Thanking you for bringing that to the attention of everyone that feeds hummingbirds. It is extremely vital that you thoroughly wash their feeders because as you said bacteria will kill them. You can easily make your own nectar with sugar and water one part sugar four parts water. Please do not buy the red dye nectar. You do not need it nor do they need the red dye. Please please please try and be mindful when you purchase hummingbird feeders regardless of the cost that they have perches that the birds can land on while they feed. This is vital for them so that they can absorb the nutrition resting on the perch as they feed rather than burn it hovering and feeding. They truly are rare gems of nature and I thank you for bringing this to everyone's attention.
My tip! Buy two sets of feeders. Have one set out at all times and one set to clean/soak at your leisure... then just fill and swap out the fresh feeders for the ones in use and repeat.
I knew this was an issue, I always try and clean them 2-3 days and keep my hummingbird friends healthy and happy. God bless and all the glory be to him. I thank him for his beautiful creatures.
Great video and so important!!! If you rinse and refill your feeders every 2-3 days, you'll never get grotty buildup and never have a need to soak or scrub your feeders. It takes fewer than five minutes for me to bring a feeder in, rinse it inside and out in the hottest tap water, refill, and rehang. I do this all season, year after year, and my feeders never need actual "cleaning". I put them away clean and rinse them before using the next year. Easy peasy.
Yes! Although I do a vinegar rinse followed with a clean water rinse, of course, every now and then. I have 5 feeders of various types outdoors now - all clean and fresh.
I’m not crazy about the plastic ones, I use the glass ones with the plastic or metal bottom part. I change/clean them weekly to prevent any bacteria. Thanks for your video, keep hummies healthy & happy 😃
My little buddies up here on the Olympic Peninsula {Port Hadlock} we have some that stay year round and it snows here every couple years ,and if its out they will knock on the window get your attention and be like were starvin out here man, I tell myself they go up to the vent on the roof to warm up their wings. I hate to say that I am a Humming Bird speed dealer, I make my Humming Boid nectar 1 cup water 1 cup sugar and they get hooked fast tell their homie birds and you will have Humming Bird mixed martial arts going on in your back yard.
For cleaning inside the yellow flowers, I use a Mascara brush. Sometimes the handle will come off, so I don't push it way down in. Bought a package of them at Walmart, for a dollar or so. I also use a baby bottle brush for getting inside the glass container. BTW, I got all mine from that Collections LTD, I think it was. Everything comes apart on these, and they are like $10 each. I had 8 of them up at 1 time, and couldn't hardly keep up with them.
As well as keeping your hummingbird feeders clean, remember your seed feeders too. Mold is bad for the all the birds you feed. Remember the bird baths too.
Amen brother....thank you for sharing this with those people who put out hummer feeders♥️. I’ve been feeding them for years.....a note also....as the weather gets hot, the feeders need to be cleaned very often. It’s a responsibility we take on because we love these beautiful creatures so much.🌷💕
Good point. I have one that you can disassemble completely including the flower part. That's where they're most likely to get bacteria from. I do prefer glass as it's easier to scrub clean with a bottle brush & really hot water. For the nectar 4:1 ration is correct with plain white pure cane sugar & cold water (not hot as it can contain other particulates), then bring to a rolling boil. Either leave it set out to cool or place in fridge or freezer to cool quicker. Do not use any other sweeteners as they're more likely to allow bacteria to grow & contain other ingredients harmful to hummingbirds. This includes raw sugar, brown sugar, molasses, honey, etc. Also, on the metal & plastic parts do not use any abrasive scrubbers or brushes as they can create scratches where the bacteria can grow.
I chose to get rid of all feeders with the flowers. There are simple ones, no flowers and super easy to clean daily. I use bottle brushes and tiny brushes to make sure there is no mold. My rule of thumb is 80 degrees or above, daily clean out; below 80, every other day. Love the hummers!
I worry about the birds health all the time too! If we are putting feeders out to help them find nectar then its our job to keep em clean so they can stay healthy =)
Please!! Clean your feeders every two or three days. I have 8 feeders which I empty and refill at the most three days. Mold grows quickly even if you can't see it. I have a lot of traffic especially during migration and I fill them sometimes every day. Red dye doesn't kill them but it has no real use for them either. Hope this helps and enjoy your birdies.
Hey Swati; We use four parts water to one part granulated sugar, stir the sugar into warm water until the sugar is completely dissolved. Please do not add any food coloring and only use granulated sugar. Example: 2 cups water + 1/2 cup sugar, 4 cups water + 1cup sugar, scale up or down to fulfill your hummingbird needs. We are currently going through about 160 ounces a day so most of our feeders get cleaned & refilled daily. Depending on your hummer traffic you will want to change and clean the feeders every few days whether they drink it or not. Bacteria and mold can be very damaging to hummingbirds so it is something to keep in mind.
Thanks a lot .. for this tip .. in my place their are lots of humming birds and since it's the summer time I was wondering how will they survive in such hot weather and with no flowers .. thanks a lot .. I love humming birds and all animals and birds. . I try to talk to hummingbirds they have started to come near me and chirp with me I chirp back to them in my human voice .. their is one humming bird which is nesting near me .. I really didn't know what to feed them so I bought flower plants but I feel that nector only one time gets build in flowers so where will the humming birds go .. so this solution .. thanks again
Hummingbirds can remember which flowers have nectar and where they are located. Once you start feeding them they will continue to return to a feeder over and over, we have both local Hummers and a large groups migrating through. They can also learn to recognize the Nectar God (my wife) and they will follow and buzz around her whenever she's out changing feeders or gardening. I hope you find the same joy and wonder that they bring to us, good luck and thank you for caring.
I’ve discovered glass and metal hummingbird feeders. The liquid goes into a glass container and the part that holds the nectar is plastic and the ports are metal covered with enamel. It is the COLIBRI COLLECTION HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER. Easily cleaned and I think attractive. I have been using this style about 30 yrs, and I always keep several feeders on hand just in case. I don’t think the ones made of all plastic is a good idea because you can’t sterilize the interior where the liquid goes. The COLIBRI are more expensive but I also get a number of yrs use out of them. Hope this is helpful.
Mine get scrubbed every two to three days depending on the temp and if they have been out in the sun too much (I try to move them to share on my deck under the umbrella because that's the sunniest part of the yard). I make fresh sugar water every couple of days because my 3 hummies invited their friends after a few weeks and I ended up feeding around 12. Fresh lil wee ones they are....empty feeder, they let me know lol They are such a joy, I love them and they have gotten used to me and my dog so quickly. WE ALL hang out on the deck together.
Used, thoroughly washed and cleaned mascara brushes work well to remove crud from the plastic flowers. As for red dye, I was told years ago by an ornithologist that red dye causes issues with fertility and possibly causes egg shells to be too thin. I don't know if those issues have been disproven or reinforced by research.
Its the actual food coloring and preservatives that are bad for the birds. I have read several times about the fertility issues and thin egg shells. Even if its not true, id rather be safe than sorry!!
