Hummingbird Feeder

Update and tip: 04-25-2022: This is the third year of using the original feeder I bought, and it still looks great and is very easy to clean. I expected it to last a year, but it really is very sturdy and the colors are still going strong. I did buy an extra to always have a clean one on hand, but when I noticed there always seemed to be a "bully" preventing others from drinking, I bought another and positioned it about 15 feet away. That solved the bully issue and we now have more hummingbirds than ever. I am here today to purchase two more so I can always have clean ones ready to go. I love these feeders and Amazon for making them available!Update and tips, 01-22-2020: Even though we have had freezing weather several times, at least one species of the hummingbirds are wintering over. Seriously, we have had a steady stream from dawn until after dusk on most days since the weather has gotten colder and there are no flowers for them to visit. The feeders still look brand new, too.I did find a real bargain on little brushes to clean the "flowers" on the feeders, and am sharing the link: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CMKR86V/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1We did have one obviously sick little bird that came to the feeder but could not do anything but perch there.The other birds started trying to knock it off the feeder and succeeded, so I took it to the local wildlife rescue nonprofit for proper care. I have since joined Smile.Amazon.com and go through that portal to make purchases. I have named the local wildlife rescue as the beneficiary and they receive a donation percentage from Amazon. I hope you will check out this program and name the local nonprofit you would like the donations to go to. Remember, Spring is coming!Update, 11-08-2019: The feeders I purchased still look like new and even though we have had some nights below freezing, numerous hummingbirds are still drinking from them from just after dawn until just before dark. I plan to keep one up, clean and full until they stop coming, on the chance some may overwinter here.-----------------In past years we grew large planters of nasturtiums under our kitchen deck window and trained the vines upward to encourage hummingbirds. When the flowers finally began to bloom we had hummingbirds visit occasionally each day and it was wonderful to watch them.As time marched on it became too hard to maintain the deck in the fall with the heavy flower planters still there, foliage to clean up and no way to move them. We finally gave up on the idea last year, but truly missed seeing the wonder of the hummingbirds every day.I had thought of getting a hummingbird feeder but was concerned about attracting yellow jackets and ants. When my daughter gifted me an inverted jar style hummingbird feeder this spring I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, I only saw one or two birds visit it over two weeks time (I cleaned and refilled it every 3 or 4 days). The last time I tried to set it up it began to leak from a hole in the bottom and I found an ant on it when I pulled it down to clean.I then did some research and learned that the inverted jar style tend to leak over time, and the saucer style with a perch rail are a better choice. After searching on Amazon.com I found this one and decided to give it a try since it was so reasonably priced. I did see some similar to this with the flowers the same red color as the top but thought this one would work better so I ordered it.I was able to get the original jar style one to stop leaking, refilled and reinstalled it, but haven't seen any hummers visiting it since. Two days later when I received this one, I cleaned and filled it and hung it up. The next morning when I opened the blinds I was delighted to see a hummingbird perched on the rail and drinking! It stayed perched for two or three minutes, drinking again and again, pausing and looking around, then drinking again. I saw this happen two or three times during the day.Today I was so happy to see three different types of hummingbirds visiting it often throughout the day! They visit much more often than they did when we planted flowers for them, and they are not visiting the original hummingbird feeder at all. I have only had it up for two days and they have already spotted it and are depending on it.Today I am ordering an extra to have on hand. That way when I bring one in to clean I can have the other full and ready to hang, so they never go without. These are so economical I can have two of these for the price of one of some of the other styles. This style is neat because it can't spill, has the moat to keep ants out, and no matter which "flower" they drink from, you can clearly see them. It is also very easy to clean, fill and reassemble.To make the nectar I am using 1/4 cup white cane sugar and 1 cup purified water and boiling it in a stainless pan for 30 seconds then letting it cool completely. Because birds are very sensitive to any chemicals and I despise the odor of vinegar, I purchased this to clean the feeders with: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E1CD64/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I also bought tiny cleaning brushes to clean the "flower" tubes: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KGXDVQ0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1It is so nice not to have all that work associated with the planters, plus we now have many more hummingbirds visiting!At age 66 and having experienced good and bad times, wellness and ill health, I can tell you it is the little, wondrous things in nature that bring me joy and make life worth living. Thank you, Amazon, for making it possible for me to obtain one of these in the rural area I live in now that I have mobility issues. Kudos!

I thought it was just me, but when I looked it up online, I discovered that drips and leaks are always a problem with the more traditional bottle-feeders. All you can do is minimize them. I don't want sugar water dripping at all! This solves that problem 100%. I wasn't sure my hummingbirds would take to it, but they did in an instant.Some say a perch isn't necessary because hummers can feed while hovering, and that a perch can invite larger birds which will topple or spill. I haven't had any problems with anyone but hummingbirds perching on this. And I've got to believe they appreciate being able to perch and rest while having a drink. I would!I've noticed that they stay longer per visit on this feeder. I think it is because they can't get their tongue as deeply into the nectar as with the bottle feeders. That is fine with me, sit a spell and enjoy!I was pleasantly surprised at the high quality. From the images on the listing, I expected a cheap plastic hook. The entire thing is well-built, and the hook is sturdy metal. It holds as much as my old bottle feeder, and is easier to clean, less messy to fill. The built-in ant moat is ingenious. The moat holds more water than the ones in the bottle feeders too, so it doesn't need topping up twice a day. No mess or spilling when hanging. Quick, neat, and easy.I wish I'd started with this one! Could've saved a lot of money on all the messy bottle feeders I've tried to make work!

Good quality overall. Yellow and red colors together seem to work better at attracting birds. I also bought one that's a darker plain red. They do actually perch on the surrounding ring, so that's a plus.The syrup capacity is about right for an area that has a few birds. Enough for a few days, not so much that you're tempted to leave it too long, get moldy and make the birds sick. If you have dozens of birds a day, it might be enough for a day or two.No hummingbird feeder is easy to clean, this one is as easy as it gets. It wasn't out in full sun and from May to September, there was only slight color fading.

These are easy to clean and fill and they attract the hummingbirds.