Love your hummingbird videos!!!! For years and years, my mother had a feeder in the side yard of our home, at the kitchen sink window so she could watch and talk to them while the little hummers fed. They got to know her very well by sight. When she was in the backyard and unaware that the feeder was empty, the little hummers would start buzzing around her head, then follow her to the back door. They'd be waiting for her at the front door when she came out with more "juice", then follow her to the feeder. After refilled, she'd hold it up and they'd feed right away. (I did this many times, too.) Sometimes, the tamer ones would sit on her shoulder for a moment or two. Her hummingbirds were very important and brought such joy into her life. She had a few feeders hung up outside her apartment sliding glass door at her retirement facility. She enjoyed sitting outside, crocheting and watching them feed until the day she died. Whenever I see hummingbirds, I think of my mother. 😊 Thanks for sharing your videos!
I use a straw brush cleaner! Works perfectly and the / bottle/ glass sponge with handle works great for cleaning the wide mouth feeders. Those dollar tree feeders are to hard to keep clean unless you clean them every 3 days! I also wrap foil around the plastic part to reflect heat and keep the nectar cooler
@@rocio2917 I bought a bag of mascara brushes at the dollar store. I of course use a toothbrush, a bottle brush and a new sponge every 4 days (that’s only used for the feeders, not dishes). I get the big bag of sponges from Costco.
@@judiland7772 Thank you! I used the Clorox idea with 1/4 cup Clorox and 5 cups water, left the part in for about 45 minutes just soaking and then rinsed until the smell is gone. As far as I can tell, it works great!
Those are good duel major, I am a wildlife management and animal science, luckily I have a best friend who is a ornithologist and my hummingbird expert
@@HummingbirdSpot The slime that you detect on the feeders is biofilm forming and feeding on the sugar. Cleaning is not sterilizing so it doesn't take long with all that sugar for biofilm to start.
This was a very important video that changed my feeder cleaning habits- I will no longer be using dish soap to clean them, and will be sharing this with other hummer lovers.
Oh. My. GOD. Your video instruction is EXCELLENT, and I do not even have a hummingbird feeder, and may not ever have one. The reason I found this video was because I was looking up "how to clean a terracotta hummingbird feeder". The reason I was doing that is because a beautiful Nursery called Blue Moon Gardens in Edom, Texas (where I am from), promoted a terracotta hummingbird feeder from Mexico. Someone in the comments said that it looked like it might be harder to clean. I cannot find any instructions on how to clean a terracotta hummingbird feeder from Mexico, but I came across your video. Your instructions are so precise, thorough, on point, and excellent, not to mention that you went to college for chemical whatever - 😁, sorry....I can't recall exactly what you said. I am so impressed with this video. It seems to cover all of the important points. If I ever have a hummingbird feeder, I will come back to this video. That being said, if this hummingbird feeder that the person I know is selling, does not have an interior coating, do you have any tips about cleaning it? I do not know if it has a coating or not. So maybe give the information regarding whether it has a coating or not. I heard that you said you went to South American countries a lot. Maybe you have come across these hummingbird feeders.
Glad to see your using First Nature feeders. We have tried most brands but First Nature is simply the best. We maintain our 20 feeders with a thorough rinse of hot tap water after a dip in 30 to 1 bleach. Also, we hang our feeders in shaded locations.
My first feeders were plastic & they grew mold very fast. I switched to glass feeders which are like upside down jars. I haven’t seen mold since and they are very easy to clean. I will start using vinegar right away. Thank you for the excellent information!
Wow, I've been doing everything wrong. I need to throw away my pretty glass feeder with no access to the inside except the four little feeder holes and buy a more practical feeder. No wonder I only saw one hummingbird the months I had my feeder out. TH-cam fed me your hatch-watch channel yesterday and now I'm hooked on hummingbirds again. Thanks for the lesson.
One rule of thumb: If you cannot get inside of your feeder, you cannot clean it properly and the hummingbirds will shun it. You don't like to eat from dirty plates either!
@@HummingbirdSpot I just ordered one that looks just like yours and I pick it up tomorrow. I live in Orlando, FL and I've only seen a few hummingbirds in the 50 years I've lived here.
If you have to buy the hard to clean feeders, buy more than you need, so you can keep fresh clean ones inside to use when you need to change your outside feeders. Just fill the clean ones, put them out, bring in the dirty ones, and it gives you time to properly clean/soak them before using them again.
Wow.... I’m so glad I saw this video. I’ve been dying to put some feeders out but had no idea it was so involved and time consuming. If I had to keep throwing out perfectly good solution to clean the feeders everyday I couldn’t afford to keep buying such an enormous supply of the solution. At least I know it’s something I won’t be able to do because I certainly would want to avoid anything that would make those beautiful forces of nature sick.
@@cheeteriah I boil altogether. Don't forget to stir! Don't boil for too long. Once boiling starts, remove & let cool (This is how they make Simple Syrup for cocktails)
Sugar is afterwards and please ONLY use white granular sugar! No syrup or dye’s or any other kind of sugar. If you want only make what you need as to not waste it or put rest in fridge up to a week only! When my first hummingbirds show up there is only a few males first before the females arrive a couple weeks later. I only make 1 cup of water boiled and cooled to 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
The brushing is great! After the brushing... swabbing with a soft dish wand or cloth gets what the bristles can miss. Think...you can't get windows really clean with only a brush. Don't forget to also sanitize the brushes and dish wand/cloth after using. Great video!
A possible answer to why your feeders are so moldy is the way you are scrubbing them with firm, sharp bristles. This gives the mold somewhere to grow rapidly inside all the scratches and grooves in the plastic surface that are created by the hard bristles. Use only a soft, non abrasive rag to clean a new feeder. Replace all scratched plastic feeders with new smooth feeders and the algae should be kept at bay. Good luck and love your videos!
Thanks for bringing awareness about this. We use lots of different size brushes to make sure we get it really clean. I also like to feed the song birds so I also clean their feeder regularly and clean the bird baths daily and refill with fresh water. When you keep up with it, you will have beautiful birds in your yard all day long which is the richest reward.
I have four feeders, all alike. They disassemble completely and are easy to clean. I fill a plastic dishpan with hot sudsy water and add a bit of chlorine bleach. They soak about 10 minutes. Then I brush and rinse thoroughly, and set the parts on a dish towel to drain. I do this each time I fill the feeders.