Thank you for this video. I've been feeding hummingbirds for years. I talk to a lot of people who want to know what to do to attract them. Your video will be a nice addition with good info. Now if we could only get stores to stop selling ones that don't come apart for cleaning, that would be even better.
Been buying $ Tree Hummer feeders for years. In the south the sun just wears out anything in your yard., even hanging in trees, sun fades everything. I want to look at fresh feeder and think Hummer does too🙂? This year will buy a few extra, cause you never know when they will no longer carry. Great point on those other feeders, shame not made to open up and clean.
Good advice. Also important to buy a feeder that has a ‘moat’ on top to keep the ants out. I read that if an ant gets into the reservoir it will give off a poison that harms the hummingbird. Just be sure the moat always has water in it.
You can also order S hooks that have moat boats on them from Amazon and they are not expensive at all. I bought a package of 12 and added them to every single one of my feeders.
I had one that I didn't think came apart. With nothing to loose I used a butter knife and pressed into what looked like a sealed edge. It popped off...nasty inside but totally cleanable. I had almost through it out.
I agree with you! The perky pet feeders are nice looking, but they are so hard to clean. I switched to the Dollar tree $1 feeders 3 years ago and the are so easy to clean. Love them.
mold will kill them, in the summer, feeders should be cleaned about every 3 days. So as not to waste nectar, I only fill the feeders maybe 1/3 or halfway in the summer. As I have hummers year around, I clean the feeders in the winter every 5 days. I use the humzinger type feeders. More $$$ but very easy to clean.
Just bought a couple from the dollar tree,I'm glad they are the good news ones! I'm needing to borrow a drill to put up the hangers that were to hang plants from ,from the dollar tree to boot. This is my first time to attempt to put feeders out. Thank you for the tips and good advice.
Ace Hardware, down the street has a metal with curved ends hanger, that just fit over a tree branch, or probably anywhere you want to hang, both ends are curved, different size on both ends. I went into store, but you could probably go to Ace on line to see what they might have. Good luck.
Walmart has one that breaks down and has a wide mouth for easy cleaning for about $4. It is perfect. A lady in California that feeds a bunch likes it best too. Her channel is Robbie and Gary. She and her husband garden as well. The feeder doesn't have the yellow flowers that are so hard to clean out either, and my hummingbirds love the feeder. I love the feeder because of the wide mouth making it super easy to clean out with a baby bottle brush. I think they can connect because the bottom looks like it lets one like it snap in. Looks like it, but I could be wrong. Thanks for sharing this video to keep them alive!
Thank you so much for this video! I would HATE to be causing a problem for these amazing little birds. I love to feed them and make my own nectar. Will make sure they are safe and healthy all summer for sure!!
Another consideration is to use a 1/8 inch drill to open holes on new feeders . Some feeders have been known to pinch their beaks and trap them to the feeder , killing them because the opening is too narrow ! Also use a small round brush or pipe cleaner to clean any mold from opening and thread grooves .Nectar needs changing every two days (after cleaning) as it turns yeasty. If you wait until you see mold then you need to increase your cleaning schedule or don’t start feeding them to rely on tainted food supply ! Plant or hang nectar rich flowers instead .
One of the biggest things is make sure your feeder is refreshed every 3 to 4 days and clean it often so you don't get that gunky black mold building up around the feeder ports. Awesome boil your sugar water before you put it in a storage container or in the feeders make sure it's room temperature before you put it outside although I have been guilty of putting it out when it was straight out of the refrigerator and a hummingbirds don't seem to mind they wait a couple minutes and then they start coming back to it.
The use plastic instead of glass containers increases the growth of fungi in the nectar. I change the nectar thrice weekly and boil the disassembled pieces before filling with fresh nectar.
I have 2 feeders that were purchased off of Amazon. The reservoir is glass and the base are 2 plastic parts that snap together. They only hold 12 ounces each and the hummers drain them every 2-3 days. This forces me to clean them as soon as the birds empty them. The glass can be easily cleaned of any mold with a bottle brush and hot water. But not much mold forms in 3 days. I make up the nectar in a glass mayonnaise jar and fill them with a funnel. Takes 5 minutes to swap them out and the hummers are waiting when I hang them up. They love these feeders!
Thank You Thank You Thank You. I love my hummingbirds so much. Every year I can not wait for that little "TAP TAP TAP" on my window saying they have arrived. I always make sure that the hummingbird feeders are full so they can something too eat. But will do the same with the feeders.. thanks for the information..
“First Nature” feeders are awesome. Break down for cleaning, great quality at reasonable prices at Amazon and Walmart. I buy the small size so I clean it more often.
Exactly!! If you cannot break it down, its unsafe. I've used the same type $4.00 for years. It easily breaks down for cleaning and easier for my arthritic hand. Thanks!!
Agree 👍 We are using a flat saucer like type of a feeder an clean the feeding holes with a miniature round brush to get rid of bacteria and mold. Change the nectar every 4-6 days , or whenever gets cloudy. Smaller, fresher portions are better than one big one every two weeks.
Man your land is like paradise. I used to keep out feeders also, and while the climate was fairly moderate in Southern Oregon many of my neighbors would put up hummingbird feeders and just not care for them at all. They bought the red juice and never cleaned them. I found the birds did not like the red stuff nearly as much as they liked plain old sugar water, and by making my own I could control the amount of sugar which is very important in winter for those birds that do not migrate south. More sugar = more energy which is vital in winter when they sleep so much more and can't get nectar 14 or 15 hours per day, but also because the more sugar you use the lower the temps have to be before the nectar freezes. While other feeders would freeze for days on end which means dead hummers, mine never froze and would keep them alive. By the way, I thoroughly cleaned my feeder at every fill up. I used a sugar to water ratio of 1 cup sugar to three cups water during the seasons where no freeze happens, and cut the water down to 1 sugar to two water in winter. I also kept it at a rolling boil then covered it while it cooled to room temperature before putting it in the bottle. Sometimes it would get just a very slight brownish cast to the liquid, that was just caramelization of the sugar and will not hurt the birds, and may even be tastier to them so you get better attendance. I would guess that 80% of people who feed hummers are doing them a disservice, they want to attract the birds and watch them frolic, but they do not want the work it involves little as that is. Overall I am thinking hummingbirds would be better off if feeder sales were just banned. In Alaska it is ill-advised to hang a feeder after September first till April because it encourages birds to not migrate, and birds there that do not fly south die, hummers cannot survive winter in Alaska even near the warmer coast simply because there are not enough daylight hours for them to get adequately fed to get through the long nights.
♥️ Thanks! I knew about this but I'm sure others didn't. I now feed my hummers only from an open dish and discard it every day with a good washing in between. That way I can be certain no hummers are harmed. I often just use a jar lid which almost empties each day. ♥️
An open dish? What about bees and wasps? I don't see how that could work -- how do you keep wasps and/or bees from mobbing the dish and running off the hummers?
Baking soda/water is a good cleaning agent. After rinsing, use a little apple cider vinegar which will cause any traces of baking soda to foam. The vinegar is also a good cleansing agent, it has anti-bacterial/anti-mold properties. Rinse thoroughly. After it dries it's good to go.
