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We have a lot of hummingbirds around our house. They like to fight over the feeders. How often do you clean out your feeders and replace the 'juice'? I heard you should do it every few days but that seems extreme.

humpty,I let them get all of it,they will let you know if the juice is no good by not coming to it. russ

I use plain sugar mixed with water - they seem to like it just as well as the colored "nectar"
that is so expensive. You can tell when it starts to get milky or when they stop using it.
We have 5 feeders going right now and someof them are empty in a day and others take
longer - size and shape seem to make a difference what ones they like most.

I gave up on my hummingbird feeders this year. The squirrels were taking them over and never left anything behind for the birds. I was getting way too angry every day seeing squirrels hanging there from my feeders!

mamaA,I didn't know squirrels liked the necter in hummingbird feeders.I've never seen them bother mine. russ

I remember as a kid we had these but I have not thought about them in years. right now we have some type of random little bird that likes to try and nest within our outside shutter in the front. Maybe its worth putting up a feed if I can snag a few shots to find out what type of bird it is.

I'm jealous. I haven't never seen a hummingbird around these parts. I don't even know if Pennsylvania has them...but if they do they don't visit us. Make 'em happy with whatever you do to your feeder so they keep coming around.

slowpokethefarm said:

I'm jealous. I haven't never seen a hummingbird around these parts. I don't even know if Pennsylvania has them...but if they do they don't visit us. Make 'em happy with whatever you do to your feeder so they keep coming around.

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I came from the southerntier of NY (60 miles south of Buffalo) We always had hummingbirds there and I have them here in Madison, VA. SO they should be in PA -- put out a couple feeders and see if they come. :smile:

Hmm, perhaps its because we have too many cats around here. If I put out a feeder will they become cat bait? If we have them I would love to get them to come visit.

Just hang the feeders far enough out so the cats would need to jump -- Hummers are FAST ! :laughing:

slowpokethefarm said:

Hmm, perhaps its because we have too many cats around here. If I put out a feeder will they become cat bait? If we have them I would love to get them to come visit.

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I agree with BK ,I think they could outwit a cat pretty easy.Put the feeder in a clear area where a cat couldn't sneak up to it. russ

Sounds like a plan! I guess I'll have to get a few feeders and some nectar. And follow the advice on how much to change it.

I just use sugar and water - they like it just as well as the expensive "nectar".

slowpokethefarm said:

Sounds like a plan! I guess I'll have to get a few feeders and some nectar. And follow the advice on how much to change it.

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I think I have about five humming bird feeders out and I only clean them out once they are empty. The biggest problem I have with them is ants, they seem to like the nectar

I only have 1, and I only clean it out after the hummingbirds do. It usually takes about a week of about 5 birds per feeder, for them to empty it out.

Raid has an "Earth Options" Natural insect control in a hand spray bottle. I put some on the area around the base of the hanger and on the pole the feeders are on - haven't seen any more ants - won't hurt the Hummers ! :thumbsup:Found it in Grocery store.

monica123 said:

I think I have about five humming bird feeders out and I only clean them out once they are empty. The biggest problem I have with them is ants, they seem to like the nectar

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for some reason I have zero problems with ants.one of my sisters have a problem with bees but the only critters that I have is the hummers. russ

This is one thing I have yet to snag a shot of with my newest camera (Canon EOS Rebel). I have been out hiking lately and you would be surprised but down a bit on our old country road there is someones property and I think they almost harvest hummers. There are tons always in their land flying abouts.

I love hummingbirds, they are the only birds that survive my cats, I have six of the little buggars and they are hard on the rest of the birds around here.

My mom has kept feeders out for 40 years and she has built up quite a population of hummers.
She goes through two quarts of feed per day during peak times.
I have a half dozen or so regulars at my two feeders and can make a quart go a week.
BTW I have done side by side test and switched back and forth on the feeders and they definitely like my home made nectar better than store bought. One cup of sugar to 4 cups water or maybe just a little stronger on the sugar. They don't need any additional nutrients from the nectar, they get all they need from the bugs they eat.
Here is a great resource on hummingbirds and feeders.
Hummingbird Feeders

BK- where are you from originally?
We have hummingbirds too and I love to watch them. You do have to look quick as they are the quickest bird I've ever seen. We change ours every 2 days. It's not a pain, it's a habit now.

Bump

Usedtorent said:

BK- where are you from originally? about 60 miles south of Buffalo, NY (Randolph)
We have hummingbirds too and I love to watch them. You do have to look quick as they are the quickest bird I've ever seen. We change ours every 2 days. It's not a pain, it's a habit now.

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We need to change some more often than others - they like some feeders more than others. Some last a day and others a couple days.

Bump Didn't know if you got the reply !

Usedtorent said:

BK- where are you from originally?
We have hummingbirds too and I love to watch them. You do have to look quick as they are the quickest bird I've ever seen. We change ours every 2 days. It's not a pain, it's a habit now.

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I only have one feeder (not as many birds this year)I was told just to keep it out of the sun and it'll be OK.

We only have 1 right now. We don't have a lot of them out and about, so we don't see the need for 3 or 4. More might confuse them anyway.

We keep 2 or 3 going each year. They show up here in mid April and will stay until mid September. It's real busy for a week or so in May, when I think some are passing through to points north. Then it slacks until around mid July. We'll fill them at least once a day then.

Right about now the peak is past. We'll bet one more busy time when the northern birds pass back through on their way south. At the very peak we might have 20-25. I don't know how anyone can count more than 5 or 6 at a time and be positive of their accuracy.

Early and late in season when they are migrating, we mix 1 sugar to 3 water. During the middle of summer we do 1 sugar to 4 water. I clean them if I see any of the black stuff gathering around the spouts.