I just put out my first feeder this May, and I still have no hummers. I bought a pretty feeder tha looks like a lighthouse, and no action, so I went and got one of those red feeders, that everyone gets. Still nothing. I don't understand. I planted some petunias under it (advise given to me by a plant nursury owner), and I change my necter every 3-4 days. I mix half a cup of sugar to 2 cups of boiling water, let it cool completely, wash and refill my feeder, then put it back. What am I doing wrong. It wouldn't bother me so much if I didn't seem to be the only one having no luck (sniff). Are there any shade tolerant plants that may help. The petunias I planted aren't doing that well.
Thanks of listening to me whine, and for any help you may have to offer.
Jennifer
No hummers (sniff)
I live in Longview and have had hummers for about 6 weeks,I have put out feeders and I have petunias I have not seen them feed from them but they have been hitting my glads, daliahs and saliva, I have also have purchased three fire bushes which they say hummers love, but I have not seen them at the bushes yet.
My mother lives 5 miles away (in the country)from me and she has three feeders around her house and has to fill them up every three to four days. You have to be on hummer alert or you will be run over by the fast flying balls of energy. I am sorry that I cannot be of any help, unless where you are living more in city life than in the country.
This message was edited Jun 11, 2004 8:59 PM
jdee,
You don't need to add anything to your feeders. Hummers have no sence of smell so they won't know you have added anything to the nectar. The dye is not nessasary as there is enough color in the feeder itself. I just hung a oriole feeder and with in a few min. a hummer came to eat. Some types of feeders that are attractive to us humans might not appeal to hummingbirds. Try and get one in red and trust me if they are in your area they will find it. I live in Mi. and when the weather is hot in the summertime I change and wash feeders every other day. If it turns cloudy it is fermenting and not a good thing for our tiny featherd friends.
Thanks. I'll remember that. It gets very hot here in the summer, so I'll keep a closer watch on it.
I have petunias everywhere but have never seen a hummer at one. they stand guard over the sages though. If you can find mexican sage there, it is a hummer magnet. I have one that has staked out the nasturtiums as his territory. It may take them awhile to find you but once you are on the route they will come back.
The nectar mixes are actually bad for the hummers. Sugar-water is best.
I haven't seen any hummers this year either, I didn't see many last year come to think of it.
What about hummingbirds sense of taste?
I think they must have some sense of taste. If the nectar in your feeder has gone bad they seem to know something is not right with it and won't return for another taste.
I got the idea to add the orange extract from an ad from Rodale. They said to add a couple of drops of orange extract and watch the little hummers flock to your feeder and it works for me. The other day there was 9 hummers --4 on it and 5 flying around.
Jennifer, you're doing everything right. It could be that the hummers have plenty of food right now and haven't yet discovered your feeder. They do like having a tree nearby where they sometimes retreat to watch the feeder. They're feisty little buggers and protect their territory from other hummers. We once had a bottlebrush plant that the hummingbirds relished; think they also visited red impatiens in the shade garden. Good luck!
One thing I have noticed here (new home for me) is that the feeder that's very close (less than 10 feet) to an almost dead tree which offers lots of perches is used constantly. The feeder on the other end of the deck is never used.
Same feeder, same food, same cleaning and re-filling routine. Only difference is close-by perches. I watch them sip, fly to the tree perches, rest, do reconnaisance, and come back to feed.
Thanks for the advise. I will try moving my feeder close to the tree in my front yard, and see what happens.
Also, I have cats. Could they be scaring them away? I made sure to put the feeder in a place where the cats couldn't get to it. That's why I didn't put it by the tree in the first place. Maybe I shouldn't have one.
Jennifer
Jennifer, my cats watch the hummers (sometimes)... but on some level they know the birds are too fast... so they simply lurk... and it doesn't seem to deter the hummers.
That's what I taught, darius. Thank you for responding. When I first started gardening, I found myself wanting a bird house, but I didn't want to lure the birds to my yard, only to see them caught by the cats, but I figured hummers would be too fast for them. I don't know why I worry. Birds are always eating the cat food I put out for the strays. Sometimes they bathe in the water bowls...and the cats just WATCH them do it. LOL
I have 6 feeders here and there, in pairs, I haven't seen the first humming bird either, I change the water out every other week, for nothing it seems. I have the big round strawberry looking feeders, I can't imagine why their not coming around.
kathy
kathy-Ann
Those big strawberry feeders are prone to get moldy inside and impossible to clean. Try a differant feeder and you should change your sugar water more often, at least every third day, every other week is not enough to keep fresh nectar for are little featherd friends. Be diligent and you will be rewarded.