Thanks for the video. I have two feeders, and one can air dry while I fill the other. Our Anna’s hummers stay here all year, so I’ve been known to change the feeder three times a day due to freezing! I clean them every single time I refill, just thought that’s what we were supposed to do
I am so happy to hear this - you surely love your birds and are informed. You don't know how many people hang a feeder because it is the "current thing to do" and just forget about it.
I have three hummingbird feeders that I rotate out and put in my dishwasher. I use dishwasher detergent with bleach. Part of my emptying the dishwasher routine is to refill the clean hummingbird feeder and switch it out. I still have to go into the small holes and crevices with a pipe cleaner, and give them a good rinse in vinegar to make sure there is no build up, but I find that washing them in the dishwasher first makes it feel easier and I am more likely to remember to do it if its ingrained as part of my daily (or every other day) chores. This is not a way to keep hummingbirds completely safe, but I find it is the most practical way I have found to keep up with cleaning, otherwise I forget.
So glad to find this. I scrub my feeders but didn’t get all this info when I bought them. They said not to use anything but water & a brush. I’m so glad to know more now!
Carol, I have an issue with my hummingbird feeder, they keep fighting, I want to stop tht, but I don’t know how. Do you know what can I do to make them stop fighting?
Thank you, Carol! I learned so much from this video. This is our first year having a hummingbird feeder. The tag on the feeder says how to clean it, but not how often. We only have one pair of hummingbirds, so they don't use the food very quickly. We were wondering if we just let them use it up more before emptying and cleaning, but were thinking that sugar water outside would certainly go bad. Now I know to just make small batches of food and clean the feeder every few days max (high temperatures here have been in the 50's and 60's). Thank you again for this helpful video and for showing us the beauty of so many unique and lovely hummingbirds in your videos!🙂👍
If high temps are in 50-60 degrees range you should be able to leave the same food out for a week and probably a few extra days. Maybe a couple of weeks. Nothing is likely to grow in that time at those low temps. This time of year temps are in 90's and I leave out at least 4 to 5 days. Right now the hummers use it up really fast. I have 3 feeders that are used up in about 3 days right now. I'm sure some is due to evaporation. I also have ladder back woodpeckers and orioles who use the humming bird sugar water! Big thieves!
Thanks for the warning about vinegar and hydrogen peroxide! I didn't know! Also the info about old Clorox! Things I never knew! Really terrific video, Carole! Much appreciated!
Your collection of brushes is awesome!! I was in stitches when you used the dollar store brush. It looked like you were angry with the feeder. Wrenched that brush around and then threw it on the counter. Hahaha. You're a no-nonsense brush user!! I think that feeder may have had a "brush with death". Only 3 things I can add...1. I use brushes designed to clean the inside of a plastic or metal straw. I believe they come in different sizes. I use them for a ton of different things. They work well on the feeder holes. 2. I have a chain mail square that I use on my cast iron pans. It's floppy so it slides inside the main part of the feeder. I add soap and a little water and then I shake it and swirl it to slide the chain mail all over the inside. That works pretty well too. 3. get rid of the yellow plastic flowers. The hummers don't need them.
Thank you so much for making this video. My pet peeve, dirty hummingbird feeders. People have become interested in bird feeding because of covid, and there are triple the number of feeders in the neighborhood this year. I can actually see that the feeders are dirty as I walk by. How can one tactfully tell their neighbors to either keep the feeders clean, or don't feed them at all. I've actually seen a hummingbird come to my feeder who obviously had a swollen tongue. I was devastated. I recorded it so I could research what the problem was, and found out about this condition.
I would anonymously drop off graphic flyers showing what happens to them when they get an infection from filthy feeders. Maybe include some educational resources they can check out too... like this video!
It’s heartbreaking to see them harmed by people who mean well but don’t take the time or put forth any effort to make sure they know what they’re doing to prevent injury or worse.
This was exactly what was on my mind... my neighbor has a feeder that doesn't get cleaned but I don't say anything so I won't offend him. What to do? Anyway thanks for the information and I only hope people will soon know how to take care of our sweet little ones soon!
I use brushes too (I have 10 feeders that I have to refill some times everyday) and for the holes I use the tiny interdental brushes they are really good! I wash them every time I refill and every couple of weeks I soak them in an antibacterial antifungal solution or vinegar with water just in case something remains in the difficult to reach areas. Great video!
Great video. I first clean with just a drop or two of Dawn dishing soap and hot water. I follow that with a washing with white vinegar that is left to stand about a 1/2 hour before rinsing with hot water. Dry, fill then hang.
I’ve watched a # of other videos and by far this one is one of the Best … A lot of others do NOT have the level detail given here Or give Listeners Misinformation
That was really thorough. Thanks for telling us the Clorox weakens over time. Also, I use vinegar to clean everything, now I can use it for the feeders. After you clean the feeders should you dry them off with a clean, soft cloth to get any damp off of them?
Thank you so much for making this video since I've done the Things you've said. My feeder is so much better 😌 I just got done cleaning my hummingbird feeder
Thank you so much for the tutorial! Soaking the feeder in plain water after a chlorine wash and fresh water first rinse should get into all the nooks and crannies if you're worried about not getting all the chlorine wash water out. I used to do that for my fish tank parts. Wash, rinse under running water then immerse a minute in fresh water soak and swish it around before draining
Great info. Thank you. I have 7 feeders around in the backyard with at least 40 hummers. I clean and fill feeders at least twice a day with warm water and brushes. Your video has taught me to use vinegar for better cleaning. I really appreciate the information!
Woah! Seriously!? 40 Hummers??? With just 7? How far apart do you have them set? And is there a water source? I have one but with one bird guarding it 😅 I wanted a setup where I see at least a dozen in my yard. I would having 2 or 3 more feeders do the trick???????
@@sexymexijesse My feeders have 10 ports for the hummers. Several of the feeders are about 8 ft apart hanging along a fence. The rest are hanging in a tree that are close together. Occasionally there is a bully bird but he/she can't guard all the feeders. I have also set up a solar fountain but they just ignore it for some reason. Good Luck, they are so fun to watch.
