Been waiting for updates. Cat if you make some for sale, Me please, me me me me!
They really are a true work of art.
Gary
Home-made Hummingbird Feeders
Thanks ya'll...
Good luck dmac - make sure to share your photos when you make some :o)
I wasn't planning on putting any up on eBay...but it is a thought. If I do I will try to offer up a set of 2 or 3 to make it worth the postage. I also might try to trade some for plants/seeds or for other creative garden decorations.
Am scheduled for lasik this coming Friday and plan to take a week off work so I can stay indoors away from the sun and dust (south Texas has too much sun and strong winds blowing up lots of dirt). Will have to see (ha ha) how the surgery goes first...
~ Cat
This message was edited Mar 12, 2006 8:20 PM
Hey Cat,
Just wanted to give you good thought for your surgery:) I used to live in West Texas (Odessa) so I know all about the wind and dirt blowing in the spring. Take care,
dmac
Will be watching for these either on E-Bay or in trades/postage. I would love a few myself!
Liz...
I posted to your message about these feeders.
~ Cat
Cat, those are really special. You have a good imagination and talent!
i would LOVE some of those feeders!! they are just too cute!!
good luck with your surgery :)
(lived in odessa, as well..dmac)
Cat those are really great little feeders. What a crafty mind you have
What a great idea!
Cat, I'd love to buy some too. Are you selling to DGers? Thanks!!
Hi Cat,
I was just reading this post and thinking "I wish she would sell some of these" and it looks like I'm not the only one!!! Where do you buy replacement feeder parts? I don't think I've ever seen them anywhere.
Thanks.
Megan
I get the replacement feeder parts (the little yellow flowers) from a local garden center. Have also bought them from the internet - just look up Perky Pet replacement parts - they come 9 to a package for about $2.50.
Really haven't tried to sell them as the ones I made are hanging in my yard or my brother's or have been given away to friends...or traded out.
You also really need to have a syringe or something to refill them - I use the ones from the ink jet printer kits that have a long metal tube that can go into the feeder hole...and you must remove the feeder part gently so as not to break it so you can clean them out carefully with a tiny bottle brush (or stiff pipecleaner). They do require maintenance. The hummies will also empty them out within a couple of hours or less depending on how many hummies are feeding on them...but it's so much fun to watch the hummies using them!!!
Ya'll can get lots of ideas from mine though and try your hand at making them :o)
The hummies that frequent my yard go to them right away even if there's just one lone feeder hanging from the porch eave. It's so much nicer to have several around the yard...but I just haven't made myself make with the intention of selling them. If this interest keeps up I may have a go at it :o)
~ Cat
What a great idea. I have a good/bad? habit of taking a second look at all containers before they go to the recycle box, trying to figure out some way that it can be re-used. Never have come up with one for the insulin bottles. Kudos to you. Joan
Cat thanks for you wonderful idea!!! I brought a bunch of them to the Knoxville round up and went home with a truck load of plants.
Betty
Joan,
I know what you mean...am always looking at little bottles and such wondering what I can make with them. I also walk around with a hummingbird feeder part in my car or in my pocket...just never know what it might fit and turn into another hummie feeder :o)
I still have a stash of those small airline liquor bottles. Have been trying to find the right plastic caps/feeder parts that will fit into the neck of those. Am hoping I find something soon...I do so want to put those little green, brown and clear bottles of lovely shapes to use.
~ Cat
Oh yes Cat, the miniature liquor bottles would be just dandy. Hope you find attachments that fit soon. Will be following this thread for sure.
Have to chuckle at your carrying the parts with you because it sounds like something that I would do. Joan
Hi all,
Just wanted to be the 1,001 person to say what a great idea & you're so talented! They are so beautiful. I'm on the search for insulin bottles now...or something I can use to make these. I'm thinking of asking in my local freecycle for someone to save them for me, I'm sure someone would.
I just love that anyone can make these to match their own garden. You really should think about selling them at local nurseries. I have done that w/ my crafts & things. They usually charge a consignment fee...anywhere from 10-30% of the selling price. It sounds like a lot, but once folks find your art you'll not be able to keep up w/ demand. Just don't go telling them how to make them like you've told us!! =^)
It'd be a nice little income for you anyway...money you could save for that special plant you want or money for Christmas gifts. When this many people tell you to sell something you really, really shouldn't ignore it!! This is beyond folks being nice or polite, saying they like what you've made. I'm willing to bet you're underpricing them too.
If you really enjoy making these you should rethink this!! Fill them up and set them up at a craft fair...watch the hummies swarm in and watch the feeders disappear! You wouldn't have to say a word to sell them. Folks would stand in line to get them.
If you don't want to try to keep up w/ the supply and demand, I don't blame you. You would be quite busy.
