbirds is about 1 to 2 weeks after you see the last hummingbird at your feeder.

If you leave your feeder out after your hummingbirds are gone you might catch a straggler passing through your area that got a late start on his migration south.

Hummingbird feeding in the fall will not cause them to stay longer than they should. This is a common misconception but, I just won’t happen.

 The fall migration is triggered by a decrease in the length of daylight, not by the scarcity of food. They will begin migrating even when there is still natural food available, probably to ensure that they will be able to find food along the way south.

So keep hummingbird feeding, keep your nectar fresh and your feeder clean and enjoy your hummingbirds as long as they are still in your area.

 And remember when to stop feeding hummingbirds is about 1 to 2 weeks after you see the last hummingbird at your feeder. By then you can be fairly sure the birds are done going through your area on their way south.

Hummingbird Feeder Tubes For Making Your Own Feeders (Pkg of 12)

Product Features

Converts almost any container into a hummingbird feeder

Red tip is attractive to hummingbirds

Rubber stopper is tapered for a tight fit

Simple design makes this an easy craft project

Terrific and easy project for scout groups, schools, church groups, etc.

All you need is an opening into which you push the rubber stopper on the feeder tube. The stopper is tapered and measures 1″ at the top and 5/8″ at the bottom.Product Description (hummingbird feeder tubes) for hummingbird feeding
It’s easy to do your own hummingbird feeding and make a feeder with these inexpensive, foolproof hummingbird feeder tubes. Use any type bottle, jar or other container for liquid.

The curved plastic hummingbird feeder tubes have a red tip to attract hummingbirds. Potters will find these hummingbird feeder tubes perfect for completing a handmade feeder.

For the crafts-minded person, plastic pop bottles make excellent containers. You can also use glass jars with lids. Just drill a hole in the lid and insert the hummingbird feeder tubes.

Important: make sure that the rubber stopper fits tightly into your container to prevent leakage at the tip.

You get a total of 12 hummingbird feeder tubes inserts in this offer, each one consisting of a transparent feeder tube, a red cap with feeding hole and a rubber stopper. They are assembled and ready to use.

Hummingbird feeding will be a lot more fun by making your own feeders with these hummingbird feeder tubes for making your own feeders.

I hope you enjoyed this article on hummingbird feeding.

By Stephanie Hetu

Before we throw facts about the hummingbird at you, we hope you’ve been visited by these tiny birds and been as delighted as most of us are. If your back yard contains the right kind of flowers, chances are you’ve been visited by these critters and have a few questions for which we have answers!

Cool Facts About the Hummingbird:

Did you know that Ruby-throated hummingbird females are up to 20% bigger than the males? This is one of the facts about the hummingbird that most people don’t know. But then they move so swiftly, whether it weighs one-tenth of an ounce or three-tenths of an ounce is hardly significant, is it? Interestingly enough, both sexes nearly double their weight in preparation for the fall migration to warmer climes.

Their wings beat 60-80 times per second and they fly at up to 25 miles per hour. With this in mind, you now realize why they need super concentrated sugar water solutions if you are going to provide a worthwhile food in your feeders. Use a ratio of 4 parts sugar to 1 part water.

Speaking of feeders, we do hope you are taking advantage of an easy feed. They will find even the most remotely placed feeder. If you want them to come right up to your most convenient window, put it there. These inquisitive birds will find it within a day or two at the most IF they are in town.

Some geographic locations have a very limited visitation period. In central Oklahoma, you will often not see these birds until late July and they’ll be gone by mid September. Still and all, you do have that window of opportunity to watch them up close and personal for awhile.

One of the ‘don’ts’ concerns using honey or brown sugar in the water instead of white sugar. Don’t do it. In the heat of the sun, anything but white sugar–with a drop of red food coloring if you wish–will encourage the growth of mold and bacteria and bring disease to this tiny critter. And please change this water every third day to eliminate souring. Fresh is best and sugar is cheap!

Visit http://www.backyard-critters.com for more cool tips about critters!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_Hetu
http://EzineArticles.com/?Cool-Facts-About-the-Hummingbird&id=127728

I hope you enjoyed this article on cool facts about the hummingbird.

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Add a Hummingbird switch plate: bring your love of hummingbirds to your indoor decor

Adding a hummingbird switch plate to your light switches will bring your enjoyment of hummingbirds indoors where it can be enjoyed every time you turn on a light. Click on hummingbird switch plate to see their beauty, now.

Hummingbird Switch Plate Product Description
Handcrafted to the highest standards using the artistry of the decoupage technique, the artwork on each switch plate is triple sealed with a special sealant to ensure durability, easy cleaning and obtain an enamel like finish. Artwork will not fade.

