Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: Home-made Hummingbird Feeders, 1 by TexasPuddyPrint

TexasPuddyPrint wrote:
Justkenny,

I fill up those small insulin bottles and test tubes to the very top! By the time I get my camera the hummies have started feeding from them - a fully filled feeder doesn't last long at all.

I haven't had a problem with them leaking...am assuming a vacuum forms or maybe the hole is small enough to keep a big bubble of air from going in or maybe because that little hole doesn't have a the weight of a lot of liquid bearing down on it.

The hummies do stick the tips of their beaks into the plastic flower feeder - but usually just enough to slide their tongues in to reach the nectar.

I've also hung those bottles every which way - by that I mean I've had them pointing down at an angle, have had them hanging somewhat parallel to the ground...and have even had them standing upright with the flower part facing up - the hummies are quite acrobatic - and they do have a long tongues - I've watched them sipping nectar from those upright bottles - just haven't been fast enough to get photos.

I've never noticed feeders with a string dipping into the nectar - then maybe I've just never looked since I stick to making my own and using the big 32 ounce jar feeders when my yard is over run by hummies. I'd think a string would work as a ladder for ants wanting to reach the nectar???

Hope that helps...email or post if anyone has any questions. I'll do my best to answer them.

~ Cat

ps...photo of hummie beak going into flower feeder part.