If it’s a hummingbird feeder, make sure you clean it weekly/regularly, otherwise it can spread disease.
Don’t get that red dyed nectar either, get the clear stuff; don’t fill the entire feeder; get a straw scrubber for the holes; make sure the feeder has those anti bee things, otherwise it can attract wasps. I don’t have to deal with squirrels, but good luck if you do.
Those are good tips! We currently have seed feeders. and are attracting lots of house finches, gold finches, and chickadees (and occasionally pigeons). We’ve considered getting hummingbird feeders, so will keep this post in mind!
Well, crap, entropy really is nature’s tendency if we’re not constantly maintaining every little thing. Better go tell my mom in law…at least she uses the clear stuff but didn’t know anything about the rest!
We used to get a ton of hummingbirds too, but since we added bird seed feeders and see a lot more sparrows and stuff, we haven’t seen any hummingbirds lately. I hope they’re okay. :(
And I only say to use the clear stuff because it makes cleaning much easier. I’m sure it’s perfectly fine otherwise. edit: this is wrong, apparently; the red dye is in fact bad for them.
But yeah it really needs regular cleaning. It may look OK on the outside, but those holes fill up quick.
I use an app called Sweepy to help me stay on track with what needs cleaning and when it needs it, otherwise I’d totally space it.
Yeah the red dyed stuff is bad for them, specifically the dye.
You don’t need to get special food though either. Some simple sugar water (watered down simple syrup) is all they need. 1/4 Cup of sugar into 1 Cup water and boil it for a minute. Let it cool down and you can store it in the fridge for a few days if your hummers are as voracious as ours and you want to make extra at a time.
As someone who JUST got a birdfeeder for my backyard…
😬
If it’s a hummingbird feeder, make sure you clean it weekly/regularly, otherwise it can spread disease.
Don’t get that red dyed nectar either, get the clear stuff; don’t fill the entire feeder; get a straw scrubber for the holes; make sure the feeder has those anti bee things, otherwise it can attract wasps. I don’t have to deal with squirrels, but good luck if you do.
Or like just get a bird bath if you’re lazy. It is like zero maintenance depending on how often it rains in your area.
They still come hang out often
Those are good tips! We currently have seed feeders. and are attracting lots of house finches, gold finches, and chickadees (and occasionally pigeons). We’ve considered getting hummingbird feeders, so will keep this post in mind!
Just make your own nectar, it’s sugar and water.
Boil the water to help not give em diseases we don’t care about as humans.
No dyes, no buys (except sugar, and water)
Well, crap, entropy really is nature’s tendency if we’re not constantly maintaining every little thing. Better go tell my mom in law…at least she uses the clear stuff but didn’t know anything about the rest!
We used to get a ton of hummingbirds too, but since we added bird seed feeders and see a lot more sparrows and stuff, we haven’t seen any hummingbirds lately. I hope they’re okay. :(
Yeah I learned from experience 😔
And I only say to use the clear stuff because it makes cleaning much easier. I’m sure it’s perfectly fine otherwise.edit: this is wrong, apparently; the red dye is in fact bad for them.But yeah it really needs regular cleaning. It may look OK on the outside, but those holes fill up quick.
I use an app called Sweepy to help me stay on track with what needs cleaning and when it needs it, otherwise I’d totally space it.
Yeah the red dyed stuff is bad for them, specifically the dye.
You don’t need to get special food though either. Some simple sugar water (watered down simple syrup) is all they need. 1/4 Cup of sugar into 1 Cup water and boil it for a minute. Let it cool down and you can store it in the fridge for a few days if your hummers are as voracious as ours and you want to make extra at a time.
Title of your autobiography
This is your life now