YES! I love my dollar tree feeder and hope they have those again so i will be stocking uo on them! They are a great size too ...thank you! Blessings, cc
Cleaning every two weeks is way to long, regardless of how thorough. I clean mine every two to three days depending on how hot it is. I boil the glass reservoir and scrub the feeding tubes. Please don't wait so long between cleanings, we're trying to help the birds!
In summer, the birds will eat large amounts and likely the feeders were emptied within a day. Also be sure to keep them out of the sun which speeds up breeding times for bacteria!
I've got 5 of the Dollar store feeders. Every other day, taking them apart, prying out the little flowers and making sure they're snapped together is a Pain in my tuckus.. GOTTA be a better feeder out there..
They don't cost just a dollar but I just ordered a hummer feeder from a Duncraft catalog. (Bird feeding/seed, etc), and it arrived yesterday in the mail. Glass and red plastic - comes apart for cleaning *and* if you have a bottle brush that fits your hummer feeder, great. If you don't, Duncraft sells a pack of three (3) brushes of different sizes to clean the flower ports, the nectar holder and the bottom.
Thnx for sharing. I always buy the feeders that split apart at the bottom tray. This allows for thorough cleaning. I agree bacteria and fungus will kill the hummingbirds not so much the red dyes. I also use pipe cleaners on the center opening in the flower as well. This tends to get cruddy as well. I make my own nectar by boiling water. 4 parts water to 1 part sugar ratio using Dominos pure sugar cane brand.
The $5 hummingbird feeders DO come apart. The flowers come out and if you push thru the center, you can pop out the bottom piece. These can be thoroughly cleaned.
For the most thorough and very easy cleaning, use a large mouth top loading feeder. With this type you can get your hand inside for cleaning. There are mold spores in the sugar, so boiling the water after the sugar has been dissolved, slows down the growth of mold.
Thanks for your information, God bless u..I love my birds n I don't want to harm them in any way.. I appreciate u taking time to inform us..have a bless day..Susie from Tx
Very Good and thank you for letting people know...Another bit of help is to purchase feeders with slits rather than holes,This prevents ants,bees,bugs from getting in and spoiling nectar :)
I don't mean to sound like a bad person but I didn't even know you were suppose to clean them. Wow I just got my very first feeder from the dollar store today and was doing a little research. I'm thankful I clicked on this video. I'll be sure to be clean it often come spring! Thanks for the tip.
NEVER use plastic liquid containers. Glass only. Use confectioners sugar and BOIL it when mixing. To clean: BOIL EVERY SINGLE PART OF THE FEEDER, BREAK IT ALL DOWN. When still hot, but manageable, pour the just under boiling mixture in the glass container in your sink. LET IT COOL down but only to the point you can handle it and screw on the bottom, let it reach room temp then re hang. Yes red food color is fine. Take down your feeder when it is half full and throw that away, repeat the BOIL or once per week.
I read recently that red dye added to pre-made sugar solutions can cause kidney and/or liver damage for hummers. Please don't add food coloring to the sugar water
Thanks for sharing this, I'm starting to collect feeders and it's helpful to learn this stuff before I make any mistakes that could hurt some of these sweet birds.
I have 3 of the Dollar Tree feeders,but the problem is that the nectar doesn't fill/refill the bottom tray. I have to tip it on the sides to get it to fill/refill. I have to figure out how to fix these feeders, so in the meantime I purchased one that completely breaks apart from Ace Hardware. I was thinking on trying to make the Dollar Tree feeders into butterfly feeders.
I'm glad to know that about the Dollar Tree feeder. That's the kind I have. I've used mine for several years without a problem. Just take it apart, wash with hot water and use a toothbrush to scrub the inside of the bottle.
Just came across this, and it just so happens that I bought those preferred feeders - the exact ones, also from the Dollar Tree! Now I'm off back to Dollar Tree to get some more. Thank you, good info. :)
Great video! I have gotten rid of the ones I had that wouldn’t break down too. I also have made feeders from recycled glass bottles and use a bottle brush to clean them. My husband makes ornamental hangers from copper wire for those.
Thank you! I change my feeder and thoroughly clean them out every 2-3 days. You do have to be very careful and some feeders are not as easy to clean as others.
Thank you for this advice. I have four different variety of feeders. I just laid them out for inspection and being brand new at this will be examining them to make sure they are safe.
Good video and sound advice. I agree and have discarded the same feeder that does not break down for cleaning. I have 12 of the feeds you showed from the dollar store. The are super easy to clean. I replace them every year usually because the top section with the hook breaks.
He is absolutely right! Depending on how hot the day may get, I will wash the feeders out at least 2x's per week in summer and give fresh necter every time. I recently purchase my first GLASS feeder but as he mentioned, the base could not be removed, this is the ONLY way to check for mold and OTHER things, especially around the treads on both pieces. Even though I use a 2 sided dog tooth brush around the ports ( both sides) I knew that there was no way to tell if the feeder was really clean. So I removed it and will throw it in the garbage. I have been feeding hummers every summer for 4 yrs. now and they return to their feeders , to the same spot. As for the water mote , THIS HAS WORKED ever since I first saw it demonstrated on TH-cam . I made my own as directed and wash them out as well with a small brush. I will also use diluted bleach to disinfect them and rinse them out very well. Replacing them is a breeze if needed as the hooks will eventually start to rust since they are exposed to water unless you coat them with something to prevent that from happening. I apply peppermint e.o. to the SPACES between the ports and that keeps... bees, hornets and other flying OBJECTS AWAY. THIS WORKS !! Remember also that GLASS IS BETTER than plastic as it does not contain toxins that will leach into the the nectar as plastic might. HOPE EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL SUMMER IN SPITE OF WHATS GOING ON.
Thanks for the warning about Lowe's $5 humming feeder. In the summer the feeder mix has to be changed out more frequently because the heat causes the nectar mix to ferment and go quicker. I change the feeder mix every week during the hotter months.
Also clean the ports with mini tube brush or pipe cleaner. Check to make sure ports are smooth and large enough for their tongues. Some have been known to die getting stuck in ragged or narrow tube openings. Use an 1/8 inch drill to open or smooth out port tubes. Hang fuchsia or other tube flowers nearby in case you can’t keep feeders clean and filled , because they are territorial and rely on you to keep them fed. 🥰Small tube brushes available on eBay for cleaning feeding ports .
so good to know how cleaning often (thoroughly ) is a must. 👍🌷 Bad bacteria is poison for the birds but feeder must be able to come apart for the thorough cleaning. Not to buy that expensive one he had to throw away was very informative 👍.
Lowe’s sells the uncleanable one. Amazon sells a cylinder shaped one with a 2 piece base that completely comes apart for cleaning.plus I can clean the clear receptacle. So worth it!
