Home-made Hummingbird Feeders

Howdy All,

Since a few of you asked about the feeders I've made I decided to start a new thread to post photos of them.

The south Texas summers can be brutal and the nectar in those 32 ounce jar feeders can really heat up and spoil quickly - so I have resorted to using these small feeders. I can easily hang them on my vine covered trellises, low hanging tree branches, the eaves of my back porch and well - just about anywhere :o)

They are made of small insulin bottles I recycled. Each holds 12 ml of nectar. I used copper wire, beads and stained glass to decorate them. I bought some PP Gem Series feeders that Lowe's had discounted due to damage and took off the feeder parts. I also purchased the yellow flower looking feeder parts from a PP distributor on the web. I've found the ones PP sells fit perfectly into the neck of the insulin bottle.

To refill them I use a syringe that came with an printer ink jet refill kit. I also snap off the feeder part to wash them out when needed.

I've got a couple of those 32 ounce jar feeders hung out as well...but the adult hummies that frequent my yard prefer these little feeders. I have 20 small feeders set out all around the front yard, back yard and both sides of my house. I have noticed the juveniles seem a bit more comfortable when they can perch and sip as opposed to having to flap their wings at these but they are getting braver and becoming more adept at using these feeders every day. It helps when the feeders are spread out and they don't have to worry about bullies :o)

I re-fill them twice daily as more hummies are showing up. Once the fall migration hits I will bring out the 32 ouncers again.

~ Cat

The Guardian of the Feeders

Turquoise feeder

Another photo of insulin bottle hummie feeder.

...and another

Got the idea? Here's one I just made but haven't hung out yet.

Got gobs more...but I think ya'll get the idea of these small hummie feeders. Here's one out of a test tube. I used a stockcap rubber stopper that I drilled a hole into.

~ Cat

Okay...just this last one...couldn't resist showing off this little hummie's butt :o)

~ Cat

...Oh, and they do share at the 32 ouncers on occasion. Here's a photo of three already perched and another coming in for a landing.

~ Cat

I am impressed!! My husband is diabetic, so I have a supply waiting for me. I just may give it a try! My only problem will be keeping them filled. But they are so pretty - maybe good holiday gifts for the office gals. Thanks much for the idea!

Sanna

Cat - Those feeders are adorable. I love the way you've decorated them with beads and things. I know what you mean about the syrup going bad. Happens here in Georgia too. Thanks for sharing the great idea and the pics. Becky

T. ---very cute little feeders & garden art, too! thanks for posting your idea...I had never thought of trying to create interesting HB feeders! t.

Cool.. I like those! Thanks for sharing..

This morning.. I saw two hummers (female/male) was mated! THey are Ruby-Throated Hummers. I have 4 feeders out..

Love your feeders, very nice!!!!

Thanks everyone!

I've been having fun making new feeders for my brother. He recently built a house on three acres of nothing. No trees, no blooming flowers. He's waiting until the heat of the summer months pass before he starts planting but I convinced him to hang a store bought feeder just to see if any hummies would show up.

Talked to him earlier...said he put it out at 6pm and the next morning there were five hummies fighting over it!

I made ten feeders for him last night. Will take them to him this weekend so he can hang them up.

We are getting more hummies down in south Texas so am sure he will also be hanging out the big 32 ouncers by next month.

Here's another recent photo.

~ Cat

I have 4 feeders- less about 32 oz each in front patio and back patio. I thought why not decorate the feeder with beads etc.. It will look pretty. LOL..

Should I boil the water before pour sugar in it.? I couldnt remmy?!?

I have drinking water filter facuet, seprate from tap water facuet.

This message was edited Sep 7, 2005 11:09 AM

I think it's the chlorine in the water that the hummers dislike. I usually leave out my water 24 hours then boil it. I don't know about filtered water though....guess that would be fine. Don't think you have to boil it either way. I've heard folks say they just use tap water and add the sugar....as long as you mix 4 parts water to 1 part sugar.