Each switch plate is heavy duty plastic nylon that is virtually unbreakable and hardware is included. A cinch to install. Each hummingbird  switch plate is handcrafted with great individual care using licensed materials.

We guarantee your complete satisfaction or money back. We are sure you will be delighted with these unique  items. Each hummingbird switch plate will arrive via USPS and a tracking # will be sent to you.

Here’s how to install your hummingbird switch plate

 

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How often and how much do hummingbirds eat?

Hummingbirds eat up to their body weight each day when they are fattening up getting ready for the fall migration.

What do hummingbirds eat ?…. you might be surprised

Hummingbirds eat seeds?….no

Hummingbirds eat only flower nectar?….no

Hummingbirds don’t eat seeds at all and hummingbirds eat only flower nectar is false.

Hummingbirds mostly eat flower nectar but not only flower nectar. Most of their diet is nectar from flowers. Hummingbirds may visit 1,000 flower per day in their search for nectar.

two more questions concerning what do hummingbirds eat:

Do hummingbirds eat ants?….yes

Do hummingbirds eat ants?….yes

They also eat small spiders, and some species feed on tree sap from holes in trees that other birds have made such as yellow bellied sap suckers. Sapsucker holes are a double treat, providing both insects and sap!Yes, hummingbird do eat bugs and hummingbirds do eat ants and they also eat small insects such as mosquitoes, aphids, gnats, midges, caterpillars, flying ants, weevils, small beetles, whiteflies and insect eggs.

Hummingbirds require lots of energy. They have the fastest wing beats of any bird, around 70 beats per second and up to 200 beats per second during a high speed dive.  A hummingbird’s  heart beats up to 1,260 beats per minute.

So to summarize about what do hummingbirds eat, they feed mostly on flower nectar, but they also eat small insects and spiders to get protein and a few feed on tree sap.

What do baby hummingbirds eat?

The female will feed them with a mixture of nectar and tiny insects and spiders, that she will collect in her crop and regurgitate the mixture into the mouths of the young. The insects and spiders will provide the protein that the baby hummingbirds need to grow.

How often do hummingbirds eat?

Because of their high energy requirements spent flying, they must feed continuously during their waking hours. Hummingbirds have the highest metabolism of any animal on earth. Their high energy requirements cause them to eat more than they weigh each and every day.

Because of their extremely high metabolism, hummingbirds will have to feed often, every 10 to 15 minutes.

more on what do hummingbirds eat :

Hummingbirds get nectar from flower blossoms and sometimes eat the insects that they find in the blossoms and have been known to pick insects out of spider webs. About a third of their diet consists of small insects and spiders – which they sometimes catch in mid-air. The small bugs and spiders provide the protein content they need.

Their tongues have grooves on the sides that collect nectar and allow them to lap up the nectar. The hummingbirds store the food they eat in an elastic sack found in the neck called a crop. The crop acts like a stomach and allows small amounts of food to be released into the intestines. Once in the intestines, the sugar is absorbed into the blood stream and used for energy.

Now that your question what do hummingbirds eat and how often do hummingbirds eat, has been answered, you might want to put out a feeder and feed your own hummingbirds. Below is the best hummingbird feeder you can get:

The HummZinger has patented Nectar guard tips which are flexible membranes attached to the feed ports that prohibit entry from flying insects, but allow Hummingbirds to feed as usual. The HummZinger also has a built in ant moat that will stop crawling insects from getting to the nectar. It also has raised flower ports that divert rain.

This mid-size nectar feeder has a 12 oz. capacity and can be hung or post mounted with hardware provided. It has four feeding ports and is made of unbreakable polycarbonate. Easy to clean.

For ease of cleaning and protection from bees, wasps and ants, this feeder can’t be beat.

The HummZinger has patented Nectar guard tips which are flexible membranes attached to the feed ports that prohibit entry from flying insects, but allow Hummingbirds to feed as usual. The HummZinger also has a built in ant moat that will stop crawling insects from getting to the nectar. It also has raised flower ports that divert rain.

This mid-size nectar feeder has a 12 oz. capacity and can be hung or post mounted with hardware provided. It has four feeding ports and is made of unbreakable polycarbonate. Easy to clean.

For ease of cleaning and protection from bees, wasps and ants, this feeder can’t be beat.

Hummingbird nectar mixture

If you want to feed your hummingbirds you will need a hummingbird nectar mixture to put in your feeder. Click on the link to see an easy recipe for making your own hummingbird nectar mixture .

A good set of small hummingbird feeder brushes is invaluable and will save lots of time, when it comes to keeping your feeder clean.