My daughter bought beautiful ones. It has four parts. Glass, top part 4 holes for hummingbirds to drink, rubber washer, and bottom bowl. The rubber washer seems to be kinda too big as it keeps leaking so I add a piece of foam around the bowl and then put rubber washer over it and finally it is sealed tight no leaking.
Yes, you must clean with hot water and a little dish soap. I use a bottle brush from the DollarTree. I rinse it really really well. All you have to do is mix filtered water, 1 cup of water to 1/4 cup of white sugar, mix well. The humming birds will use your feeder as a supplement to flower nectar. You must change the mixture and thouroughly clean the feeder at least once a week in the summer heat. NO FOOD COLORING!!! They will be attracted by the red and yellow that your feeder is made of. Also if your feeder doesn't have a bug mote you can buy one to attach for a few dollars at Walmart. Also coating the hook and the top of the feeder with vasiline will keep the bugs from crawling further toward the bottom, so they won't get in the feeder. Please educate yourself on this. We don't have enough humming birds as it is, we can't afford to cause them to die by improper feeding.
If you see black mold in or on your feeder, chances are it's been out for more than a week. Feeders must be changed and cleaned thoroughly at least every 2 or 3 days if its summer time. Winter can go to 4 days. Try no to leave in direct sunlight. The mixture is 1 cup water to 1/4 cup sugar, that is the formula that the National Audubon Society recommends. If you can't get the base open to clean your feeder, get one that comes apart.
I melted the plastic when boiling and immediately purchased metal/glass ones. Change nectar every 4/5 days. 2c water to 1/2 c. WHITE sugar heated to a boil. Cooled
I had a similar problem with a large feeder type I use to pamper my pets (see what I did there?). Since the bottom doesn't come apart, I found that a 1" diameter bottle brush with about 4-5" of brush length can be easily bent into a hook shape, and can be used to scrub the base quite easily and effectively. I like these feeders as the bottle section is a simple cylinder I can actually each into with a scrubby or a brush to clean.
I purchased the same feeder from Lowe's and it too ended up in the trash. I had no idea that the bottom part would not separate when I purchased it. I have a few different types of feeders I use regularly, and the dollar tree feeder is one of those.
So in making my nectar I've been using what I thought was 4 to 1 ratio but thinking that was 1/4 cup of sugar in a measuring glass then filling water to equal 1 cup. But in your case you would fill measuring cup with a 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 1/4 cup of water. Right? Or was I doing it right? And does it matter if it's too sweet?
1/4 cup of white cane sugar + 1 cup water (at 1:4 ratio, 4 x 1/4 cup = 1 cup water); or 1/2 cup of white cane sugar + 2 cups water (4 x 1/2 cup = 2 cups water).
Your dollar tree kind is what i have also and yeah they are great for cleaning. I have found that heating some water and vinegar can clean up the hard to clean places and i use a pipe cleaner to get into the openings for their tongues so it also doesnt harm the birds. We have had some nice weather here in ontario this april but the birds dont have any natural food source here yet so they havent arrived. but I am patiently waiting on them. Thanks for sharing.
I had a similar issue with an expensive feeder. I pried open the bottom feeding station, thinking I broke the feeder, but in the end, when you screw on the bottle, it will hold the 2 pieces of the feeding station together. I was able to thoroughly clean the feeding station's 2 pieces and remove the flowers to also give them a good cleaning as well.
Oh wow!!! I just have 2 small ones that come apart. I noticed I had 2 hummingbirds coming and bought 2 feeders. I haven't seen them in about 2 weeks though. I have kept fresh nector in them though.. Thanks for the info!
Or you can purchase small hummingbird swings (available through Amazon) for the hummers to rest on. You can see the swings (and feeders) on the Hummingbird Spot channel, Live Feeder Cam video.
😰 I'm so glad I bought the one from the Dollar Tree! I thought you were going to say something bad about that one, lol. That is exactly why I boughtit. It breaks down completely for easy cleaning, and its pretty well made for a dollar. Perfect!
Thanking you for bringing that to the attention of everyone that feeds hummingbirds. It is extremely vital that you thoroughly wash their feeders because as you said bacteria will kill them. You can easily make your own nectar with sugar and water one part sugar four parts water. Please do not buy the red dye nectar. You do not need it nor do they need the red dye. Please please please try and be mindful when you purchase hummingbird feeders regardless of the cost that they have perches that the birds can land on while they feed. This is vital for them so that they can absorb the nutrition resting on the perch as they feed rather than burn it hovering and feeding. They truly are rare gems of nature and I thank you for bringing this to everyone's attention.
I was adding a pinch of flavoraid powder just for looks .
My tip! Buy two sets of feeders. Have one set out at all times and one set to clean/soak at your leisure... then just fill and swap out the fresh feeders for the ones in use and repeat.
That's what I do. 4 feeders, 2 always out.
Yep,, it's not rocket science.
I finally got this idea and picked up several this past spring. I switch them out and clean them while fresh ones go out in their place
How often do you switch out feeders?
The more feeders the better a lot less fighting that way.
I knew this was an issue, I always try and clean them 2-3 days and keep my hummingbird friends healthy and happy. God bless and all the glory be to him. I thank him for his beautiful creatures.
They do come apart! I have several of those also from Lowe’s. You have to twist the bottom piece and it separates in two pieces so you can clean it.
Yes I’ve gotten mine apart too
And the metal part rusts like heck.
Of course they do! Poor guy~wonder where his wife is lol! I cant get hummingbirds at my house to eat out of the $ store plastic ones!!🌞
Get some raw sugar and mix 1 to 1.....they love it!!
Are you having a math deficiency or do you just love to kill hummingbirds? Maybe you’re a Democrat which would explain everything…
When using your own mix (4-1), always boil water first. This will prevent mold to appear as fast.
Plus it boils out any bacteria in the water and the sugar dissolves. I use bottled water for my feeders too.
Also refrigerate after making food
Great video and so important!!! If you rinse and refill your feeders every 2-3 days, you'll never get grotty buildup and never have a need to soak or scrub your feeders.
It takes fewer than five minutes for me to bring a feeder in, rinse it inside and out in the hottest tap water, refill, and rehang. I do this all season, year after year, and my feeders never need actual "cleaning". I put them away clean and rinse them before using the next year. Easy peasy.
I live in So.California. We have hummingbirds year round.
Yes! Although I do a vinegar rinse followed with a clean water rinse, of course, every now and then. I have 5 feeders of various types outdoors now - all clean and fresh.
I think it depends on climate. Some areas are more humid, prone to mold.
@@DesireeStamat hot water rinsing every other day kept the mold away when I lived in super hot and humid Mississippi.
I’m not crazy about the plastic ones, I use the glass ones with the plastic or metal bottom part. I change/clean them weekly to prevent any bacteria. Thanks for your video, keep hummies healthy & happy 😃
My little buddies up here on the Olympic Peninsula {Port Hadlock} we have some that stay year round and it snows here every couple years ,and if its out they will knock on the window get your attention and be like were starvin out here man, I tell myself they go up to the vent on the roof to warm up their wings. I hate to say that I am a Humming Bird speed dealer, I make my Humming Boid nectar 1 cup water 1 cup sugar and they get hooked fast tell their homie birds and you will have Humming Bird mixed martial arts going on in your back yard.