Hum, Thought someone told me every other week, but I will change them more often, what kind of feeder do I need then?
kathy
Kathy, the ones I have just look like inverted vinegar jars with a red piece that screws on the bottom. The red piece has a perch ring, and several feeder holes.
I do have one of the kind that has red "flowers" for feeding around the base. I took out the yellow bee guards and the hummers seem to like it better without them.
All mine have an ant guard between the hook and the feeder... I just have to remember to keep water in it.
Edited to add: I change the food in my feeders every 4-5 days... BUT my summer temps are cooler than most, and mine are in the shade anyway.
This message was edited Jun 14, 2004 4:36 PM
We also had trouble attracting them when we moved into our new home several years ago - we had 4 feeders spaced out among the decks and trees lining the back yard - and still they would not come - the second year we put the feeders back in the same spots and hung red ribbon from them - they were with us all summer long & have been back every summer since! Good luck...
Kathy,
This is the best feeder on the market in my opinion. It is made by aspects and it's called humzinger. I have the small 6 once size because I only get 1 bird at a time anyway. This way you are not using alot of nectar. It has a built in ant moat and the top lifts off for easy cleaning. There is no place for mold to hide. It is a little pricey but it saves a lot of time and it's a snap to use.
I was wondering if I also was not going to get hummers. Just moved into a new house with plenty of perennials, in the city, and hung two feeders off the front porch a month ago. One came within a couple of hours and then none until last Sat. Had one visit and then was gone.
Last night I had another come and was back every 4 minutes for about an hour. He liked the lighthouse feeder and avoided the one from our other house which is the red bottom vinigar jar type.
The first was a Rufus and the one yesterday was a Ruby-throated. I hope to get photos in a couple of days. They are about 5 feet away while we sit on the porch. Real exciting and close so we can see them well.
Dalenoel,
We only are supposed to get rubytroats in Mich. Howell is not that far from me. I live in White Lk. Between Milford and Pontiac. Those hummers sure are picky sometimes. I have had a few hear and a few there. In July is when they start picking up after the young have fledged.
SandyD,
I know so little about the little things that I'm using http://hummingbirds.net/states.html as my resource for information.
Good to hear they come more in July. I had one back last night so it seems at least one is comfortable with the yard.
Here is a photo of the front porch area. the feeders are above the rail to the right of the steps.
This message was edited Jun 16, 2004 8:02 AM
Dale,
Here is a photo of my main hummer garden. Haven't seen a hummer in a couple of days. I just got a digital camera a month ago. When or if it ever stops raining I'm going to sit at that table and get a hummer shot, if it takes me all summer.
It's me again. My Dad has some flowers, that I believe are called pintas. Anyway, he said that the hummers love them, and he's going to give me some to bring home and plant. Would I need to wait until Fall. I have a rose that I am going to move, and was told to wait til Fall. Is this true wiht all flowers?
Jennifer
Is it true that you should wait until fall to plant? No, not nessicarily. I move and plants things all year around, not during winter though. Remember that nurseries sell most their plants during spring and summer and people plants them as soon as they buy them.
Great. Thank you, CaptMicha. I'll go get some as soon as I can.
I would suggest to purchase a shrimp plant, hummers love these! You can overwinter the plants in a sunny windowsill. There very pretty. Our hummers get two feet from us, it is so exciting.
Now it looks as if this area gets lot's of sun. My sugar water spoils in three days so you'll definately have to change it often. Until you get your first sighting just fill it(feeder) 1/4 full.
I don't have any full sun areas. Will the shrimp plant grow in shade?
potofgold,
What does a shrimp plant look like and where can you buy them? Thanks
SandyD,
I found pictures of many different shrimp plants in the Plants Database. It's a great source of info, and a huge part of the reason I became a subscriber. Hope this helps.
Jennifer
jdee - You'll have hummers in no time. Mine come and go and it never fails when I head to the feeder to clean it or something, those kamakazee guys are all over the place beeping at me as if to say "what are doing?". I can stand under my arbor and they will come up to the feeder (about 2 feet from me) and just feast away. I tend to see them in the early morning and early evening before the sun sets. Good luck.
A shrimp plant will tolerate part sun but is not a shade plant. Mine does fine on my covered porch but gets atleast 4-5 hours of direct sun.
They do kinda look like shrimp. Usually they can be purchased from a pricey greenhouse,or nice nursery. If your lucky maybe a local greenhouse may have them. Wish I had more to share but I only have one plant.
If it is a shady windowsill it won't make it over the winter. Mine has lived four years.
Sandy D...if you want one and can't find one locally let me know and I'll try to help you find one.
I have never seen shrimp plant at any of our local nurserys.
I think next spring I will try and grow some from seed.
Thanks, Potofgold
I've never seen one either, but now that I know what to ask for, I'll ask around. Thanks, potofgold.
Jennifer