Thanks, very informative video. My single feeder has holes just large enough for q-tips so that scrubs the holes and surrounding areas. I use a bottle brush for the main compartments. I'm now planning to get one more so that I can have a replacement feeder ready to fill and replace instantly. There was a day when I noticed one of them hovering and looking for the feeder and it was still soaking.... I had to hurry and make more sugar water and scrub the feeder. I could almost hear it sigh looking for it. I'm guessing that your life revolves around their happiness, health and well being and hope you have some time for your own meal breaks... :)
I just bought a feeder and I remember hearing in the past about the importance of keeping them squeaky clean. Your video was perfect. Thank you. I am a new subscriber now. The tip about vitamin C was awesome. I like to use bleach to disinfect but was afraid I would not be able to rinse well enough. Perfect solution! (Pardon the pun! Lol)
Lately I've only been filling my feeders up ,not even half full. I don't use bleach, I use dawn soap, and very hot water. It seems to get my feeders clean. I scrub everything, like no ones business. Thank you for the helpful video. I love my little hummers.
I am in Martinique and this is useful. The birds have been quiet lately and there is one taken to perching on the feeder. Calling it home I guess to ward off others. But they are a beautiful sight.
Microbiologist.... I use glass and metal feeders. I boil my water and sugar in the microwave. I use a large glass measuring cup with a pour spout. In the sink I add the hot solution into the upside down feeder and add the bottom. I let it slowly cool overnight. This kills most microbes in the feeder and solution. Thanks for all of your tips!! I use your vinegar tip and space my feeders apart so they can't be easily seen by the defender! :-)
I always use glass feeders and I fill four of them for six hummingbirds. I'm in AZ. and they are in the hot sun part of the day. Occasionally, we get ants, so if that happens I clean and replace the feeders. I have NEVER seen any black mold, but flying insects can get into the solution sometimes. The hummingbirds are black chinned and/or Calliope and they have been healthy and frequent visitors. I use Dawn soap and/or spray with a vinegar window cleaning solution while rinsing well. I have noted the slippery surface - I check that every time, but no mold ever. I greatly appreciate your advise and try to keep our little miracle friends happy and healthy. I replace the sugar water usually in a matter of days - probably in 3 or 4 days. We get the woodpeckers visiting, too, but they are very funny trying to get nectar with their big beaks - they tend to spill much of the solution, too. I spray insecticide on the stem of the Shepard's Hooks and at it's base to discourage ants. Certainly, it's wonderful to have a source like you for advise and I enjoyed your trip up the Andes in Ecuador, too. I remember in Brazil the hummingbirds can be as large as sparrows and there's huge flowers everywhere.
Your videos are always so informative - thank you! I've been using ECOS liquid soaps and that seems to be working and switched to wide mouth glass feeder.
Carol, I have a single "flying saucer" feeder hanging at any given time, and a second clean feeder is always ready to go. My own cleaning technique uses Palmolive green dish soap and water, with a dedicated sponge not used for anything else but these feeders. I use the sponge (and not the greenie scouring pad) to avoid scratching the plastic surfaces because a scuffed-up feeder makes it harder to see the contents inside. I also think a scratched feeder gives more hiding places for microbes! Once cleaned and thoroughly rinsed the spare feeder is hung up to air dry in the kitchen. It's "on call", ready for the next nectar refresh!
I did not get into using dish soap on this video because I prefer to disinfect the feeders without having to boil them. Unless you are using an anti-bacterial soap, dish soap does not kill bacteria. It is a surfactant that lifts the bacteria off of the surface to be washed away. To actually kill the bacteria you would have to use scalding hot water. Dish soap WILL kill viruses, because virus coats are made of lipid membranes which are disrupted by the soap. But as long as you are vigilant and change your feeder very often (daily in hot weather), your method should work fine.
Thanks so much for the Vitamin C tip!! I frequently worry about cleaning my fish tank decorations in bleach (which works best), but often takes forever for the smell to get out of the decorations.
I love those feeders, too! After using different types over the years, I’ve found Aspects are the easiest to clean - no nooks and crannies to struggle with. I have 12 small ones and two large ones.
Great info on the vitamin C! Btw I have the same kind of toaster/bagel oven. Unfortunately Sanyo stopped making them years ago and mines on it's last leg.
I love my hummingbird feeder it’s called so real single flower feeder. It only uses 1 cup of nectar. So 4 tablespoons of sugar. Easy to clean I just use a toothbrush I bought from dollar tree.
I appreciate your video. I have glass feeders and they have those flowers. I'll remove them, but I can't see going through so much Nectar by changing it out several times a day. I enjoy watching them (territorial), but wouldn't want to interrupt their activity doing that.
How would someone know if they've rinsed the feeder well enough after soaking in the Clorox dilution? I tried rinsing until smell was gone or mostly gone.
Thank you for sharing such great information. I started hanging a feeder after I moved to a new home and a hummer flew right up to my face and stared at me. Now have 2 adults and 3 juvenile hummers (possibly offspring?) And they were fighting over the 1. So I hung a 2nd bigger feeder. Due to your video I now know I have to step up the cleaning. Was just washing with hot water and dawn. How long before these 5 birds realize there is enough for everyone and the fighting stops????
I have some nice little brushes that I buy from Amazon that are made to get in the holes of the hummingbird feeders. I have bought several sets of them, because they come in handy for many other things around the house too.. I have hung hummingbird feeders for severalyears now. I pass on lots of my pointers to my friends.. One of the tips I give my friends is to buy the exact brand of feeder that you are showing here. First Nature. I learned the hard way that fancy glass feeders, aren't always practical. I swear by the the plastic ones made by First Nature because there easy to clean, easy to assemble, the holes are big enough that they attract Orioles where I live in the Spring.. And they have a perch for the hummingbirds to perch! There are also affordable!
Damn right, Carol! I disinfect our feeders at every sugar water change every few days, depending on environmental conditions, w/ food service concentration bleach solution, scrub with a variety of bottle brushes, and neutralize w/white vinegar. I pour the bleach solution into succeeding feeder tanks, scrub and continue. Same with neutralizing with vinegar: pour into the next tank, slosh, etc. Economy of resources without sacrificing the integrity of the process. To the others who roll their eyes: if you don't want to put in the effort, then don't be a lazyass and put out feeders if you won't maintain them to a high standard. It's so easy to be a hack. Indeed, we love our hummers (of all kinds) and want to treat them the best we can. Sorry to be such a hardass, but it really is a simple concept.