@@bungieflute lol. Ha ha. That's so funny
It’s amazing how often Dollar Tree wins! Thanks for this.
I love the dollar tree
For cleaning inside the yellow flowers, I use a Mascara brush. Sometimes the handle will come off, so I don't push it way down in. Bought a package of them at Walmart, for a dollar or so. I also use a baby bottle brush for getting inside the glass container. BTW, I got all mine from that Collections LTD, I think it was. Everything comes apart on these, and they are like $10 each. I had 8 of them up at 1 time, and couldn't hardly keep up with them.
Thank you for making this video. I don’t think enough people appreciate just how important it is to keep those hummingbird feeders clean.
As well as keeping your hummingbird feeders clean, remember your seed feeders too. Mold is bad for the all the birds you feed. Remember the bird baths too.
@@3rdof7sisters Yah, I clean mine and think "this is clean enough that I would personally drink from it" haha!
We're using the glass 1/4 pint mason jar type sold at Tractor Supply. Metal lids, 4 red flower ports and a wire handle. Very easy to clean.
I just found those at home depot today and they are the cutest things and look simple to maintain.
Amen brother....thank you for sharing this with those people who put out hummer feeders♥️. I’ve been feeding them for years.....a note also....as the weather gets hot, the feeders need to be cleaned very often. It’s a responsibility we take on because we love these beautiful creatures so much.🌷💕
I always use the feeders at the Dollar Tree they cost less and are very effective in feeding my hummingbirds.
Good point. I have one that you can disassemble completely including the flower part. That's where they're most likely to get bacteria from. I do prefer glass as it's easier to scrub clean with a bottle brush & really hot water. For the nectar 4:1 ration is correct with plain white pure cane sugar & cold water (not hot as it can contain other particulates), then bring to a rolling boil. Either leave it set out to cool or place in fridge or freezer to cool quicker. Do not use any other sweeteners as they're more likely to allow bacteria to grow & contain other ingredients harmful to hummingbirds. This includes raw sugar, brown sugar, molasses, honey, etc. Also, on the metal & plastic parts do not use any abrasive scrubbers or brushes as they can create scratches where the bacteria can grow.
I chose to get rid of all feeders with the flowers. There are simple ones, no flowers and super easy to clean daily. I use bottle brushes and tiny brushes to make sure there is no mold. My rule of thumb is 80 degrees or above, daily clean out; below 80, every other day. Love the hummers!
Same here! I worry too much if I don't do it this often. Maybe a wee bit more work - but much less anxiety!
I worry about the birds health all the time too! If we are putting feeders out to help them find nectar then its our job to keep em clean so they can stay healthy =)
Please!! Clean your feeders every two or three days. I have 8 feeders which I empty and refill at the most three days. Mold grows quickly even if you can't see it. I have a lot of traffic especially during migration and I fill them sometimes every day. Red dye doesn't kill them but it has no real use for them either. Hope this helps and enjoy your birdies.
I use apple cider vinegar to clean the feeder. I hope that sanitize it.
What do you fees humming birds ?
Hey Swati;
We use four parts water to one part granulated sugar, stir the sugar into warm water until the sugar is completely dissolved. Please do not add any food coloring and only use granulated sugar.
Example: 2 cups water + 1/2 cup sugar, 4 cups water + 1cup sugar, scale up or down to fulfill your hummingbird needs.
We are currently going through about 160 ounces a day so most of our feeders get cleaned & refilled daily.
Depending on your hummer traffic you will want to change and clean the feeders every few days whether they drink it or not. Bacteria and mold can be very damaging to hummingbirds so it is something to keep in mind.
Thanks a lot .. for this tip .. in my place their are lots of humming birds and since it's the summer time I was wondering how will they survive in such hot weather and with no flowers .. thanks a lot .. I love humming birds and all animals and birds. . I try to talk to hummingbirds they have started to come near me and chirp with me I chirp back to them in my human voice .. their is one humming bird which is nesting near me .. I really didn't know what to feed them so I bought flower plants but I feel that nector only one time gets build in flowers so where will the humming birds go .. so this solution .. thanks again
Hummingbirds can remember which flowers have nectar and where they are located. Once you start feeding them they will continue to return to a feeder over and over, we have both local Hummers and a large groups migrating through.
They can also learn to recognize the Nectar God (my wife) and they will follow and buzz around her whenever she's out changing feeders or gardening.
I hope you find the same joy and wonder that they bring to us, good luck and thank you for caring.
I’ve discovered glass and metal hummingbird feeders. The liquid goes into a glass container and the part that holds the nectar is plastic and the ports are metal covered with enamel. It is the COLIBRI COLLECTION HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER. Easily cleaned and I think attractive. I have been using this style about 30 yrs, and I always keep several feeders on hand just in case. I don’t think the ones made of all plastic is a good idea because you can’t sterilize the interior where the liquid goes. The COLIBRI are more expensive but I also get a number of yrs use out of them. Hope this is helpful.
Mine get scrubbed every two to three days depending on the temp and if they have been out in the sun too much (I try to move them to share on my deck under the umbrella because that's the sunniest part of the yard). I make fresh sugar water every couple of days because my 3 hummies invited their friends after a few weeks and I ended up feeding around 12. Fresh lil wee ones they are....empty feeder, they let me know lol
They are such a joy, I love them and they have gotten used to me and my dog so quickly. WE ALL hang out on the deck together.
Be sure to check out the Hummingbird Spot YT channel, Live Feeder Cam video, live from Studio City, California, USA.
Used, thoroughly washed and cleaned mascara brushes work well to remove crud from the plastic flowers.
As for red dye, I was told years ago by an ornithologist that red dye causes issues with fertility and possibly causes egg shells to be too thin. I don't know if those issues have been disproven or reinforced by research.
Its the actual food coloring and preservatives that are bad for the birds. I have read several times about the fertility issues and thin egg shells. Even if its not true, id rather be safe than sorry!!
You don’t need the red dye, so why use it.
Thank you for this video. I've been feeding hummingbirds for years. I talk to a lot of people who want to know what to do to attract them. Your video will be a nice addition with good info. Now if we could only get stores to stop selling ones that don't come apart for cleaning, that would be even better.
Been buying $ Tree Hummer feeders for years. In the south the sun just wears out anything in your yard., even hanging in trees, sun fades everything. I want to look at fresh feeder and think Hummer does too🙂? This year will buy a few extra, cause you never know when they will no longer carry. Great point on those other feeders, shame not made to open up and clean.
Good advice. Also important to buy a feeder that has a ‘moat’ on top to keep the ants out. I read that if an ant gets into the reservoir it will give off a poison that harms the hummingbird. Just be sure the moat always has water in it.
You can also order S hooks that have moat boats on them from Amazon and they are not expensive at all. I bought a package of 12 and added them to every single one of my feeders.
@@renbay2813 Thanks for the info.
