Posted on 03/14/2011 8:33:06 AM PDT by SMARTY
I bought a hummingbird feeder. I wonder if anyone knows what I ought to put in the feeder.
I just use sugar water.
You don't need to boil it. It will dissolve just fine.
Don't buy "nectar." It's just sugar-water with food coloring.
Oh yes, they are the crankiest little boogers ever.
Its fun watching the roosters keep watch over their domain. They spend all their time chasing away all the others.
4 to 1 water to sugar.
Warm water enough to melt sugar. I never, ever bring water to a boil. Cool and feed.
They love it. No need for the costly nectar feeds.
Also do NOT add any coloring. Not needed.
Those cute tiny creatures are brutal.
Same here. The males are very territorial. We have “dog fights” going on near the feeders all summer long. Fascinating to watch, especially for a pilot like me.....
A small cat.
sugar and water. they get their nutrients from insects, but they need lots of sugar to have the energy to catch enough insects to survive. they don’t need any special (expensive) nectar you can buy. At least that’s what I found on the internet when I got my feeders a few years ago.
Also, I ended up getting 2 feeders on different sides of the house because we had one mean hummer that was very protective of the feeder and didn’t allow others on it. That was something else I read about in my research but didn’t believe until I saw it.
They are fun to watch! We have a feeder hanging on a shepards hook and the “main man” will sit on top of the hook and chase away the other male hummers but not the females!
Lots of other birds come to the feeder as well...woodpeckers, flickers.
I spray Pam on it to deter the bees.
For hanging feeders, the moat-style ant guards are always effective. They form a water barrier that ants won’t cross.
I still remember Mom being amazed, and then telling me to take it back outside and let it rip....
I had a feeder that attracted more wasps and bees than hummingbirds. Searching around the net, I found an article that said wasps were attracted to the yellow color on hummingbird feeders, so I covered the yellow with a red fingernail polish, Voila, lots of hummingbirds and no more wasps and bees.
LSAggie (posting on hubby’s account)
When we lived up north, we had a very territorial hummingbird who would launch aireal assults on anything getting near his feeder. He’d try to chase us off, too, like yours.
We started noticing that other hummingbirds seemed to be using tactics against him. One hummingbird would act as a decoy. When the bully bird was distracted, other hummingbirds would fly in and partake of the feeder as quick as they could, because the bully would always be back to chase them off. He’d let his lady friend have access but no others.
We’d go over to other people’s houses and they have seemingly hundreds of hummingbirds at their feeders. We had war.
Four cups of water to one cup of sugar. Heat water to a boil, add sugar, reduce heat to a small simmer. Stir solution until white foam disappears and liquid is cool. Just fill the feeder about half way. Our guys here love the stuff. PS, do not add red food coloring.
Four cups of water to one cup of sugar. Heat water to a boil, add sugar, reduce heat to a small simmer. Stir solution until white foam disappears and liquid is clear. Just fill the feeder about half way. Our guys here love the stuff. PS, do not add red food coloring.
PS: cool = clear. Reposted.
thanks, I be here all week!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.