Probably a dumb question

I enjoy feeding the hummers. I was cleaning all my bird feeders last week cuz they needed it. I hung them back up and the hummers seemed very happy with their's, and the other birds are slowly coming back cuz there is a lot of food for them in the wild right now. But I digress. I use what seems to be the most common hummingbird feeder. I've had it for years and I don't want to even think about the pounds of sugar I've poured into it. Even at 1/3 cup per cup of water. Still I digress. So, I was cleaning the kitchen and there was this red plastic stick hiding behind some dirty dishes. Sure enough it was not in the hummingbird feeder.

So, finally here is my probably dumb question. What is the purpose of the plastic red stick in the probably most common hummingbird feeder? Curious minds want to know.

Is that not the coated wire that is for hanging the feeder?

:o) My thoughts exactly Sheila!

~ Cat

This message was edited Oct 21, 2009 9:15 PM

Years of college gone to waste. :-) I seriously have always thought it served some purpose inside the jar. Why else would they put it there? I am duly humbled. (not the first time.)

That said, and another feeder added today, it is almost dangerous out there with the birds getting ready for winter. Some are going to migrate and I am lucky to have Anna's that hang around all year.

Don't feel bad, MichaelZ. Took me a while to figure a lot of stuff out. Like how do I get the seed inside that feeder? (I finally figured out that it unscrews from the top, and you have to pry off the top to load 'er up.)
Not totally off topic, but does anyone else use a stiff hobby type paint brush to really clean the cracks around the flowers? I've found it works well for me, and was wondering about other people use.
Thanks, Oh and I do hope you'll post photos. I have hummers that live here year round too!
WIB,
SW

For many years I bought "basting brushes" for bbq and "coffee grinder cleaning brushes". The lesson I learned was hardware store paint section pure China bristle. I bet a tooth brush would work even better on a hummer feeder. I find that a good soak in a mild bleach solution with a subsequent scrub works well. Oh, and my dentist gives me a free tooth brush after each visit.

It is amazing that a two dollar paint brush looks exactly like and works exactly as well as a twelve dollar basting brush.

I also find that being too much of a purist can create unnecessary stress. Of course I say that now after two heart attacks . One of the things that intrigues me is the amount of energy those little birds have to expend just to get from point A to point B. The best thing I can do to help them is to give them good flowers and sugar water. Those little guys are incredible survivors.

:o) Most times I don't even use those wires to hang my feeders but rather use an old wire hanger from the closet :o)

I use everything from a toothbrush to old paint brushes to clean out my hummingbird feeders. I do have a small spiral brush that I use to get into the feeder ports though.

~ Cat

pipe cleaners work well in those little holes.............