I had one that I didn't think came apart. With nothing to loose I used a butter knife and pressed into what looked like a sealed edge. It popped off...nasty inside but totally cleanable. I had almost through it out.
I agree with you! The perky pet feeders are nice looking, but they are so hard to clean. I switched to the Dollar tree $1 feeders 3 years ago and the are so easy to clean. Love them.
mold will kill them, in the summer, feeders should be cleaned about every 3 days. So as not to waste nectar, I only fill the feeders maybe 1/3 or halfway in the summer. As I have hummers year around, I clean the feeders in the winter every 5 days. I use the humzinger type feeders. More $$$ but very easy to clean.
I am lucky if my feeder fills last half a day during the busy season, and these are the one-quart +/- glass size.
Just bought a couple from the dollar tree,I'm glad they are the good news ones! I'm needing to borrow a drill to put up the hangers that were to hang plants from ,from the dollar tree to boot. This is my first time to attempt to put feeders out. Thank you for the tips and good advice.
Ace Hardware, down the street has a metal with curved ends hanger, that just fit over a tree branch, or probably anywhere you want to hang, both ends are curved, different size on both ends. I went into store, but you could probably go to Ace on line to see what they might have. Good luck.
Walmart has one that breaks down and has a wide mouth for easy cleaning for about $4. It is perfect. A lady in California that feeds a bunch likes it best too. Her channel is Robbie and Gary. She and her husband garden as well. The feeder doesn't have the yellow flowers that are so hard to clean out either, and my hummingbirds love the feeder. I love the feeder because of the wide mouth making it super easy to clean out with a baby bottle brush. I think they can connect because the bottom looks like it lets one like it snap in. Looks like it, but I could be wrong. Thanks for sharing this video to keep them alive!
It's the best for less than $4 but please be sure to make the feeder holes bigger.
@@josiebridges3583 There is a lady that shows how to make them bigger on TH-cam. She uses a soldering iron.
@@jillra65 I now garden like her, Robbie, and her husband, Gary,
@@josiebridges3583 I have been subbed to her for a long while...really enjoy her channel.
Thank you so much for this video! I would HATE to be causing a problem for these amazing little birds. I love to feed them and make my own nectar. Will make sure they are safe and healthy all summer for sure!!
Another consideration is to use a 1/8 inch drill to open holes on new feeders . Some feeders have been known to pinch their beaks and trap them to the feeder , killing them because the opening is too narrow ! Also use a small round brush or pipe cleaner to clean any mold from opening and thread grooves .Nectar needs changing every two days (after cleaning) as it turns yeasty. If you wait until you see mold then you need to increase your cleaning schedule or don’t start feeding them to rely on tainted food supply ! Plant or hang nectar rich flowers instead .
I do and agree to everything in your post.
One of the biggest things is make sure your feeder is refreshed every 3 to 4 days and clean it often so you don't get that gunky black mold building up around the feeder ports.
Awesome boil your sugar water before you put it in a storage container or in the feeders make sure it's room temperature before you put it outside although I have been guilty of putting it out when it was straight out of the refrigerator and a hummingbirds don't seem to mind they wait a couple minutes and then they start coming back to it.
Thank you and GOD BLESS you for loving and showing us how to take good care of these beautiful GOD created beings
The use plastic instead of glass containers increases the growth of fungi in the nectar. I change the nectar thrice weekly and boil the disassembled pieces before filling with fresh nectar.
That is a Phoebe singing loudly in the background. Sweet.
OMGosh that brought back memories! Haven't heard one since the early 60s in St. Louis, where I was taught that they call their name. Thanks for that.
I have 2 feeders that were purchased off of Amazon. The reservoir is glass and the base are 2 plastic parts that snap together. They only hold 12 ounces each and the hummers drain them every 2-3 days. This forces me to clean them as soon as the birds empty them. The glass can be easily cleaned of any mold with a bottle brush and hot water. But not much mold forms in 3 days. I make up the nectar in a glass mayonnaise jar and fill them with a funnel. Takes 5 minutes to swap them out and the hummers are waiting when I hang them up. They love these feeders!
Thank You Thank You Thank You. I love my hummingbirds so much. Every year I can not wait for that little "TAP TAP TAP" on my window saying they have arrived. I always make sure that the hummingbird feeders are full so they can something too eat. But will do the same with the feeders.. thanks for the information..
“First Nature” feeders are awesome. Break down for cleaning, great quality at reasonable prices at Amazon and Walmart. I buy the small size so I clean it more often.
Exactly!! If you cannot break it down, its unsafe. I've used the same type $4.00 for years. It easily breaks down for cleaning and easier for my arthritic hand.
Thanks!!
This year (2021) is the first time I’ve gotten hummingbird feeders. So thank you much for the important help.
Commendable attitude. Encouraging to see that some folks are responsible protectors of wildlife.
Agree 👍
We are using a flat saucer like type of a feeder an clean the feeding holes with a miniature round brush to get rid of bacteria and mold. Change the nectar every 4-6 days , or whenever gets cloudy. Smaller, fresher portions are better than one big one every two weeks.
Man your land is like paradise. I used to keep out feeders also, and while the climate was fairly moderate in Southern Oregon many of my neighbors would put up hummingbird feeders and just not care for them at all. They bought the red juice and never cleaned them. I found the birds did not like the red stuff nearly as much as they liked plain old sugar water, and by making my own I could control the amount of sugar which is very important in winter for those birds that do not migrate south. More sugar = more energy which is vital in winter when they sleep so much more and can't get nectar 14 or 15 hours per day, but also because the more sugar you use the lower the temps have to be before the nectar freezes. While other feeders would freeze for days on end which means dead hummers, mine never froze and would keep them alive. By the way, I thoroughly cleaned my feeder at every fill up. I used a sugar to water ratio of 1 cup sugar to three cups water during the seasons where no freeze happens, and cut the water down to 1 sugar to two water in winter. I also kept it at a rolling boil then covered it while it cooled to room temperature before putting it in the bottle. Sometimes it would get just a very slight brownish cast to the liquid, that was just caramelization of the sugar and will not hurt the birds, and may even be tastier to them so you get better attendance. I would guess that 80% of people who feed hummers are doing them a disservice, they want to attract the birds and watch them frolic, but they do not want the work it involves little as that is. Overall I am thinking hummingbirds would be better off if feeder sales were just banned. In Alaska it is ill-advised to hang a feeder after September first till April because it encourages birds to not migrate, and birds there that do not fly south die, hummers cannot survive winter in Alaska even near the warmer coast simply because there are not enough daylight hours for them to get adequately fed to get through the long nights.
♥️ Thanks! I knew about this but I'm sure others didn't. I now feed my hummers only from an open dish and discard it every day with a good washing in between. That way I can be certain no hummers are harmed. I often just use a jar lid which almost empties each day. ♥️
An open dish? What about bees and wasps? I don't see how that could work -- how do you keep wasps and/or bees from mobbing the dish and running off the hummers?
The lowes feeder comes apart the same, just need to apply more force than a hummingbird. I do like the price though on the other.