Product Description
Features: You should wash your feeder every time you refill it. Mold and dirt can build up quickly and can be harmful. Brushes are great for stubborn spots and hard to reach areas. Includes 3 brushes to clean every part of your hummingbird feeder. Brushes clean the stems or opening of the feeder flowers and the sides and bottom of the nectar bottles.

I hope this article has answered your questions on what do hummingbirds eat and how often do hummingbirds eat.

When to stop feeding hummingbirds

Click on the link when to stop feeding hummingbirds to learn when to take down your hummingbird feeder and when to stop feeding hummingbirds .

Click on the link hand feeding hummingbirds to learn more about hand feeding hummingbirds.

I hope you enjoyed this article on what do hummingbirds eat, how often do hummingbirds eat and how much do hummingbirds eat.

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When many people think of feeding birds, the first thought goes to one of the smallest, quickest, and amazing bird on the planet-the hummingbird. With wings beating at approximately 55 beats per second, a “still” bird seems to hover in midair. Aerodynamically, the hummingbird is a mystery to the average observer, although a pilot might be able to explain the awesome sight. Flitting from flower to flower, the little miracle is very difficult to observe, unless a haven has been established, to entice the feathery phenomenon to stay for a fantastic feast of flavorful sweets. Avid hummingbird watchers start by making a veritable paradise and providing appetizing nectar.

A paradise for hummingbirds is a beautiful yard, complete with trees, bushes, and lots of beautiful flowers-especially red. Generally, people who love to watch birds also love a gorgeous yard. Proper landscaping is essential, to attract the fluttery little fliers. Hummingbirds thrive in plenty of vegetation. Flowering trees, bushes, and gardens are very tempting. Flowerbeds with several varieties of red flowers are especially attracting. For whatever reason, red seems to be a favored color.

In addition to a natural environment, with a rich supply of nectar, hummingbird feeders throughout the yard enhance the bird haven. Today, feeders are usually copper or glass. Instead of the simple feeder, hung from the nearest tree, feeds can be decorative additions to the landscape. Shaped like colorful red fruits, perched on shapely pedestals, made with crystallized glass glinting in the sunshine, or fancy copper trimming, feeders serve a duel purpose as yard ornamentation. Instead of seeming like an afterthought to bribe the birds, the feeders become an important part of the overall landscaping. In fact, some people choose to place the feeders among the flowerbeds. Then, accustomed to visiting the beds to suck the nectar from the flowers, the birds will return and use the feeder, long after the flowers are gone.

Although a simple glass feeder filled with red nectar will attract a few birds, the best feeder will decorate the garden and bring the hummingbirds flocking to the source of food. Made of copper and crystal, many feeders have copper entwined around the glass, with red flower designs to further attract the picky little pets. For example, Holland Hill Tweeter Totter has beautiful copper hummingbird feeder designs. The twisted copper strands around the feeder also serve as perches. As the birds land on the copper, the feeders tilt to dispense the nectar. Other variations include window feeding stations, for a closer view of the tiny tweeters. Red glass balls hang next to the feeding tubes, to further entice the birds.

The Schrodt Facet feeder is also made to further entice the birds to come to dinner. A prism made of cut red glass; the design sparkles in the sun and becomes an irresistible feeder for the hummingbird. With a base of copper, the reflected light bounces off the red glass bottle. The hummingbird cannot help being curious. Soon, the birds will be feeding and coming back frequently for more of the sweet liquid placed among the flowers.

In addition to placing the feeders amongst the flowers, hummingbirds are definitely attracted to the color red. Therefore, if the feeder is not cover with red ornate flowers, an individual can also provide a more inviting feeder simply by tying red ribbon around the feeders. With plenty of feeders, strategically placed throughout the yard, hummingbird will have a feathery paradise.

However, if the feeders are haphazardly placed, the hummingbird haven can also become a war zone. Hummingbirds are extremely territorial. If the feeders are located too closely together, the little angels will become devilishly demented. Sometimes fighting to the death, hummingbirds would rather fight than share a tasty treat. So, to keep peace and harmony in the air, place the feeders farther apart, in an area of privacy from the other feeders, so the birds will not bother one another. At peace, the birds will continue returning for a trouble free feast.

In conclusion, if an individual is interested in providing a hummingbird haven, start with the landscape, and create a beautiful yard. Plant plenty of trees, bushes, and flowers-especially red. Once the yard looks wonderful to humans and birds alike, include hummingbird feeders strategically throughout the yard. Given a little privacy and space, the birds will be able to enjoy a veritable paradise, and individuals will witness the magnificent little feathered creatures seemingly suspended in the air, with virtually invisible wings.

By: Q. Williams

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Quentin Williams spends a great deal of his time creating products and articles for niche markets. For related articles click here.