I clean all my feeders at least every other day I use dish soap and a tooth brush to clean most of the surfaces and I put drop of dish soap on a mascara brush and clean the ports with that's I make sure I rinse it off real good with hot water and dry it a little bit and I figure that's a good way to clean them
The important thing is to keep them clean. Dish soap is not recommended anymore by either Cornell or Audubon. If you rinse it enough it should be fine. Remember, though, that dish soap does not kill bacteria. It is a surfactant that lifts the bacteria from the surface. It does not kill it. It will kill viruses, though.
Hello. I got tied of so much scrubbing , so I went to the feeders that are a bowl with a lid hanging from a rod. So easy to get to all the places to clean. Just like washing a bowl. They are alittle more expensive but so worth the 💰 money. Just a suggestion. They are great.
Thanks for video! I have been keeping extra sugar and water mix in fridge for refill. It’s only good for a few days? What does that mean for buying bottled mix from a store, which has probably been on shelf for a while…should we avoid both?
@@HummingbirdSpot Biofilm - wow, that's good to know I'll definitely not slack on the cleaning, thank you for the important information. Meanwhile, the black chinned, Anna's, broad tailed and ruby throats have arrived here on the northwest plateau of New Mexico 😀
I usually clean my feeders with scalding hot water, following with brushes. For the hard to clean parts, I use an old mascara brush or a toothbrush, and usually hand dry. I’ll share this info with others - thanks!
I read everywhere that you should air dry but it never mentions anything about just towel drying. It wouldn’t be harmful to towel dry it right? I just don’t like waiting for it to dry.
You don't have to wait for it to dry. As long as it is rinsed well and what is left is only water, fill and hang. The little bit of water in it will not make any difference.
I prefer a tiny feeder, and I only make half a cup of solution every 2-3 days. I only use dawn dishwashing liquid, pipecleaner for the holes. I did not know about the vitamin c trick! I will be using hydrogen peroxide from here on as well.
Excellent points concerning feeder designs, and I never knew about vitamin C. Thank you for the info. I am wondering if you ever had to repaint a feeder. I have several feeder that I've had for years,. They are weather faded, and I would like to repaint them red. The material I want to paint is heavy plastic. Should I be concerned which paint to use? If so, can you recommend a humming bird safe paint (if there is such a thing)?
I wouldn't repaint them. The hummingbirds don't care if they are faded. They only care about what is inside of them. So you would be painting them for YOU, rather than them. I would be concerned about paint flaking off the feeders, as paint won't adhere well to plastic that is out in the weather.
I understand the concern about flaking paint but there are new spray paints available for children's outside toys, that are regulated at least in the US, and could be an option. I would talk with someone in Lowe's (or one of those kinds of stores) to verify what's safest.
For the first time last year I had an issue with bees (I think they were honey bees) in my hummingbird feeders. I've been feeding for over 30 years and have never seen this type of behavior. I'm not talking one or two, I'm talking about fifty bees around one feeder, and more that died inside the feeders.....and several different types of feeders (bottle, flat, etc). This went on for over a month. I thoroughly cleaned the feeders and sanitized them daily. I threw out a couple of feeders that had large ports. I'm a little afraid this will happen again this year. Any suggestions if it does?
Love your hummingbird videos!!!! For years and years, my mother had a feeder in the side yard of our home, at the kitchen sink window so she could watch and talk to them while the little hummers fed. They got to know her very well by sight. When she was in the backyard and unaware that the feeder was empty, the little hummers would start buzzing around her head, then follow her to the back door. They'd be waiting for her at the front door when she came out with more "juice", then follow her to the feeder. After refilled, she'd hold it up and they'd feed right away. (I did this many times, too.) Sometimes, the tamer ones would sit on her shoulder for a moment or two. Her hummingbirds were very important and brought such joy into her life. She had a few feeders hung up outside her apartment sliding glass door at her retirement facility. She enjoyed sitting outside, crocheting and watching them feed until the day she died. Whenever I see hummingbirds, I think of my mother. 😊 Thanks for sharing your videos!
Beautiful!! Thank you for sharing that!
Such a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing!
What a beautiful memory ❣️❣️
I use a straw brush cleaner! Works perfectly and the / bottle/ glass sponge with handle works great for cleaning the wide mouth feeders. Those dollar tree feeders are to hard to keep clean unless you clean them every 3 days! I also wrap foil around the plastic part to reflect heat and keep the nectar cooler
Beautiful story......
I buy two of every feeder so it’s easy to have one to hang back up while washing the other one or letting it soak …. 😉💙💐
I have found that pipe cleaners are very useful for cleaning. Also, baby bottle brushes. Both of these are available at the dollar store.
Most of the brushes I use come from the Dollar Store also!
@@HummingbirdSpot I was wondering about the smaller ones for the holes.
@@rocio2917 I bought a bag of mascara brushes at the dollar store. I of course use a toothbrush, a bottle brush and a new sponge every 4 days (that’s only used for the feeders, not dishes). I get the big bag of sponges from Costco.
@@judiland7772 Thank you! I used the Clorox idea with 1/4 cup Clorox and 5 cups water, left the part in for about 45 minutes just soaking and then rinsed until the smell is gone. As far as I can tell, it works great!
Baby bouttles?
I loved this, this was incredible. How authentic, informative, and caring 💛
Carol you were major in Chemistry ! You are a scientific women with a love for nature !!! AWESOME
Actually I was a dual major in Chemistry and Biology. Thanks!
Those are good duel major, I am a wildlife management and animal science, luckily I have a best friend who is a ornithologist and my hummingbird expert
@@HummingbirdSpot The slime that you detect on the feeders is biofilm forming and feeding on the sugar. Cleaning is not sterilizing so it doesn't take long with all that sugar for biofilm to start.
This was a very important video that changed my feeder cleaning habits- I will no longer be using dish soap to clean them, and will be sharing this with other hummer lovers.
