Hummingbird feeders

[B-squared]

It seems like we had the sugar:water ratio discussion last year and the verdict was 1:4 always. seems to be the consensus on internet as well. Good article at king5 today with ratio discussion and tips for keeping the feeder from freezing:

http://www.king5.com/news/pets-and-animals/Hummingbirds-seeking-need-food-during-NW-winter-110230019.html

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[elikapeka]

Vanessa, it’s fresh nectar, so that’s not the problem. Though it did get a little old over the summer – I wasn’t very diligent about it since I knew they had plenty of other sources and didn’t even think about it going bad. Maybe they associate my house with bad nectar!

And AlkiMac, gorgeous pics!!

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[waterworld]

elikapeka: It could be that your feeder isn’t colorful enough to attract them. We were given a lovely copper and glass feeder by a relative, and it took forever for the hummers to find it. We had to hang various colorful things on it to get their attention. In fact the feeder that seems to get the most attention year-round is the standard red-and-yellow plastic base attached to a clear jar.

Location can make a difference as well. I’ve found that feeders that are tucked away under a shady tree get ignored, while the ones that are out in the open right next to the house are bombarded.

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[redblack]

just so you know, i put out fresh food yesterday (at 3:1), so there’s no pile of hummingbird corpses on my patio.

elikapedia: make sure the feeder is sanitized with hot water and a little detergent, too, and that the ports aren’t gummed up with sugar.

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[dtown]

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[dtown]

oops…double post.

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[dtown]

Here’s a video of our feeder last Tuesday. This little guy was sitting under the light for 10 minutes at a time.

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[Lisa]

In my experience and from everything I’ve read; 4:1 is the proper ratio for Water to Sugar and there is no need to vary it, regardless of season or temperature.

Leaving nectar in feeders for prolonged periods of time will not harm the birds, they will just stop feeding from it once it has grown bacteria, they will just stop drinking it.

For cleaning feeders you should never use soap or detergents. Hot, clean water and a little distilled white vinegar will do the trick. Make sure to rinse all parts with hot water before refilling.

check out this awesome video :)

http://www.wimp.com/babyhummingbird/

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[redblack]

lisatown: not trying to be contrary, but i’ve made food at 3:1 since i put the feeder out, and i have a thriving fan club.

i only use a little soap and very hot water on the underside of the ports to dissolve any sugar build-up. i use very hot water and elbow grease for the container.

i hope elbow grease is safe for the birds. :)

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[Lisa]

Hi Redblack! No contrary taken :) I’ve been feeding/watching/photographing/studying Hummers for about 15 years. There were some practical studies done by individuals, testing various concentrations of sugar to water and it was found that though the birds will actually drink a wide variance of solutions, that they actually ‘chose’ the 4:1 when given an option. Hense, the conclusion that it was what their bodies actually ‘needed’.

If your feeder(s) are cleaned often enough… you should never need any real ‘elbow grease’ :)

Happy BirdWatching :)

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[JoB]

the pervasive concept that there is only one right way to do things gets really old…

regardless of whether hummers might or might not prefer a 4 to 1 ratio in their feeders…

if they are actively visiting a feeder with a 3 to 1 ratio then it is apparently effective.

and if they are still alive to visit a feeder cleaned carefully with small amounts of soap and elbow grease.. that cleaning method is apparently effective as well.

sniping at one another about doing it “right” will put off prospective new hummer feeders .. thus defeating the purpose.

i hung a disposable hummer feeder that says it controls pathogens. Not the best option.. but certainly the most viable one for someone who isn’t reliable enough to provide fresh nectar daily…

i hung them off the fuscia baskets i use for the same purpose and the hummers seem to have found them as they are not so plump as they were when i hung them.

i can’t speak for others.. but my hummers seem to have managed to utilize this far from perfect solution.

a side note on the utility lights.

I shared Thanksgiving dinner with the info officer for the Portland Fire Bureau who noted that those utility lights get really really hot… and as a consequence are starting fires.

perhaps a heat lamp with a lower temp bulb would be as effective.

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[elikapeka]

My patience has been rewarded! Two little hummingbirds at my feeder today! Thanks to all for your suggestions.

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