Baking soda/water is a good cleaning agent. After rinsing, use a little apple cider vinegar which will cause any traces of baking soda to foam. The vinegar is also a good cleansing agent, it has anti-bacterial/anti-mold properties. Rinse thoroughly. After it dries it's good to go.
I am a mod on Hummingbird Spot. So glad you brought the mold issue up.
Keeping the feeding bird feeders clean information was great time
YES! I love my dollar tree feeder and hope they have those again so i will be stocking uo on them! They are a great size too ...thank you! Blessings, cc
Cleaning every two weeks is way to long, regardless of how thorough. I clean mine every two to three days depending on how hot it is. I boil the glass reservoir and scrub the feeding tubes. Please don't wait so long between cleanings, we're trying to help the birds!
He said they were empty during that time. He was too busy to clean and refill. I’m sure he cleans them thoroughly every time he refills them. :)
In summer, the birds will eat large amounts and likely the feeders were emptied within a day. Also be sure to keep them out of the sun which speeds up breeding times for bacteria!
I love my hummingbirds, I will be cleaning my feeders from now on, thank you..
I clean them out with vinegar every week. I check for mold every time.
Good idea!
Vinegar works great. Especially if you let it sit for a while.
Hummingbird feeders should be cleaned every 2 to 3 days and fresh nectar should be used when replacing a new clean feeder.
I let it soak in a bucket with a little bleach and water and use a bottle brush to clean the feeder
I would love to feed the hummingbirds but my feeder always attracts wasps! Any suggestions to help?
I have the same exact hummingbird feeders and they do come apart you just have to separate the bottom halves with a butter knife or something similar
I get it ... NO BLEACH for cleaning them and NO FOOD COLORING needed for the nectar!!! 😁👍❤️
Happy holidays to all 🙋🇺🇸
It does come apart. You have to pry them apart. There's several pieces inside that do in fact need to be cleaned similar to your dollar store brand.
Exactly
I've got 5 of the Dollar store feeders. Every other day, taking them apart, prying out the little flowers and making sure they're snapped together is a Pain in my tuckus..
GOTTA be a better feeder out there..
@Bravo Luca ok. thank you
First Nature makes great feeders that come apart easily and are easy to clean. you can get them on Amazon and Walmart.
They don't cost just a dollar but I just ordered a hummer feeder from a Duncraft catalog. (Bird feeding/seed, etc), and it arrived yesterday in the mail. Glass and red plastic - comes apart for cleaning *and* if you have a bottle brush that fits your hummer feeder, great. If you don't, Duncraft sells a pack of three (3) brushes of different sizes to clean the flower ports, the nectar holder and the bottom.
Thnx for sharing. I always buy the feeders that split apart at the bottom tray. This allows for thorough cleaning. I agree bacteria and fungus will kill the hummingbirds not so much the red dyes. I also use pipe cleaners on the center opening in the flower as well. This tends to get cruddy as well. I make my own nectar by boiling water. 4 parts water to 1 part sugar ratio using Dominos pure sugar cane brand.
The $5 hummingbird feeders DO come apart. The flowers come out and if you push thru the center, you can pop out the bottom piece. These can be thoroughly cleaned.
For the most thorough and very easy cleaning, use a large mouth top loading feeder. With this type you can get your hand inside for cleaning. There are mold spores in the sugar, so boiling the water after the sugar has been dissolved, slows down the growth of mold.
Vinegar!
Thanks for your information, God bless u..I love my birds n I don't want to harm them in any way.. I appreciate u taking time to inform us..have a bless day..Susie from Tx
Very Good and thank you for letting people know...Another bit of help is to purchase feeders with slits rather than holes,This prevents ants,bees,bugs from getting in and spoiling nectar :)
I don't mean to sound like a bad person but I didn't even know you were suppose to clean them. Wow I just got my very first feeder from the dollar store today and was doing a little research. I'm thankful I clicked on this video. I'll be sure to be clean it often come spring! Thanks for the tip.
Yes absolutely I had the same feeders. Every two days they were full of mold. So I switch to glass and they've been drinking 2 ounces every 2 days
NEVER use plastic liquid containers. Glass only. Use confectioners sugar and BOIL it when mixing. To clean: BOIL EVERY SINGLE PART OF THE FEEDER, BREAK IT ALL DOWN. When still hot, but manageable, pour the just under boiling mixture in the glass container in your sink. LET IT COOL down but only to the point you can handle it and screw on the bottom, let it reach room temp then re hang. Yes red food color is fine. Take down your feeder when it is half full and throw that away, repeat the BOIL or once per week.
One more thing, take them down at night, the bats live them, more probable bats are killing your H Birds
I read recently that red dye added to pre-made sugar solutions can cause kidney and/or liver damage for hummers. Please don't add food coloring to the sugar water
Thanks for sharing this, I'm starting to collect feeders and it's helpful to learn this stuff before I make any mistakes that could hurt some of these sweet birds.
Simple but GREAT tip on feeder cleaning. Two thumbs up!
I have 3 of the Dollar Tree feeders,but the problem is that the nectar doesn't fill/refill the bottom tray. I have to tip it on the sides to get it to fill/refill. I have to figure out how to fix these feeders, so in the meantime I purchased one that completely breaks apart from Ace Hardware.
I was thinking on trying to make the Dollar Tree feeders into butterfly feeders.
I'm glad to know that about the Dollar Tree feeder. That's the kind I have. I've used mine for several years without a problem. Just take it apart, wash with hot water and use a toothbrush to scrub the inside of the bottle.
Just came across this, and it just so happens that I bought those preferred feeders - the exact ones, also from the Dollar Tree! Now I'm off back to Dollar Tree to get some more. Thank you, good info. :)
Great video! I have gotten rid of the ones I had that wouldn’t break down too. I also have made feeders from recycled glass bottles and use a bottle brush to clean them. My husband makes ornamental hangers from copper wire for those.
Awesome! I bet they're beautiful. Thanks for watching our video, Alison, and thanks for commenting.
Thank You for this little bird tip, I didn't know, now I will police my feeders this is an excellent tip for spring! THANK YOU!!!!
Thank you! I change my feeder and thoroughly clean them out every 2-3 days. You do have to be very careful and some feeders are not as easy to clean as others.
Thank you for this advice. I have four different variety of feeders. I just laid them out for inspection and being brand new at this will be examining them to make sure they are safe.
Good video and sound advice. I agree and have discarded the same feeder that does not break down for cleaning. I have 12 of the feeds you showed from the dollar store. The are super easy to clean. I replace them every year usually because the top section with the hook breaks.
Wow! I'm so glad I saw this before I bought one! I'm going to look for the one that all the ones come apart.