Oh. My. GOD. Your video instruction is EXCELLENT, and I do not even have a hummingbird feeder, and may not ever have one. The reason I found this video was because I was looking up "how to clean a terracotta hummingbird feeder". The reason I was doing that is because a beautiful Nursery called Blue Moon Gardens in Edom, Texas (where I am from), promoted a terracotta hummingbird feeder from Mexico. Someone in the comments said that it looked like it might be harder to clean. I cannot find any instructions on how to clean a terracotta hummingbird feeder from Mexico, but I came across your video. Your instructions are so precise, thorough, on point, and excellent, not to mention that you went to college for chemical whatever - 😁, sorry....I can't recall exactly what you said.
I am so impressed with this video. It seems to cover all of the important points. If I ever have a hummingbird feeder, I will come back to this video.
That being said, if this hummingbird feeder that the person I know is selling, does not have an interior coating, do you have any tips about cleaning it? I do not know if it has a coating or not. So maybe give the information regarding whether it has a coating or not. I heard that you said you went to South American countries a lot. Maybe you have come across these hummingbird feeders.
I had to watch this video multiple times because there is so much information in it. Thank you. I don't want to hurt the birds.
I've watched this video and shared it at least a dozen times by now
Glad to see your using First Nature feeders. We have tried most brands but First Nature is simply the best. We maintain our 20 feeders with a thorough rinse of hot tap water after a dip in 30 to 1 bleach. Also, we hang our feeders in shaded locations.
My first feeders were plastic & they grew mold very fast. I switched to glass feeders which are like upside down jars. I haven’t seen mold since and they are very easy to clean. I will start using vinegar right away. Thank you for the excellent information!
Wow, I've been doing everything wrong. I need to throw away my pretty glass feeder with no access to the inside except the four little feeder holes and buy a more practical feeder. No wonder I only saw one hummingbird the months I had my feeder out. TH-cam fed me your hatch-watch channel yesterday and now I'm hooked on hummingbirds again. Thanks for the lesson.
One rule of thumb: If you cannot get inside of your feeder, you cannot clean it properly and the hummingbirds will shun it. You don't like to eat from dirty plates either!
@@HummingbirdSpot I just ordered one that looks just like yours and I pick it up tomorrow. I live in Orlando, FL and I've only seen a few hummingbirds in the 50 years I've lived here.
I wouldn't throw out the glass ones... I was thinking light sterilization could be done with blacklights or low-temp oven stent, maybe?
How do you fill it if there is no other access to the inside?
Avoid plastic.
If you have to buy the hard to clean feeders, buy more than you need, so you can keep fresh clean ones inside to use when you need to change your outside feeders. Just fill the clean ones, put them out, bring in the dirty ones, and it gives you time to properly clean/soak them before using them again.
Thanks for sharing. Clean nectar & seeds feeders & water dispenser keeps the birds healthy.
Hi Carol! Thank you for making this video! You did a great job! Stay well! 💕😷
Thanks!
A lot of work to keep these birds fed. I don’t know if I would have the patience to keep this work up. Blessings to you and yours for doing so.
I'm 60 years old and learning something new every day. Thank you for sharing your insightful knowledge about hummingbirds other related matters.
Wow.... I’m so glad I saw this video. I’ve been dying to put some feeders out but had no idea it was so involved and time consuming. If I had to keep throwing out perfectly good solution to clean the feeders everyday I couldn’t afford to keep buying such an enormous supply of the solution. At least I know it’s something I won’t be able to do because I certainly would want to avoid anything that would make those beautiful forces of nature sick.
Make your own, 4 to 1 ratio. 4cups water/1cup sugar. Bring to boil...let cool.
@@karengeyer6816 Is the sugar put in before or after you bring the water to a boil??
@@cheeteriah I boil altogether. Don't forget to stir! Don't boil for too long. Once boiling starts, remove & let cool
(This is how they make Simple Syrup for cocktails)
Sugar is afterwards and please ONLY use white granular sugar! No syrup or dye’s or any other kind of sugar. If you want only make what you need as to not waste it or put rest in fridge up to a week only! When my first hummingbirds show up there is only a few males first before the females arrive a couple weeks later. I only make 1 cup of water boiled and cooled to 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
The brushing is great!
After the brushing... swabbing with a soft dish wand or cloth gets what the bristles can miss. Think...you can't get windows really clean with only a brush.
Don't forget to also sanitize the brushes and dish wand/cloth after using.
Great video!
A possible answer to why your feeders are so moldy is the way you are scrubbing them with firm, sharp bristles. This gives the mold somewhere to grow rapidly inside all the scratches and grooves in the plastic surface that are created by the hard bristles. Use only a soft, non abrasive rag to clean a new feeder. Replace all scratched plastic feeders with new smooth feeders and the algae should be kept at bay. Good luck and love your videos!
Carole, Thanks a lot. I love this video. You are the best.
Thanks for bringing awareness about this. We use lots of different size brushes to make sure we get it really clean. I also like to feed the song birds so I also clean their feeder regularly and clean the bird baths daily and refill with fresh water. When you keep up with it, you will have beautiful birds in your yard all day long which is the richest reward.
I have four feeders, all alike. They disassemble completely and are easy to clean. I fill a plastic dishpan with hot sudsy water and add a bit of chlorine bleach. They soak about 10 minutes. Then I brush and rinse thoroughly, and set the parts on a dish towel to drain. I do this each time I fill the feeders.
This woman is a treasure. ❤
Thanks for the video.
I have two feeders, and one can air dry while I fill the other.
Our Anna’s hummers stay here all year, so I’ve been known to change the feeder three times a day due to freezing!
I clean them every single time I refill, just thought that’s what we were supposed to do
I am so happy to hear this - you surely love your birds and are informed. You don't know how many people hang a feeder because it is the "current thing to do" and just forget about it.
Great info to take care of our precious hummingbirds- thank you!
I have three hummingbird feeders that I rotate out and put in my dishwasher. I use dishwasher detergent with bleach. Part of my emptying the dishwasher routine is to refill the clean hummingbird feeder and switch it out. I still have to go into the small holes and crevices with a pipe cleaner, and give them a good rinse in vinegar to make sure there is no build up, but I find that washing them in the dishwasher first makes it feel easier and I am more likely to remember to do it if its ingrained as part of my daily (or every other day) chores. This is not a way to keep hummingbirds completely safe, but I find it is the most practical way I have found to keep up with cleaning, otherwise I forget.
