My hummingbirds and orioles are heading South before winter sets in around here. I didn't see as many hummers and orioles as I usually do this summer so I'm taking a look at my techniques. The birds I see around here seem to prefer the "Perky Pet" type feeders (both hummers and orioles)-this has been an absolutely horrible year for bees so that has been a constant battle. This year I've been scrubbing my feeders with a 10% bleach solution-do you think that could be detering them? I always rinse really well before refilling the feeders. Sometimes I let them soak for a day or so in the bleach solution before rinsing and refilling.
I use the Perky Pet Oriole feeders without bee guards (I just get the cheaper ones) because I have had a battle with raccoons and it was costing me an arm and a leg replacing feeders-I think I finally have a baffle system set up to keep the raccoons out so would I be better off getting the feeders with the bee guards? Do the bee guards work and can the hummingbirds still use the oriole feeders if I use the bee guards? I've tried putting a little petroleum jelly around the feeder ports but wasn't impressed with the results. It seems like some days the poor birds are driven away from the feeders by the yellow jackets. I tried putting a pan of pop away from the feeders and it helped somewhat-does anyone have any suggestions on how they mange bees?
Any comments or suggestions are appreciated :)
Thanks!
Deb
Hummingbird/Oriole feeders-planning for next year : )
seems like anything i do to deter bees (my problem is yellow jackets, not honeybees) just brings more. The only thing that seems to work is killing them at the nest, here they nest in the ground and attack you if you get too close. I hope someone has a great answer. i know we need them but the "meat bees" are a major pain, stinging my animals, my grandchildren, me.
I have a hummingbird feeder that I wasn't happy with because it was hard to clean. So I popped out the little yellow flowers, which made the holes larger, and turned it into and Oriole/finch feeder. I use 6:1 instead of 4:1 in it. In May and June it is an Oriole feeder. In July it is a Wasp trap. In August and September I take it down because the Orioles are already gone and the Hummingbirds won't use it. It is still isn't easy to clean - I clean the Hummingbird feeders in the kitchen sink, but I use the jet nozzle on the garden hose for this one. Orioles seem to like Kniphofia - what we call "Red Hot Poker" around here.
Pollengarden, difficulty cleaning is what prompted me to start using the bleach solution. It really seems to dissolve away the black mold and other nasties. I have a small wire brush that I can get in and scrub with, but I don't feel that it does a very thorough job because I can't reach everything with it.
Deb
I use bleach at the end of the season before I put them away. I try not to use it during the the summer - I try to change solution fairly frequently and rinse thoroughly (with slightly chlorinated tap water). If I have to bleach, I use 10:1 or weaker, and rinse and DRY thoroughly before using it again.
sugar grows the mold, bleach whitens it, doesn't remove it. What ratio sugar to water? try a bit less sugar, and only buy the ez clean feeders, pipe cleaners help the little holes. Vinegar removes sediments, wonder if it would work on mold?
New Dawn foam, fingers, wash cloth and a veggie brush works as good as anything if cleaning at each fill up. I only put enough syrup in feeders for 2 or 3 days feeding. I use 2 to 5 feeders and fill with 8ozs each except during fall migration when I might fill their favorite feeder with 16 ozs. After following my new simple rules I am not longer bothered with the black stuff or growth on the syrup.
I dump any syrup that is left after 3 days.
This message was edited Nov 5, 2010 11:23 AM
I can't use hanging feeders here because of the wind. These are the feeders I use:
Top-"12 O'clock" - 8 oz capacity window-mount feeder by Aspects, hinged-top, easy clean. Doesn't draw as many birds as the next one:
Clockwise, "1:30" - 8 oz capacity window-mount feeder by Perky Pet. My favorite feeder because it brings the birds up close, but the tongs that hold it together are fragile and tend to break and it isn't the easiest feeder to clean. I use the small window-mount feeders early in the season when I have very few birds.
Right, "3:00" - This is an old Perky Pet feeder with a glass bottle. The base is/was difficult to clean, so I popped out the yellow flowers and use it as an Oriole/finch feeder and wasp trap. It is a hanging feeder, I have to balance it on top of a post.
Clockwise, "5:00" - 2 cup capacity feeder by First Nature, Walmart 2009. My 2nd-favorite feeder. It is easy clean, but the post-mount feature isn't as secure as I'd like. This is the feeder I put out when I start to get more birds than the little window-mounts can handle.
Clockwise, "7:00" - 4 cup capacity feeder by First Nature, Walmart 2010. Larger capacity version of 2009, disassembled to show how it can be cleaned. This feeder is too big for my yard, I don't get that many birds - I take it with me for weekends in the mountains where there are more hummers (and bears - I have to be careful how I hang it).
