If you live in a hot, dry area, the water in the ant moat may evaporate quickly so you may need to refill it every other day. If your feeder doesn’t have an ant moat, you can also apply petroleum jelly to the chain above the feeder. [2] X Research source
Some saucer feeders come with a hanging wire and some have a suction cup on one side so you can attach it to an outside window. Hummingbirds have no preference what style of feeder you have—they just care about the food! You can also find ornate glass feeders but these can be harder to clean.
Bright magenta will also attract hummingbirds.
If you have a dominant male that’s bullying other hummingbirds away from the feeder, place 2 or 3 more feeders within view of the existing feeder. That way, more hummingbirds can come and outnumber the dominant male.
Don’t use honey, artificial sweeteners, turbinado sugar, raw sugar, powdered sugar, organic sugar, or brown sugar. [7] X Research source Spring water is best, but tap water will do—don’t use distilled water. While it’s common to add red food dye to the nectar to make it more attractive-looking, it’s best to avoid doing this because it could potentially harm the hummingbirds. Refrigerate the excess sugar water in an airtight container for up to 7 days. [8] X Expert Source Jeff JonesBird Specialist Expert Interview. 13 May 2021.
Most feeders hold anywhere from 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) to 12 fluid ounces (350 mL) of liquid but you can find reservoir feeders that hold up to 32 fluid ounces (950 mL).
Hummingbirds will typically eat up all the nectar within 4 to 5 days, but if you notice any leftover nectar, go ahead and clean the feeder before refilling it (don’t just top it off!). Hot weather can evaporate the sugar-water faster, so check the feeder every day if it’s over 90°F (32°C) to see if you need to clean and refill it. If you notice the sugar-water is cloudy or growing mold, wash the feeder right away.
Make sure there’s no foliage underneath the feeder because sugar-water may drip down onto the leaves and attract pests.
A porch of overhand of your house will also work. It will also allow you to watch your beautiful visitors close up! Shade will keep the sugar water from spoiling too soon.
If you live near the Gulf Coast, put your feeder up at the beginning of March. If you live in the northern U. S. or Canada, you can wait until the end of March.
Hummingbirds see ultraviolet light, so all colors—red especially—appear much more vivid to them than it does to us. Be sure to look up your planting zone for particular flowers.
In a way, this tricks the plant into thinking it’s not done blooming yet. This is most effective if your feeder is placed near the flowers or within viewing range.
Surveyor’s tape is also called flagging tape and can cost anywhere from $1. 50 to $6. 00.
Hummingbirds’ wings beat 80 times per second—they’ll be happy to stop and rest if you provide a good perch!
However, orb-weaver spiders eat hummingbirds, so if you notice this type of spider setting up a home near the feeder, go ahead and get rid of the web.
You can buy a mister at most garden or lawn-care stores.