So glad to find this. I scrub my feeders but didn’t get all this info when I bought them. They said not to use anything but water & a brush. I’m so glad to know more now!
Thank you for your video, very educational
I''m so happy you liked it. It is so important to keep those feeders clean!
Carol, I have an issue with my hummingbird feeder, they keep fighting, I want to stop tht, but I don’t know how. Do you know what can I do to make them stop fighting?
@@thomasm777 try putting out 2 feeders a distance from each other.
Thank you, Carol! I learned so much from this video. This is our first year having a hummingbird feeder. The tag on the feeder says how to clean it, but not how often. We only have one pair of hummingbirds, so they don't use the food very quickly. We were wondering if we just let them use it up more before emptying and cleaning, but were thinking that sugar water outside would certainly go bad. Now I know to just make small batches of food and clean the feeder every few days max (high temperatures here have been in the 50's and 60's). Thank you again for this helpful video and for showing us the beauty of so many unique and lovely hummingbirds in your videos!🙂👍
If high temps are in 50-60 degrees range you should be able to leave the same food out for a week and probably a few extra days. Maybe a couple of weeks. Nothing is likely to grow in that time at those low temps. This time of year temps are in 90's and I leave out at least 4 to 5 days. Right now the hummers use it up really fast. I have 3 feeders that are used up in about 3 days right now. I'm sure some is due to evaporation. I also have ladder back woodpeckers and orioles who use the humming bird sugar water! Big thieves!
Thank you for the information to help us feed hummingbirds safely!
Great information Carole! I love your channel I have learned so much from you especially from the live chat! Thank you 😊
Love having you on there!
Thanks for the warning about vinegar and hydrogen peroxide! I didn't know! Also the info about old Clorox! Things I never knew! Really terrific video, Carole! Much appreciated!
Your collection of brushes is awesome!! I was in stitches when you used the dollar store brush. It looked like you were angry with the feeder. Wrenched that brush around and then threw it on the counter. Hahaha. You're a no-nonsense brush user!! I think that feeder may have had a "brush with death". Only 3 things I can add...1. I use brushes designed to clean the inside of a plastic or metal straw. I believe they come in different sizes. I use them for a ton of different things. They work well on the feeder holes. 2. I have a chain mail square that I use on my cast iron pans. It's floppy so it slides inside the main part of the feeder. I add soap and a little water and then I shake it and swirl it to slide the chain mail all over the inside. That works pretty well too. 3. get rid of the yellow plastic flowers. The hummers don't need them.
Thanks, this was helpful, I am seeing many Hummingbirds this year in my yard. I have also been having fun doing close up video's of them feeding.
Thank you so much for making this video. My pet peeve, dirty hummingbird feeders. People have become interested in bird feeding because of covid, and there are triple the number of feeders in the neighborhood this year. I can actually see that the feeders are dirty as I walk by. How can one tactfully tell their neighbors to either keep the feeders clean, or don't feed them at all. I've actually seen a hummingbird come to my feeder who obviously had a swollen tongue. I was devastated. I recorded it so I could research what the problem was, and found out about this condition.
It does make me sad when people out of ignorance end up harming the birds they are feeding. All we can do is teach and hope people listen!
I would anonymously drop off graphic flyers showing what happens to them when they get an infection from filthy feeders. Maybe include some educational resources they can check out too... like this video!
@@tyler6320 good idea, Tyler. It's hard not to become discouraged when I see it.
It’s heartbreaking to see them harmed by people who mean well but don’t take the time or put forth any effort to make sure they know what they’re doing to prevent injury or worse.
This was exactly what was on my mind... my neighbor has a feeder that doesn't get cleaned but I don't say anything so I won't offend him. What to do? Anyway thanks for the information and I only hope people will soon know how to take care of our sweet little ones soon!
I love following you! I am new to hummingbird care, and you have helped me so much! Thank you!
I use brushes too (I have 10 feeders that I have to refill some times everyday) and for the holes I use the tiny interdental brushes they are really good! I wash them every time I refill and every couple of weeks I soak them in an antibacterial antifungal solution or vinegar with water just in case something remains in the difficult to reach areas. Great video!
Thanks! It sounds like you are well on top of things and keeping your hummingbirds healthy!
Great video. I first clean with just a drop or two of Dawn dishing soap and hot water. I follow that with a washing with white vinegar that is left to stand about a 1/2 hour before rinsing with hot water. Dry, fill then hang.
Any way you keep them clean is great! Thanks for treating your hummingbirds well.
Carole, you are awesome. Thanks for making these videos!
I’ve watched a # of other videos and by far this one is one of the Best … A lot of others do NOT have the level detail given here Or give Listeners Misinformation
So glad I found you! Very informative and pleasant. Thank you
That was really thorough. Thanks for telling us the Clorox weakens over time. Also, I use vinegar to clean everything, now I can use it for the feeders. After you clean the feeders should you dry them off with a clean, soft cloth to get any damp off of them?
I don't. If it is just water I don't really worry about it.
@@carole5262 Thanks
Thank you for all you do to show us these beautiful birds God has created. ❤❤
Thank you I need to clean my hummingbird feeder’s more often.
Thank you so much for making this video since I've done the
Things you've said. My feeder is so much better 😌 I just got done cleaning my hummingbird feeder
Thank you so much for the tutorial! Soaking the feeder in plain water after a chlorine wash and fresh water first rinse should get into all the nooks and crannies if you're worried about not getting all the chlorine wash water out. I used to do that for my fish tank parts. Wash, rinse under running water then immerse a minute in fresh water soak and swish it around before draining
Great info. Thank you. I have 7 feeders around in the backyard with at least 40 hummers. I clean and fill feeders at least twice a day with warm water and brushes. Your video has taught me to use vinegar for better cleaning. I really appreciate the information!
Woah! Seriously!? 40 Hummers??? With just 7? How far apart do you have them set? And is there a water source?
I have one but with one bird guarding it 😅 I wanted a setup where I see at least a dozen in my yard. I would having 2 or 3 more feeders do the trick???????