He is absolutely right! Depending on how hot the day may get, I will wash the feeders out at least 2x's per week in summer and give fresh necter every time. I recently purchase my first GLASS feeder but as he mentioned, the base could not be removed, this is the ONLY way to check for mold and OTHER things, especially around the treads on both pieces. Even though I use a 2 sided dog tooth brush around the ports ( both sides) I knew that there was no way to tell if the feeder was really clean. So I removed it and will throw it in the garbage. I have been feeding hummers every summer for 4 yrs. now and they return to their feeders , to the same spot. As for the water mote , THIS HAS WORKED ever since I first saw it demonstrated on TH-cam . I made my own as directed and wash them out as well with a small brush. I will also use diluted bleach to disinfect them and rinse them out very well. Replacing them is a breeze if needed as the hooks will eventually start to rust since they are exposed to water unless you coat them with something to prevent that from happening. I apply peppermint e.o. to the SPACES between the ports and that keeps... bees, hornets and other flying OBJECTS AWAY. THIS WORKS !! Remember also that GLASS IS BETTER than plastic as it does not contain toxins that will leach into the the nectar as plastic might. HOPE EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL SUMMER IN SPITE OF WHATS GOING ON.
Really glad that I read these this is the first year that we have any around our place so thanks I've learned a lot from everyone
Thanks for the warning about Lowe's $5 humming feeder. In the summer the feeder mix has to be changed out more frequently because the heat causes the nectar mix to ferment and go quicker. I change the feeder mix every week during the hotter months.
Also clean the ports with mini tube brush or pipe cleaner. Check to make sure ports are smooth and large enough for their tongues. Some have been known to die getting stuck in ragged or narrow tube openings. Use an 1/8 inch drill to open or smooth out port tubes. Hang fuchsia or other tube flowers nearby in case you can’t keep feeders clean and filled , because they are territorial and rely on you to keep them fed. 🥰Small tube brushes available on eBay for cleaning feeding ports .
so good to know how cleaning often (thoroughly ) is a must. 👍🌷 Bad bacteria is poison for the birds but feeder must be able to come apart for the thorough cleaning. Not to buy that expensive one he had to throw away was very informative 👍.
You can push those apart. If you put you finger down the center, push hard and pop it apart. Soak and scrub really well each time.
Lowe’s sells the uncleanable one. Amazon sells a cylinder shaped one with a 2 piece base that completely comes apart for cleaning.plus I can clean the clear receptacle. So worth it!
My daughter bought beautiful ones. It has four parts. Glass, top part 4 holes for hummingbirds to drink, rubber washer, and bottom bowl. The rubber washer seems to be kinda too big as it keeps leaking so I add a piece of foam around the bowl and then put rubber washer over it and finally it is sealed tight no leaking.
Thanks so much for sharing. I just got one and never would have thought other wise!
Yes, you must clean with hot water and a little dish soap. I use a bottle brush from the DollarTree. I rinse it really really well. All you have to do is mix filtered water, 1 cup of water to 1/4 cup of white sugar, mix well. The humming birds will use your feeder as a supplement to flower nectar. You must change the mixture and thouroughly clean the feeder at least once a week in the summer heat. NO FOOD COLORING!!! They will be attracted by the red and yellow that your feeder is made of. Also if your feeder doesn't have a bug mote you can buy one to attach for a few dollars at Walmart. Also coating the hook and the top of the feeder with vasiline will keep the bugs from crawling further toward the bottom, so they won't get in the feeder. Please educate yourself on this. We don't have enough humming birds as it is, we can't afford to cause them to die by improper feeding.
Really good to know. I’m just getting ready to buy feeders and I’ll definitely check that they can be opened for cleaning. Thanks so much.
Thank you ! I'm a clean fanatic and I certainly don't want to harm Hummingbirds
If you see black mold in or on your feeder, chances are it's been out for more than a week. Feeders must be changed and cleaned thoroughly at least every 2 or 3 days if its summer time. Winter can go to 4 days. Try no to leave in direct sunlight. The mixture is 1 cup water to 1/4 cup sugar, that is the formula that the National Audubon Society recommends. If you can't get the base open to clean your feeder, get one that comes apart.
Nice to Know...I'm planning on getting a feeder so this is a timely video for me and the birds! Thanks brother
Thank you for this information. I had NO IDEA that dirty feeders could kill my hummingbirds. Gad! Now I feel guilty.
I melted the plastic when boiling and immediately purchased metal/glass ones. Change nectar every 4/5 days. 2c water to 1/2 c. WHITE sugar heated to a boil. Cooled
I had a similar problem with a large feeder type I use to pamper my pets (see what I did there?). Since the bottom doesn't come apart, I found that a 1" diameter bottle brush with about 4-5" of brush length can be easily bent into a hook shape, and can be used to scrub the base quite easily and effectively. I like these feeders as the bottle section is a simple cylinder I can actually each into with a scrubby or a brush to clean.
I have jars of homemade jam that are years old! Have considered diluting with water, straining & putting it out for the hummers. Opinions?
wanted to start looking into having hummingbird feeders so this is helpful on searching for a good feeder!! thank you!
I have the same one from Lowe’s. Didn’t thing it came apart either but it does. It pops together. Push it from the hole and lift it at the side.
I purchased the same feeder from Lowe's and it too ended up in the trash. I had no idea that the bottom part would not separate when I purchased it. I have a few different types of feeders I use regularly, and the dollar tree feeder is one of those.
Well, now you know; the feeders do come apart.
So in making my nectar I've been using what I thought was 4 to 1 ratio but thinking that was 1/4 cup of sugar in a measuring glass then filling water to equal 1 cup. But in your case you would fill measuring cup with a 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 1/4 cup of water. Right? Or was I doing it right? And does it matter if it's too sweet?
1/4 cup of white cane sugar + 1 cup water (at 1:4 ratio, 4 x 1/4 cup = 1 cup water);
or 1/2 cup of white cane sugar + 2 cups water (4 x 1/2 cup = 2 cups water).
Your dollar tree kind is what i have also and yeah they are great for cleaning. I have found that heating some water and vinegar can clean up the hard to clean places and i use a pipe cleaner to get into the openings for their tongues so it also doesnt harm the birds. We have had some nice weather here in ontario this april but the birds dont have any natural food source here yet so they havent arrived. but I am patiently waiting on them. Thanks for sharing.
I had a similar issue with an expensive feeder. I pried open the bottom feeding station, thinking I broke the feeder, but in the end, when you screw on the bottle, it will hold the 2 pieces of the feeding station together. I was able to thoroughly clean the feeding station's 2 pieces and remove the flowers to also give them a good cleaning as well.
Glad you figured it out! I've definitely been there, those feeders can be tricky.
Oh wow!!! I just have 2 small ones that come apart. I noticed I had 2 hummingbirds coming and bought 2 feeders. I haven't seen them in about 2 weeks though. I have kept fresh nector in them though.. Thanks for the info!
I get the ones with a lip at each flower so they can sit, rest and eat if they want to
Or you can purchase small hummingbird swings (available through Amazon) for the hummers to rest on. You can see the swings (and feeders) on the Hummingbird Spot channel, Live Feeder Cam video.
😰 I'm so glad I bought the one from the Dollar Tree! I thought you were going to say something bad about that one, lol. That is exactly why I boughtit. It breaks down completely for easy cleaning, and its pretty well made for a dollar. Perfect!