I make 64 ounces of nectar at a time. I put two cups of water to boil in the microwave then pour that into a pitcher along with 2 cups of sugar. I mix that thoroughly to dissolve the sugar then add the remaining 6 cups of water and refrigerate it.

~ Cat

Those feeders are gorgeous..

My mom uses insulin , but her's is like a pen type..pre measured.. I've got to figure out how to get some of those bottles.. Boy are they darling.

Edited to add::::

I found three glass tubes.. gonna go try and make them into feeders.

Did you say you have to drill a hole a the end of the tube (the plastic part)?


edited again: to ask the name of the PP distributor so I can get some of those flowers for the ends.

This message was edited Sep 13, 2005 12:57 PM

This message was edited Sep 13, 2005 1:27 PM

Please, tell us where you got your feeder parts!!

Those are so cute! My suggestion...ebay!

I agree with konkreteblond! They're so creative! Nothing better than reaping the rewards of a hobby. I would be very interested in a couple should you decide. Thanks for sharing!

Well, I ordered the hummingbird feeder stoppers (20) with the tube from this company AFTOSA here in CA on the 13th, they already shipped them and I have them today. I still could not find the flowers. Off I go to make feeders..

I didn't know about ebay, will go check it out. Do you know the name of the company that sells the flowers on ebay?


Edited to post company with the flower replacement: http://www.humming-birds.com/parts.html

This message was edited Sep 16, 2005 8:16 PM

What a great idea and they are so cute! My daughter does craft things with beads and wire and is diabetic so know she will love the idea. Thanks for sharing.

Howdy all, Sorry I haven't kept up with this post. I found five caterpillars on my duranta bush and was trying to get an identification of them. Have been busy with emails from local NABA reps, entomologists and scientists - by the way, they are a new US record!!! A "rekoa" hairstreak :o)

Okay, back to the hummingbird feeders made out of insulin bottles. The company is called mainstreetseedandsupply - you can easily find it by doing a google search using the search words...mainstreet perky pet replacement feeder parts.

They are small yellow flower looking stoppers...come 9 to a package.

As for the test tubes...I used some plastic end caps and melted (drilled) a hole in the bottom of each.

I have had nothing but bad luck with the rubber stoppers that have a glass pipette inserted into them...they have continually leaked and the rubber stopper worked it's way out of the soda bottles I tried using. UGH!!! Gave up on those and stuck to the insulin bottles and test tubes :o)

Hope that helps!!! Email if ya'll have any questions about them.

Here's a photo of another one I made using some cloisonne beads and blue glass butterflies :o)

~ Cat

I would definitely...DEFINITELY buy these if you ever put them on ebay!! I just love them!

I finally had my first hummer! I am so excited about it. I put out a feeder in March, faithfully cleaned and replenished and hung...not one customer until last week when I was cooking lunch on the grill and one just buzzed right next to me to a blooming canna!! So I'm hopeful that more will come next year!

Razzie...that's awesome. I have read from different websites...that once they find your feeder or flowers they never forget. You may have had them all along....sometimes I only see mine in the morning around 7am and then again right at dusk.

TexasPuddyPrint - Do you think you'll be selling them on ebay? If you decide to....please post and let us know. Sounds like you'll have some customers!

Thanks,
Lisa

Lisa,

I tried to sell a couple on eBay last week - had lots of lookers but nobody bought them. Which is a good thing, I guess...as I really didn't like the thought of selling just one at a time and having the postage cost just about the same price as one feeder.

Have sold several locally...but as soon as I get some free time I will try to make sets of these (either 4 or 5 to a set) and offer them up as a single auction - that way buyers will get their postage money's worth and enough feeders to spread around.

The hummies really do love these little feeders. I've got gobs of hummies in my yard and have put out the 32 ounce store bought ones...but they still come looking for these little ones.

I moved them away from my back porch eave so I could hang the big ones there (where'll they'll be shaded)...and the hummies zip around them, sip only a little bit then they go flying off to the little feeders which I have since hung from my trees.

~ Cat

Edited: wasn't sure if I should have listed my e-mail in the message.





