@@sexymexijesse My feeders have 10 ports for the hummers. Several of the feeders are about 8 ft apart hanging along a fence. The rest are hanging in a tree that are close together. Occasionally there is a bully bird but he/she can't guard all the feeders. I have also set up a solar fountain but they just ignore it for some reason. Good Luck, they are so fun to watch.
When did you start with your humming birds? I love them too Carol 🥰
Thanks, very informative video. My single feeder has holes just large enough for q-tips so that scrubs the holes and surrounding areas. I use a bottle brush for the main compartments. I'm now planning to get one more so that I can have a replacement feeder ready to fill and replace instantly. There was a day when I noticed one of them hovering and looking for the feeder and it was still soaking.... I had to hurry and make more sugar water and scrub the feeder. I could almost hear it sigh looking for it. I'm guessing that your life revolves around their happiness, health and well being and hope you have some time for your own meal breaks... :)
Very Informative, thank you!
I know it is a lot of work, but keeping our hummingbirds healthy is of great importance!
I just bought a feeder and I remember hearing in the past about the importance of keeping them squeaky clean. Your video was perfect. Thank you. I am a new subscriber now. The tip about vitamin C was awesome. I like to use bleach to disinfect but was afraid I would not be able to rinse well enough. Perfect solution! (Pardon the pun! Lol)
Lately I've only been filling my feeders up ,not even half full. I don't use bleach, I use dawn soap, and very hot water. It seems to get my feeders clean. I scrub everything, like no ones business. Thank you for the helpful video. I love my little hummers.
My plastic feeders (same one you showed in 1:00 ) are cleaned every day with dawn soap, so it is not a problem.
Great video! I use the long handle, mini brushes that come with Reusable straws to clean the ports on my feeder. It works real well.
Let's keep are hummingbird friends healthy
I am in Martinique and this is useful. The birds have been quiet lately and there is one taken to perching on the feeder. Calling it home I guess to ward off others. But they are a beautiful sight.
Microbiologist.... I use glass and metal feeders. I boil my water and sugar in the microwave. I use a large glass measuring cup with a pour spout. In the sink I add the hot solution into the upside down feeder and add the bottom. I let it slowly cool overnight. This kills most microbes in the feeder and solution. Thanks for all of your tips!! I use your vinegar tip and space my feeders apart so they can't be easily seen by the defender! :-)
Very informative! Thank You !
I always use glass feeders and I fill four of them for six hummingbirds. I'm in AZ. and they are in the hot sun part of the day. Occasionally, we get ants, so if that happens I clean and replace the feeders. I have NEVER seen any black mold, but flying insects can get into the solution sometimes. The hummingbirds are black chinned and/or Calliope and they have been healthy and frequent visitors. I use Dawn soap and/or spray with a vinegar window cleaning solution while rinsing well. I have noted the slippery surface - I check that every time, but no mold ever. I greatly appreciate your advise and try to keep our little miracle friends happy and healthy. I replace the sugar water usually in a matter of days - probably in 3 or 4 days. We get the woodpeckers visiting, too, but they are very funny trying to get nectar with their big beaks - they tend to spill much of the solution, too. I spray insecticide on the stem of the Shepard's Hooks and at it's base to discourage ants. Certainly, it's wonderful to have a source like you for advise and I enjoyed your trip up the Andes in Ecuador, too. I remember in Brazil the hummingbirds can be as large as sparrows and there's huge flowers everywhere.
Thank you Carol!
Your videos are always so informative - thank you! I've been using ECOS liquid soaps and that seems to be working and switched to wide mouth glass feeder.
Carol, I have a single "flying saucer" feeder hanging at any given time, and a second clean feeder is always ready to go. My own cleaning technique uses Palmolive green dish soap and water, with a dedicated sponge not used for anything else but these feeders. I use the sponge (and not the greenie scouring pad) to avoid scratching the plastic surfaces because a scuffed-up feeder makes it harder to see the contents inside. I also think a scratched feeder gives more hiding places for microbes! Once cleaned and thoroughly rinsed the spare feeder is hung up to air dry in the kitchen. It's "on call", ready for the next nectar refresh!
I did not get into using dish soap on this video because I prefer to disinfect the feeders without having to boil them. Unless you are using an anti-bacterial soap, dish soap does not kill bacteria. It is a surfactant that lifts the bacteria off of the surface to be washed away. To actually kill the bacteria you would have to use scalding hot water. Dish soap WILL kill viruses, because virus coats are made of lipid membranes which are disrupted by the soap. But as long as you are vigilant and change your feeder very often (daily in hot weather), your method should work fine.
Thanks so much for the Vitamin C tip!! I frequently worry about cleaning my fish tank decorations in bleach (which works best), but often takes forever for the smell to get out of the decorations.
thanks for the video. it was really helpful :)
You're welcome. People need to be encouraged to clean feeders like THEY were eating from them.
You are amazing I have learned so much. I only use Dawn dish detergent but now. I will now clean with Vinegar Thank You. ♥️
Thank-you Carol for the excellent video.☮️
Super video! Thank you!
Thanks for the tips!!!
I use the feeders called HummZinger & HummBlossom by Aspects. Super, SUPER easy to clean👌🏻
They are really great feeders! But they are a little too small for my crowd!
I love those feeders, too! After using different types over the years, I’ve found Aspects are the easiest to clean - no nooks and crannies to struggle with. I have 12 small ones and two large ones.
This video was extremely helpful. You are a warm, sincere lady that I enjoy learning from! I can't wait for the return of my hummers this spring!
Great info on the vitamin C! Btw I have the same kind of toaster/bagel oven. Unfortunately Sanyo stopped making them years ago and mines on it's last leg.
Oh no! I LOVE that oven.
I love my hummingbird feeder it’s called so real single flower feeder. It only uses 1 cup of nectar. So 4 tablespoons of sugar. Easy to clean I just use a toothbrush I bought from dollar tree.
Thanks for all the Imfo. I could never find a brush smaller to fit my feeder..So I use a toothbrush] ... Its works good on my small glass feeder.
Thank you so much for this video! I've always wanted to feed hummingbirds safely
I appreciate your video. I have glass feeders and they have those flowers. I'll remove them, but I can't see going through so much Nectar by changing it out several times a day. I enjoy watching them (territorial), but wouldn't want to interrupt their activity doing that.