Either way you've come up w/ a very unique idea that works...be careful that no one copies it and makes your money for you.
Thanks for sharing all of this w/ us.
Heather
Decided to bump up this thread...it's almost hummingbird season again. Ya'll best get to work making your own feeders to keep the little birdies happy :o)
~ Cat
another...
and another...
~ Cat
Simple. Easy. Colorful. :o)
~ Cat
Patriotic too :o)
~ Cat
Christmas in March works too :o)
~ Cat
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a turtle?! :o)
~ Cat
Simple red plastic threaded with wire and wrapped around the bottle and a spiral dangle for color.
This is a very old photo of a lollipop stand hummie feeder a friend helped me make years ago. The plastic flowers have long since been dried out by the hot Texas sun and I dissambled it long ago. This one used to hold 55 two-ounce ball feeders. It was a real PAIN to refill and clean! This old photo only shows about 30 of them.
Perhaps in time I'll get motivated again and make a simpler version that holds about eight. If I can find more of those feeder ball stakes.
FYI: Before ya'll rag me about using red nectar - I stopped using that years ago and now only use the natural 4:1 ratio of water and sugar.
WOW, Cat, you are SO talented!
Those little feeders are just so darn cute! Beautiful creativity, thanks for bumping this thread and sharing your treasures with us.
Cathy
Loving it. Since I usually only have one hummer in my backyard those bottles would be perfect. Although with more hanging around some other hummers might be able to sneak into my yard too.
Great talent Cat. Thanks for sharing.
Leslie
Cat,
I can't tell you how giggly with glee I feel over this fantastic idea!
Just to be sure I have this straight, we purchase flowers, obtain some
bottles and press the flowers into the bottles, decorate and hang?
Very neat, I love this thread!
Karen Marie
Wuvie,
The plastic yellow flower Perky Pet replacement feeder parts just so happened to be the exact size that fit perfectly into some old glass insulin vials I had.
Here's a photo of the insulin bottle showing the flower part that fits into the neck of the bottle.
~ Cat
You can also purchase test tubes with plastic caps.
Or try using small bottles or recycle those airline liquor bottles - it's just a matter of finding the right plastic cap you can incorporate into a feeder part that will fit the bottle you use.
~ Cat
Oh, oh, oh, I see now, thank you! Perky Pet, that's it!
Sounds like a trip to the hospital is in order, and an
extra close watch in the recycling bins.
Whooo hooo, you're a doll, thanks!
Karen Marie
Best bet is to look over your old hummie feeders that have broken over the years and recycle the plastic feeder parts or purchase those perky pet replacement flower feeder parts or test tube end caps and try them on an assortment of bottles.
The test tube plastic caps also happen to fit on those glade scented oil air freshener bottles :o) Make sure you wash those really well before you turn them into hummie feeders.
Let your creative side loose!!! I keep a couple of plastic feeder replacement parts and test tube end caps in my car so whenever I'm at a flea market or craft store I can try them out on bottles and such :o)
~ Cat
This message was edited Apr 6, 2008 9:14 PM
Wow, I love DG because of all the information I can find even when the thread began 3 yeasr ago!
Thanks so much for all of your wonderful ideas!
QUESTION:
I have one feeder right now and the hummers won't come to it. It is not too low, not too close to a cat hiding shrub etc. It's a red bottle filled with nectar...bought it at Walmart.
Hi Boo,
It may be that they have not yet found it. Have you seen other hummies around,
just not on that particular feeder? Is the hummy juice fresh and of the right
sugar / water ratio?
:-) Karen Marie
For those of you making hummingbird feeders out of bottles, I got a bunch of stoppers with flowers designed for hummingbirds on ebay at a place called Copper Creations. He also has complete feeders for sale. His prices are very reasonable and I'm pleased with the stoppers I bought.
katiebear
WOW!!! Can't believe this thread has popped up again :o) My how the years have flown. Still have hummies frequenting my yard all year long.
Katiebear...
Do you have photos of the stoppers you are using? I've tried those bottle stopper before from other companies and they drip. Sure would like to find a good stopper for bottles that doesn't.
~ Cat
I don't have photos. Go to ebay do a search for "hummingbird feeders." Then look for posting for ten or more copper hummingbird feeders. Then be sure you are looking at Copper Creations. You can't do a "search by seller" for him now because eBay is malfunctioning. (I wrote to him about it and hopefully it will get corrected soon.)
Anyway, these don't leak. The rubber is fresh and squishy so the stopper makes a tight fit in the bottle and neither the stopper nor the flower leaks. If your stoppers leak it might be because the rubber is old and brittle. A piece of duct tape might help. However, I've had no problems with these.
I got the ones without a perch but I doubt if that makes any difference.
katiebear