As any devoted hummingbird enthusiast knows one of the most frustrating things about keeping a feeder is dealing with pesky ants. No matter how often you clean it or how well you seal it up they always seem to find a way to get to the sweet nectar inside. But there are a few things you can do to keep ants off of your feeder and keep your hummingbirds happy!
One simple solution is to coat the stem of your feeder with petroleum jelly. Ants are unable to climb up the slippery surface and will give up pretty quickly. Another option is to mix a little bit of dish soap into the nectar recipe. The soap makes the nectar less viscous and therefore more difficult for ants to drink so they’ll give up and move on.
You can also try hanging your feeder from a wire or string coated in Vaseline. The Vaseline will prevent ants from being able to climb up to the feeder. And if you really want to go all out you can make a DIY ant moat! Just fill a small container with water and place it under your feeder. The ants will be unable to cross the water and will be thwarted in their quest for nectar.
With a little bit of effort you can keep ants off of your hummingbird feeder and enjoy watching these beautiful creatures up close!
What is the best way to keep ants off of hummingbird feeders?
Ants are attracted to the sugar water in hummingbird feeders so the best way to keep them away is to use a feeder that has a barrier around the feeding ports.
There are also special hummingbird feeders that come with an ant moat.
How often should you clean your hummingbird feeder?
You should clean your hummingbird feeder at least once a week and more often if it is located in a particularly hot or humid climate.
What is the best way to clean a hummingbird feeder?
You should clean your hummingbird feeder with a mild soap and water solution.
Avoid using any harsh chemicals or detergents.
How much sugar water should you put in a hummingbird feeder?
You should mix four parts water to one part sugar to make the sugar water for your hummingbird feeder.
Where is the best place to hang a hummingbird feeder?
The best place to hang a hummingbird feeder is in a shady spot away from any trees or bushes where predators may be lurking.
What happens if you put honey in a hummingbird feeder?
Honey can ferment and turn into alcohol which can be harmful to hummingbirds.
It is best to avoid using honey in hummingbird feeders.
What happens if you put red food coloring in a hummingbird feeder?
Red food coloring is not harmful to hummingbirds but it is not necessary.
The sugar water in the feeder will already be red due to the sucrose content.
What happens if you put more sugar in a hummingbird feeder?
Adding more sugar to the sugar water in your hummingbird feeder will not make it more attractive to hummingbirds.
In fact too much sugar can be harmful to their health.
What happens if you put less sugar in a hummingbird feeder?
If you put less sugar in the sugar water for your hummingbird feeder the hummingbirds will still be attracted to it.
However the sugar water will not be as sweet and the hummingbirds may not drink as much of it.
What happens if you put salt in a hummingbird feeder?
Salt is not harmful to hummingbirds but it is not necessary.
The sugar water in the feeder will already be salty due to the sucrose content.
What happens if you put vinegar in a hummingbird feeder?
Vinegar can be harmful to hummingbirds and should not be used in hummingbird feeders.
What happens if you put lemon juice in a hummingbird feeder?
Lemon juice is not harmful to hummingbirds but it is not necessary.
The sugar water in the feeder will already be acidic due to the sucrose content.
What happens if you put metal in a hummingbird feeder?
Metal can be harmful to hummingbirds and should not be used in hummingbird feeders.
What happens if you put plastic in a hummingbird feeder?
Plastic can be harmful to hummingbirds and should not be used in hummingbird feeders.
What happens if you put glass in a hummingbird feeder?
Glass can be harmful to hummingbirds and should not be used in hummingbird feeders.