How would someone know if they've rinsed the feeder well enough after soaking in the Clorox dilution? I tried rinsing until smell was gone or mostly gone.
Very helpful. Thank you.❤
Thank you for your videos
Thank You🤗
Thank you for sharing such great information. I started hanging a feeder after I moved to a new home and a hummer flew right up to my face and stared at me. Now have 2 adults and 3 juvenile hummers (possibly offspring?) And they were fighting over the 1. So I hung a 2nd bigger feeder. Due to your video I now know I have to step up the cleaning. Was just washing with hot water and dawn. How long before these 5 birds realize there is enough for everyone and the fighting stops????
Keep your feeders at least 8 feet apart because they fight over territory.
Your video's great. Thank you. None of those brushes were metal were they? Just stiff composite bristles?
No metal
Thank you
Very nice video!!! Thanks
I have some nice little brushes that I buy from Amazon that are made to get in the holes of the hummingbird feeders. I have bought several sets of them, because they come in handy for many other things around the house too.. I have hung hummingbird feeders for severalyears now. I pass on lots of my pointers to my friends.. One of the tips I give my friends is to buy the exact brand of feeder that you are showing here. First Nature. I learned the hard way that fancy glass feeders, aren't always practical. I swear by the the plastic ones made by First Nature because there easy to clean, easy to assemble, the holes are big enough that they attract Orioles where I live in the Spring.. And they have a perch for the hummingbirds to perch! There are also affordable!
Damn right, Carol! I disinfect our feeders at every sugar water change every few days, depending on environmental conditions, w/ food service concentration bleach solution, scrub with a variety of bottle brushes, and neutralize w/white vinegar. I pour the bleach solution into succeeding feeder tanks, scrub and continue. Same with neutralizing with vinegar: pour into the next tank, slosh, etc. Economy of resources without sacrificing the integrity of the process.
To the others who roll their eyes: if you don't want to put in the effort, then don't be a lazyass and put out feeders if you won't maintain them to a high standard. It's so easy to be a hack.
Indeed, we love our hummers (of all kinds) and want to treat them the best we can.
Sorry to be such a hardass, but it really is a simple concept.
I only have one feeder to keep up, I can’t imagine having as many as this lady; the upkeep would nearly become a full-time job. Whew😅
Merci! This was sent to family and friends.
Great video. Thank you. Where do you get your feeders?
amzn.to/2VfxD5d
I clean all my feeders at least every other day I use dish soap and a tooth brush to clean most of the surfaces and I put drop of dish soap on a mascara brush and clean the ports with that's I make sure I rinse it off real good with hot water and dry it a little bit and I figure that's a good way to clean them
The important thing is to keep them clean. Dish soap is not recommended anymore by either Cornell or Audubon. If you rinse it enough it should be fine. Remember, though, that dish soap does not kill bacteria. It is a surfactant that lifts the bacteria from the surface. It does not kill it. It will kill viruses, though.
Hello. I got tied of so much scrubbing , so I went to the feeders that are a bowl with a lid hanging from a rod. So easy to get to all the places to clean. Just like washing a bowl. They are alittle more expensive but so worth the 💰 money. Just a suggestion. They are great.
Great video I love it 👍🤝
Thanks for watching.
very nice information ty
Thank you for spending time with us, Sam at horizon!
Thank you so much! ❤
Where do you buy your feeders? I hate the one I have as it is glass and I like yours a lot. Thank you for all your information and love for nature.
Thanks for video! I have been keeping extra sugar and water mix in fridge for refill. It’s only good for a few days? What does that mean for buying bottled mix from a store, which has probably been on shelf for a while…should we avoid both?
The stuff from the store has preservatives in it. Definitely not good for the hummers.
Good Morning, yes I have dedicated brushes, and clean everytime I refill, I think the slimy stuff might be algae🤔
Someone in the know informed me that the slimy stuff is "biofilm." Washing that off everytime we refill is important!
@@HummingbirdSpot Biofilm - wow, that's good to know I'll definitely not slack on the cleaning, thank you for the important information. Meanwhile, the black chinned, Anna's, broad tailed and ruby throats have arrived here on the northwest plateau of New Mexico 😀
Thank you.
I usually clean my feeders with scalding hot water, following with brushes. For the hard to clean parts, I use an old mascara brush or a toothbrush, and usually hand dry. I’ll share this info with others - thanks!
Thank you!
I read everywhere that you should air dry but it never mentions anything about just towel drying. It wouldn’t be harmful to towel dry it right? I just don’t like waiting for it to dry.
You don't have to wait for it to dry. As long as it is rinsed well and what is left is only water, fill and hang. The little bit of water in it will not make any difference.
Hummingbird Spot Okay cool. Thank you!
I prefer a tiny feeder, and I only make half a cup of solution every 2-3 days. I only use dawn dishwashing liquid, pipecleaner for the holes. I did not know about the vitamin c trick! I will be using hydrogen peroxide from here on as well.
Excellent points concerning feeder designs, and I never knew about vitamin C. Thank you for the info. I am wondering if you ever had to repaint a feeder. I have several feeder that I've had for years,. They are weather faded, and I would like to repaint them red. The material I want to paint is heavy plastic. Should I be concerned which paint to use? If so, can you recommend a humming bird safe paint (if there is such a thing)?
I wouldn't repaint them. The hummingbirds don't care if they are faded. They only care about what is inside of them. So you would be painting them for YOU, rather than them. I would be concerned about paint flaking off the feeders, as paint won't adhere well to plastic that is out in the weather.
I understand the concern about flaking paint but there are new spray paints available for children's outside toys, that are regulated at least in the US, and could be an option. I would talk with someone in Lowe's (or one of those kinds of stores) to verify what's safest.
For the first time last year I had an issue with bees (I think they were honey bees) in my hummingbird feeders. I've been feeding for over 30 years and have never seen this type of behavior. I'm not talking one or two, I'm talking about fifty bees around one feeder, and more that died inside the feeders.....and several different types of feeders (bottle, flat, etc). This went on for over a month. I thoroughly cleaned the feeders and sanitized them daily. I threw out a couple of feeders that had large ports. I'm a little afraid this will happen again this year. Any suggestions if it does?
Thanks!