hummingbird feeders and evil ants

tried boric acid, double sided sticky tape, vaseline, ant traps, and hand smooshing(yuck!). i can't stop the ants from getting into all my hummer feeders. they get so bad they clog it up and rot and die. what the heck can i do? i love hummers more than ants. help!

Hi peeps!

Here is some info from Hummingbirds.net

Ants
They will find your feeder, unless you take precautions. Buy a dripless feeder; they really make a difference. Some feeder models feature a built-in ant moat that may be filled with water; don't use oil, since chickadees and other small birds like to drink from ant moats. You can make your own moat by running the hang wire through a hole in a spraycan top (use a dab of silicone sealer or hot glue to seal the hole). But the best defense against ants is to paint the inside bottom of an ant moat with Tanglefoot, a very sticky goo sold at nurseries, and install the moat open side down. This is extremely effective against ants, poses no risk of a bird getting stuck or contaminated, and is low maintenance, since it keeps the goo from being compromised by rain and dust. If you use Tanglefoot, or any other sticky or oily substance, you must be absolutely sure it cannot come into contact with a bird.

Hope this helps. Pelle

I have trouble with ants too. I've tried everything to get rid of them, so this year I'm making a moat. Good luck-------Beth

hope it works too. thanks pelletory.

I bought a large moat last year at a birdfeeder's shop. It holds about 1 cup of water. It worked like a dream. Cost about $5? Get a large s-hook for the top to attach to a branch or something large and a small s-hook for the bottom to attach the feeder. The birdfeeder's shop had the s-hooks too fairly cheap. You could also get the hooks at a hardware store.

I also bought a plastic feeder last year with a small moat built-in on the top - it does not work - it dries out too fast and ants get to it.

I bought several little moats to put in between my feeder and the hook at wall mart last year for about $2.50, it was the first year I had seen them there now if I could only keep the wasp out! I move the feeder then move it back, move the feeder then move it back, they just wait for it to come back they don't forget about it LOL

Have you tried putting it in another different location.?

I've also heard of people making even a stronger solution and putting it in a distant location but who wants to attract wasps; right?

I've only had a few problems toward the end of the season when it really gets hot.

Have you been able to locate where the wasps nest is located?

No have no idea where the nest is, I have a garage not far from it, I've never been one to look for wasp nest they usually find me lol It's those big fat ones! You know the kind that get bigger as you get closer to them LOL Mean looking, I'm scared to death everytime I move the feeder!

They sell bee & wasp gaurds for some feeders, also check for the feeders with longer necks. The hummingbirds tounge can reach the nectar, but the bees & wasp can't.