Okay, I know there are brilliant, creative people here at DG, and I am looking for good ideas on how to keep ants out of my hummingbird feeders. I love bringing the birds to my house, but have had my feeders attractin thousands of ants! I hang them from hooks, eaves, etc. and still have a huge problem! HELP!
Keeping ants out of the hummingbird feeder
If you don't have the type of feeder that has an "ant moat" then you need to purchase one. They hold water, and the ants can't swim.
This is just the first one I found to post, there are loads more options out there. But it gives you the idea. The red one on the left is about 6 bucks, you can get cheaper. I made one simular to this with a top off of an aerosoil can once. It was ok, did the job but didn't last. http://www.humming-birds.com/moat.html
I now use the feeders that have the moats and are easy to wash; called humzinger.
http://www.hummzinger.com/
This message was edited Aug 1, 2010 10:51 AM
Thank you, Sheila! I am on my way to the local bird shop to see what they have!
You are most welcome...good luck.
I've never seen those feeders in the stores but at $25 to $30 a whack I can see why.
Well, I confess that I have resorted to spraying an ant spray in a little ring round the base of my shepherd hooks. It keeps the ants away for several days.
I don't think it bothers the HBs doing it that way.
That would deter them I am sure. But knowing me, I forget until they have struck again.
As for the cost of the humzinger, you can buy a lot of cheaper ones now that are easier to clean and use the separate moat. I did find a zinger knock-off at Tractor Supply once. But after three years you can definately tell the quality difference.
A heavy coating of vasaline creates an easy made ant barrier. In this heat you need to check melt downs.
brilliant!
I use a product called Tanglefoot. It is the stickiest stuff in the world. You just encompass the chain, wire, post, whatever, and they won't get near it-and it lasts for more than a season. I have a pint tub that I have had for about 10 years, and I think it also comes in a tube like toothpaste. It can be used around tree trunks to keep crawling critters off.
Good idea.
Where have you purchased Tanglefoot? By the way; my last name is Perrott (pronounced parrot) and my mother's name was Jo!
Hi,
I have several different types of feeders, some with built-in moats & some without.
I have the 'Hummzinger Excel' that I bought several years ago from "Wild Birds Unlimited". I paid about $20 then, but they're higher now. I chose the large one mostly because the prices were all very close & I liked the idea of more perches. They're extremely easy to clean, probably the easiest of any feeder I've used.
For the feeders without moats I use "Tree Tanglefoot" & like JoParrott said, it lasts forever and is so sticky even "Goo Gone" has trouble removing it. I've had a tube of it for about ten years. It works so well I don't bother with the add-on moats.
I have several feeders on Shepherd hooks so I wrap a strip of duct tape or electrical tape around the hook about mid way up so little birds & critters on the ground won't get stuck on it. Then I rub some Tree Tanglefoot on the tape with a popsicle stick or toothpick. The tape can easily be replaced without leaving the sticky goo on the Shepherd's hook. A little goes a long way and, most likely you will only have to use it once for the whole season.
For other hanging methods (from eaves, trees, etc. you can spread it like JoParrott suggested so the ants can't get to the feeder, but make sure to just do a small area so birds that might land on the chain, wire or rope don't get that sticky stuff on them).
You can buy it at any nursery. It's normally used to protect trees from crawling insects by spreading a narrow band around the trunk (or sometimes on a cloth that goes around the trunk). It's been around forever & is totally non-toxic - the only ingredients are castor oil, natural gum resins & vegetable wax.
Hope that helps - good luck!!
Very interesting. Thanks.
Thank you...and especially for the caution of how to apply so the little critters don't get stuck!
nutsaboutnature: Thank you! I'm off to the nursery. I tried making the cups from plastic lidsl not too successful. Bought some little pretty copper with dangling things from e-bay -too small, water evaporated too quickly. I finally took down the HB feeders from trees on hill and they now hang outside enclosed patio, where occasionally I have to spray the eves with ant killer, and clean feeders.
Just FYI, I've found that the cheaper plastic feeders with ring around bottom to perch on are the favorites. The glass ones I bought for $25+ are virtually ignored by my HB's, and now are just pretty things hanging from tree. I also have Oriole's that feed from my feeders also. I'm sure the HB's are upset about this! My cats love them all, and race back and forth from feeder to feeder. The HB's ignore them, the Orioles fly away...still skittish. Sue
Hi,
Glad the info has been helpful.
If you buy the TREE TANGLEFOOT, look for the smallest size you can find. I've had a tube for about ten years & it will probably last my lifetime.
I agree that the Hummers don't seem to care whether or not the feeders are fancy, but they do appreciate the ones with perches (plus we get the bonus of them sticking around longer!).
Most of the ones I buy are pretty inexpensive (& on sale). The only one I spent a bit more for was the Hummzinger, which I love, but at the time it was $20 at WBU & I had a coupon that brought it down to $15, so I decided to buy one.
I'd love to hear how the Tanglefoot works out for any of you that decide to try it.
Hi again,
I almost forgot to mention another great benefit of Tree Tanglefoot.
Spread it thinly on small strips or squares of Yellow cardboard or wood (my favorite is the bright Yellow plastic "Solo" Brand party plates that come in packages - which I cut up into pieces).
It's much cheaper than those sticky traps for aphids & whiteflies or other insects & works just as well. Just hang it around & on plants or anywhere else you want to cut down the insect population.