Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The stuff is 79% alcohol! Is this what we should be giving our hummers? I somehow don't think so.
If the red food coloring is "bad" for them, what will alcohol do to them?
Maybe we need to bring it to a boil first to have the alcohol evaporate, leaving just the orange scent and essence. I know you use very little of it in their nectar, but still...
(I boiled mine, then let it cool. Hopefully the alcohol all evaporated).
The stuff is 79% alcohol! Is this what we should be giving our hummers? I somehow don't think so.
If the red food coloring is "bad" for them, what will alcohol do to them?
Maybe we need to bring it to a boil first to have the alcohol evaporate, leaving just the orange scent and essence. I know you use very little of it in their nectar, but still...
(I boiled mine, then let it cool. Hopefully the alcohol all evaporated).
We are only talking about a couple drops of orange extract added to a fairly large by comparison volume of sugar water and any alcohol from such an extracted tincture is not going to harm anything. Keep in mind that in nature , many fruit juices and flower nectars have the potential to ferment anyway depending on age and under the right conditions. The birds in the wild always have access to these solutions. There are even experiences of where hummingbirds have sipped the nectar from glasses of colourful mixed drinks left outside at outdoor pubs , inns , etc. I've actually seen this in Idyllwild , California. So this minute amount will not harm anything.
Here's a couple of experiences out on the Net from people using Orange Extract. Like me, they noticed the Hummingbird attendance rise 4 times as much as before.
Check out the post by okiedawn which is the first followup post.
We are only talking about a couple drops of orange extract added to a fairly large by comparison volume of sugar water and any alcohol from such an extracted tincture is not going to harm anything. Keep in mind that in nature , many fruit juices and flower nectars have the potential to ferment anyway depending on age and under the right conditions. The birds in the wild always have access to these solutions. There are even experiences of where hummingbirds have sipped the nectar from glasses of colourful mixed drinks left outside at outdoor pubs , inns , etc. I've actually seen this in Idyllwild , California. So this minute amount will not harm anything.
Here's a couple of experiences out on the Net from people using Orange Extract. Like me, they noticed the Hummingbird attendance rise 4 times as much as before.
Check out the post by okiedawn which is the first followup post.
There is another thread on hummingbirds in the NC forum so I decided to bring this back to the beginning so it is easier to find for those there. This thread has some good information to share!!!
There is another thread on hummingbirds in the NC forum so I decided to bring this back to the beginning so it is easier to find for those there. This thread has some good information to share!!!
Thank you, Cynwldkat, for resurrecting this. A question I have:
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluepacific
Then just sit back and be entertained by all those antics of them chasing each other and trying to lay claim to the territory. I remember one year there was a tough little Hummer who guarded 4 of my feeders. There were these two Hummers ( I called them 'The Brothers' ) who worked as a team to distracted the little tough Hummer guard , while the other took a quick feed. I know they worked together because I would see them take a break and rest side by side on a far away branch from the feeders.
How do you handle the territorial hummers? I have one hummingbird feeder hanging on my front porch between some wavy petunias, which the hummers seem to love, and I have one hummingbird chasing off all the other hummers that try to visit it. I bought a second feeder yesterday and hung it in a nearby tree, but I don't know if the hummers will find it since it is not "surrounded" by flowers.
Hubby and I sat on the front porch Saturday morning, and every time the "bully" came to scare the other hummers off, hubby would spray him with a water bottle.
If I hang more feeders, will my bully hummer become that much more territorial?
How do you handle the territorial hummers? I have one hummingbird feeder hanging on my front porch between some wavy petunias, which the hummers seem to love, and I have one hummingbird chasing off all the other hummers that try to visit it. I bought a second feeder yesterday and hung it in a nearby tree, but I don't know if the hummers will find it since it is not "surrounded" by flowers.
Hubby and I sat on the front porch Saturday morning, and every time the "bully" came to scare the other hummers off, hubby would spray him with a water bottle.
If I hang more feeders, will my bully hummer become that much more territorial?
That's exactly what you should do, get more feeders. Spread them out, he can't guard all of them. If he tries, then he'll quickly tire out. You'll just attract more and more.
I'm over in Sweden now so I don't have the same place. I miss the Hummers. They would live this far north in the world. Overall, I have seen less varied bird life here. Actually I've seen more species of different birds in the Deserts Southwest , than I have here. Those big black & white Magpies are the biggies here.
Thank you, Cynwldkat, for resurrecting this. A question I have:
How do you handle the territorial hummers? I have one hummingbird feeder hanging on my front porch between some wavy petunias, which the hummers seem to love, and I have one hummingbird chasing off all the other hummers that try to visit it. I bought a second feeder yesterday and hung it in a nearby tree, but I don't know if the hummers will find it since it is not "surrounded" by flowers.
Hubby and I sat on the front porch Saturday morning, and every time the "bully" came to scare the other hummers off, hubby would spray him with a water bottle.
If I hang more feeders, will my bully hummer become that much more territorial?
There will always be the "bullies" in the world of hummingbirds. Now when you get a couple of those bullies it can be interesting to watch their antics. You will hear their beaks clicking as they dive bomb towards the ground and back up again. More feeders will help to secure enough food for them all even if they only get to sneak by the bullies. As far as if they will find the feeders--don't worry about that. they can sniff out a feeder anywhere you put it in most cases. My hummers have never had a problem finding a full feeder!!
The stuff is 79% alcohol! Is this what we should be giving our hummers? I somehow don't think so.
If the red food coloring is "bad" for them, what will alcohol do to them?
Maybe we need to bring it to a boil first to have the alcohol evaporate, leaving just the orange scent and essence. I know you use very little of it in their nectar, but still...
(I boiled mine, then let it cool. Hopefully the alcohol all evaporated).
I never thought of the alcohol content....but I've never used the orange extract either. I did however read the artical that was posted earlier regarding this and there was no mention of the alcohol. I suppose all extracts would have some alcohol in them. I would agree that I may not be so quick to try this because of the alcohol either. A very good point. Thanks....
We have had thenm for about a month. I find that hummingbirds are like anyhting with a pecking order. They will play the game and then they will sudedenly all land on the same feeder and just eat their fill.
I found a site that I think you might like. It's called Hummingbird World. There is a store, as well as pictures, links, Q & A's, etc.
Enjoy!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