Left, "9:00" - Oasis saucer by Perky Pet - this was apparently the feeder that traps and kills Hummingbirds. I solved the problem by drilling out the holes from perpendicular tubes to angled slots. Not my favorite feeder for other reasons: It is hard to refill without spilling, then I have to attach guide wires to it to keep it from swinging, and it starts to freeze sooner than other shapes. But being able to watch the hummingbirds beaks & tongues from below is pretty cool, and it is easy to clean. I didn't bother putting it out this year. PS: I never had a Hummingbird get stuck - I drilled out the holes before I used it the first time.
This message was edited Nov 7, 2010 9:34 AM
My opinion on bleach:
Don't use it if you aren't having mold on the plastic.
Dilute the chlorine-based laundry bleach to 10:1.
Soak the problem piece for 5-20 minutes, depending on how tenacious the mold is - try just 5 minutes the first time.
Rinse, rinse, rinse thoroughly, and dry thoroughly (residual chlorine tends to evaporate).
I am going to bleach the problem items it the above photo today, before putting them away for the winter. The ones that look new/clean will just be bagged to keep the dust out.
I see your problem with the bees, I had the same problem, You need to get feeders WITHOUT yellow flowers, The year before last I had problems with yellow jackets and honey bees, I asked on here and they said GETRID of the yellow flowers, paint thek red or get ones with white flower ports. I bought all new with RED ports, and the bees lite on the flowers, but not my feeders. I also use hot soapy bleack and a bottle washer to clean my feeders, rence then good and I ue between 1/4-almost 1/2 sugar to water, and NO red food coloring. I have close to 20 hummers here for feeding everyday, and I refill and clean my feeders at least everyotherday, cause they empty so fast. The person on here had told me bees can see yellow, but not red or white. I havnt had a problem since! goood luck to you next spring. Rosemary
Hi there. I'm in California and still have hummers feeding. It has been cold here this month and I have noticed that the sugar water (4:1 ratio) seems to have frozen. It does not get totally like ice, but little 'beads' have appeared. I took my feeders down (3 of them) tossed out the 3 day old food and replenished, I also took old tube socks and put over the feeders.
I never use bleach when cleaning plastic. I've found that bleach seems to seep into the plastic and leaves both a bleach odor and taste in the liquid. I purchased hummingbird feeder brushes on the net. They are small enough to fit into the holes and work very well. I used to use an old toothbrush and toothpicks. The brushes are much better.
I don't have any problems with bees or wasps. I do have one hummer that feels that he is the keeper of all the feeders and will come across the yard to chase away any hummer he does not want to feed.
Try feeding the orioles grape jelly they love it and will bring their babies it is so much fun watching a family eating together. My DH made some very simple oriole feeders from baked bean cans laid on their sides with wood attached to the bottom side for hanging or attaching to wherever you want a feeder. He bends a upward facing lip on the front bottom side of the can to contain the jelly. The can forms it's own roof keeping the rain out of the jelly.
As for hummingbirds we have lots of blooming flowers in our garden from spring to summer which the hummers visit daily. We don't bother with feeders as they like the real thing much better.
I would rather attract the hummers with flowers-natural foods are always the best choice. My yard is very shady, and I put a lot of HB-attracting plants on my deck (where it is the sunniest) as well as plants in the ground where ever I can get them to grow. I don't get a lot of hummingbirds at home, but I do get quite a few at our cabin-I'm always trying to come up with more ideas to make them happy :)
daylilydreams, are you in southern MN?
Last summer I planted a honeysuckle vine at our cabin, I hope it does well. I have two here at home and they do OK, but they don't like my shade all that much :)
I plant more Hummingbird plants every year - I don't get a lot of birds, but I have better luck attracting them than butterflies!
I rationalize Hummingbird feeders versus natural nectar from flowers as being the same as tap water versus fruit juice or iced tea. Sure, the tea/juice tastes better and is better for you, but the tap water is always there and available in quantity. If I am dehydrated and I open the fridge and we're out of good beverages, it is nice to have plain old tap water to fall back on.
I have had a male Black-chinned Hummingbird that stops at my feeder about dawn and again about dusk. Obviously it wasn't his main source of food, but it was part of a routine he counted on.
last year I had 3 Ruby Throated hummers!!! NEVER have they EVER come to Texas! I had read that their habitats in Mexico are being wiped out so they come to my area of Texas for awhile before moving on... they were at my mini feeders for two months! They never even touched the bigger feeder. I found these mini planter feeders at Walmart & they were great! I ONLY clean with white vinegar!! It works on everything!! No dilution needed either!!
I would suggest for shaded areas for hummingbirds.. either fushia, in hanging baskets, columbines or clematis.... all these don't grow well in Texas heat..except the Texas columbine!
I have no problems attracting butterflies & hope this year those hummers return! I plant a lot of zinnias which both love a lot!