This message was edited Sep 19, 2005 5:29 PM

Got a phone call from my brother today. I'd given him ten of these little feeders a little over a week ago...but he'd been busy and hadn't put them out.

He called to say the hummies are fighting over them. He is still in awe at how quickly they found them - because there is nothing...nothing growing around his house. Three acres of no trees or plants. He hasn't gotten around to landscaping yet.

He was so thrilled to have hummies buzzing just inches away from his head and hands while he was hanging some up in the front of the house to keep them from fighting so much.

He wants another dozen. Guess I best get busy and make some more for him :o)

~ Cat

Cat, Do you have a "store" here on D's G. If so would love to purchase a few. I'm not sure how to start a store but I know people have them here.

Gary

Gary,

No store on Dave's...but I am now tied up with local orders. Will look into the store idea and probably try to offer sets so people can get their postage money's worth and have several to hang up.

~ Cat

I will definitely be a customer. I found with artsy things on ebay, it takes a few before you get a following. And I think they are works of art!

Hi CAT, I bought the little yellow flowers for the end of the bottles but I don't seem to be smart enough to see why the sugar water wouldn't just ooze out of the little opening. I understand that the opening has to be big enough for their beaks to slide in [ BUT ]. Do you just fill the little bottle half-way, so the sugar water is just below the little opening, when the bottle is on its side?



Stop and smell the roses, don't just look at them as your rushing by. justnakenny@highstream.net

EEKS.......... I just read a post that you [ CAT ] did back in july that said that their little beaks shouldn't go down into the little yellow flower because it might get stuck.

Plus I saw that you had the little bottles abour 3/4 full of nectar. So, there goes my theory about only filling the little bottles half-way up, so the nectar wouldn't leak out.

Now with all of that being said, I have another question.

I have seen that some feeders that have little pieces of what looks like string, dangling in the nectar. Is this how they get the nectar up to the little yellow flower and does the string being [ stuffed ? ] up into the inside opening of the flower, keep the nectar from oozing out? Thank you

Stop and smell the roses, don't just look at them as your rushing by.


justkenny

Justkenny,

I fill up those small insulin bottles and test tubes to the very top! By the time I get my camera the hummies have started feeding from them - a fully filled feeder doesn't last long at all.

I haven't had a problem with them leaking...am assuming a vacuum forms or maybe the hole is small enough to keep a big bubble of air from going in or maybe because that little hole doesn't have a the weight of a lot of liquid bearing down on it.

The hummies do stick the tips of their beaks into the plastic flower feeder - but usually just enough to slide their tongues in to reach the nectar.

I've also hung those bottles every which way - by that I mean I've had them pointing down at an angle, have had them hanging somewhat parallel to the ground...and have even had them standing upright with the flower part facing up - the hummies are quite acrobatic - and they do have a long tongues - I've watched them sipping nectar from those upright bottles - just haven't been fast enough to get photos.

I've never noticed feeders with a string dipping into the nectar - then maybe I've just never looked since I stick to making my own and using the big 32 ounce jar feeders when my yard is over run by hummies. I'd think a string would work as a ladder for ants wanting to reach the nectar???

Hope that helps...email or post if anyone has any questions. I'll do my best to answer them.

~ Cat

ps...photo of hummie beak going into flower feeder part.

Why would their beaks get stuck , arn't those yellow flowers off of other hummer feeders?

Yes, those plastic yellow flowers are replacement parts for feeders. Those are made with hummies in mind.

...but when using plastic end caps or test tube caps etc. that do not have holes in them to make home-made feeders - the hole can't be too big because insects might get into it or the liquid will drip out...and not too small because then the hummies can't get to the nectar.

~ Cat

Ah...it will soon be time to bring out the feeders again. I've given away so many I must start making more very soon!!!

Happy Humming everyone!

~ Cat

Hey TexasPuddyPrint!
Your feeders are gorgeous! If you do decide to list on eBay or offer any for purchase I would love to have one. In the meantime...I'm going to hit up a coworker for her old insulin bottles and attempt to be "crafty". Wish me luck!