Does anyone use this style of feeder? Can you get it to work? For me it sucks up the liquid on cold/low pressure days, and the liquid spills out on hot/high pressure days. Although I've seen the chickadees and bees eat from it, the humming birds gave up long ago. I had a dream last night that it was broken, and I was relieved since I'd have an excuse to go buy one that works! So is there a trick I haven't figured out yet, or shall I get a different style?
Thanks,
Dana
Hi Dana....
I havent seen a hummingbird feeder like that but the ones I bought and use are at this site:
http://www.aspectsinc.com/2_Hummingbird.htm
They are expensive but they are well worth the money....i have the tail end of the rufous' and the Anna's are using them too.....i love watching them perch and drink up the nectar and its really easy to clean and no drips!.....good luck :)
Sandy
These glass ones are popular here (meaning I see them a lot in the stores) and come in all kinds of shapes and designs, but my mom said she had problems with that kind, too. The one you posted looks a lot more functional! Thanks for the link. :)
--Dana
We had bought one of those last year at Pets Mart. I tried and tried everything possible and couldn't get it to work right. It is definately a dud! PM does have one that is less than $4.00 here. It is the hour glass shape with the red plastic base and flat yellow flowers. They work great for hummers.
I kept the receipt for this one just in case. It's guaranteed, and it has a phone number on the package. Of course when I tried to call it, they were closed for customer service training "in order to better serve the customers"! Ha! Well, I'll try to call one more time, I guess. If it's guaranteed, maybe they know the trick? Although I've tried and tried everything possible, too. :|
Talk about leaky feeders! UGH! I bought some a couple of years ago some because I collect ruby glassware. Those were horrible as far as feeding hummies went. They have long since been added to my indoor glassware collection.
With the hot Texas summer heat I've resorted to making my own little feeders out of insulin bottles and test tubes. The hummies love them. Will have to bring out the big 32 ounce feeders when the fall migration hits though :o)
~ Cat
I used to use those too...but they were always messy. So now I swear by Hummzingers....easy to clean...I have 5 now. Sandy130 gave you a link....you should try it or google Hummzinger by Aspects. You can price search. The cheapest I have found so far was about $13 (which really isn't all that cheap). The only thing that bothers me really is that they really should make them available in stores. Shipping costs are ridiculous.
Did you make the one in the picture you posted TexasPuddyPrint?
Hi Lisamr,
I think the hummzingers are made for the Wild Bird Unlimited stores (by Aspects) and they are the same ones.....I have 2 feeders and bought them through an independent bird store here in Canada but i have seen them at Wild Birds Unlimited too....of course here in Canada, i paid around $32 canadian each!...yikes, what we do for our little hummers...lol.....but i do agree, they are very easy to clean and maintain...no ants nor bugs can get in them.....
Sandy
Indoor glass collection: good idea! I really like it, so maybe I can find a different use for it. We do live by a Wild Birds Unlimited, too, so maybe I can find one there without having to pay shipping.
Yeah, TexasPuddyPrint, is that one you made? I think I recognize the labware from my college days-- are those the stoppers with the thermometer holes in them? What's the part on the bottom and what does it do? Very cool. :)
Thanks for the information on Aspects feeders. I just put it as a shortcut on the 'puter, to order from later. I like the wy that their designs eliminate ants and other insects.
Peter
Dana, you are lucky you live by a Wild Birds Unlimited store....that place is addicting!......
Peter....I have the hummzinger Ultra which has these little plastic nipples if you like, on the ports of the feeder on the inside of them to prevent any bugs from getting into the nectar....they even come with 12 replacements too with this particular feeder....they thought of everything..
Sandy
Well, luckily I don't live close enough to get addited! It's actually near my parents' house, about an hour away. :)
You can get a flat feeder at Lowes for $10. Not as fancy as the zinger but.......
The Lowe's feeder is by Perky Pet. I have 3 of the smallest humzingers and 1 from Lowes. The hummers use them all, no discrimination. They are easier to clean than some of the others. And have built in ant traps. Becky
Sandy -
Do you find that the replacement nipples are really needed? I have "Best" brand feeders (2 of them) that have been working fine for 3 years, although they do get ants and wasps in them; but I have never seen a need to change out anything at the feeding ports . . . .
Peter
Hi Peter,
I have never changed the plastic nipples yet and i have had my feeders since around March of this year.....I cant see needing to change them unless they get brittle through the cold weather if your feeder is out during winter that is....mine are very snug on the ports so i have never seen any ants or any small bug slip past them...I guess just enough for the hummer to feed through them...
Sandy
OK, you all sound like hummingbird experts!
Can someone tell me how to keep the bees away from my feeders? They keep eating up the sugar water and I certainly did not put it there for them. Ever since the big fires here in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, I have had a bad bee problem in my hummer feeders. I appreciate any suggestions.........
I am not sure how to keep the wasps and bees away although i know they are attracted to anything yellow including the little yellow flower bee guards on the hummingbird feeders, thats if you have a feeder like that....hope that helps.
Sandy
Dana,
I have a similar problem. I put one of those small bar straws inside the tube- It helped slow down the drip. If the tube is too large, take a regular straw, and fold it in half - see if that works.
Rj
Thanks, Rj-- I'll give that a try! I think I'll get some of the other style feeders, too.
Yeah, that's what I ended up doing too. I have 6 now, all different. The first year I put them all out, I was chagrined to find one greedy little hummer staking his claim over all of them no matter how far apart they were put!
That little feeder holds 12 ml of nectar and is made from recycled insulin bottles and PP flower replacements. I also use feeder parts from other store bought feeders I cannibalized. I have numerous of those I made as well as others from test tubes where I used stockcap plastic stoppers that I made a hole into.
I'll start a new thread with photos later tonight of the feeders I've made.
~ Cat
Hi Cat,
I bought a very small feeder, and they seem to go to that one first. I think I may buy some more. I may end up making one too- good idea taking parts from other ones.
Rj
