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Wind may cause the feeder to hit a tree or even fall off, which may also cause cracks. That doesn’t mean that you should skip maintenance in winter. Choose a spot that is not exposed to direct sunlight for your hummingbird feeder. Any sugar water leakage would attract ants to your feeder.Īuthor Note: Be extra cautious during the summer because the heat can cause the expansion and cracking of feeders. Repair LeaksĪlways make sure that your hummingbird feeder has no cracks or leaks. Permethrin doesn’t pose any threat to birds, humans, or pets. It contains Permethrin, a light insecticide that doesn’t kill ants but just drives them away. Install an Ant GuardĪn ant guard can be your best option if ants can maneuver around the ant moat. However, the water in ant moats dries out fast, especially in the summer, so make sure it’s always full. Ant moats are small containers filled with water and hanging above the hummingbird feeder to prevent the ants from reaching the nectar inside it. Use an Ant MoatĪn ant moat is a simple but effective way to keep ants away from your feeder. The whole aim is to give hummingbirds a safe and friendly feeding environment. However, don’t put feeders near other birdhouses. You can place your hummingbird feeder anywhere near small trees, which can be safe for the birds. If you put out more than one feeder, make sure to place them at least seven feet apart. Hummingbirds are highly adaptable and will find the feeder anywhere you place it. Top Tip: You don’t need to worry about losing the birds. Relocate the feeder to eliminate the trail ants leave behind for the rest of their colony to follow. If you move your feeder regularly, you avoid a total ant invasion. If more than half of the hummingbird feeder is visible from all sides, this is the spot for you. If you’re not sure about a certain spot, consider its visibility. Moreover, the heat from direct sunlight would expand the plastic of the feeder, resulting in cracks and leaks that attract ants. On the other hand, too much sunlight can heat the nectar, making it unappealing to the birds. A shaded area would be too dark for the hummingbirds to locate your feeder. Place your Hummingbird Feeder in the Shadeįind a spot that’s partially shaded. If not, a birdbath will do.Ī birdbath can be a brilliant idea because it won’t only repel ants but also attract hummingbirds. Look for a body of water, like a pond or a fountain, to hang your hummingbird feeder above. If the feeder hangs on a fishing line and above water, ants can’t reach it from any side. Hang Your Hummingbird Feeder Over WaterĪnts can’t swim. Top Tip: Make sure to get a fishing line that is strong enough to carry at least two pounds and long enough to cover the entire height from which you hang your feeder. The last thing you need is for your feeder to fall off, which may harm your hummingbirds. However, you should pick a fishing line that can support the weight of the feeder and the birds on it. Hanging your hummingbird feeder from such a thin line can prevent ants from climbing into it it’s like walking on a tightrope. Use a Fishing Line to Hang the Hummingbird Feederįishing lines are very thin and slippery, even for ants. The best part is you can toss them in the compost bin after you’re done, because they are compostable! You can find them in the cleaning products aisle and save 20% at Target using Cartwheel.In Conclusion Tips on How to Keep Ants Away from a Hummingbird Feeder 1. Use Green Works wipes to clean up any spills of the sticky nectar. Tie feeder in a tree and water as hummingbirds gather around. sugar to 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Tie bakers twine around the bottle to hang with. Cut straws and glue with hot glue gun on the holes. To make your own hummingbird feeder you’ll need: Last week the kids and I made butterfly houses and this week we repurposed an empty water bottle into a hummingbird feeder instead of tossing it.
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The deer are unwelcome guests, but I can provide things to attract animals I want to my back yard. We don’t have much “habitat” space on our little lot, so the deer chomp on my tulips and anything else they think look good. Now as an adult, who owns property which the deer use as a smorgasbord I see his point.
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