The Ranch in the Texas Hill Country has Hummingbirds (ant, chicken, wild)
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Note- depending where you place the feeder, most likely it might attract ants. There are
several ways to discourage ants from hummingbird feeders (non-toxic). How To Keep Ants Out Of Your Hummingbird Feeder
Note- depending where you place the feeder, most likely it might attract ants. There are
several ways to discourage ants from hummingbird feeders (non-toxic). How To Keep Ants Out Of Your Hummingbird Feeder
That's a good point to work on. ABC is my pest control service and they spray monthly to keep the ants, wasps, and scorpions away from the house. I use them and pay them a bundle because I trust them to use specifics that don't harm other things. I don't use the sayings of my yard crew who tell me I am wasting money and should just go down to "Lowes", get a sprayer, some poison, and do it myself.
I don't "mind" ants if they are not in the house. In fact, I view the fire ants as part of the defense system.
So if I placed the feeders out in the surrounding trees, both those in inside the house perimeter, those more distant, and even those in the "deep forest", what problems might I be looking at?
I suppose that I view my ranch as an animal preserve. Right now, it is just natural habitat. I have one bird house out but I don't think it is used, they do like to nest under the cap for my propane tank. Eventually, I might put up bat houses in the ranch, probably won't put those up next to the house.
Finally, there is also that consideration for down the road if I ever decide to start raising chickens and goats. Will having feeders out for the wild birds "now" produce complications ever I go that direction?
What we do... and we are deep in the forest... and here's a peek at just one of our feeders and we frequently end up with 4 or 5... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tao8ibrw8XA&t=17s (closest one near the door so I didn't scatter them going outside).
I set bright fake flowers out on my patio so they will see them and be drawn in since I'm deep in the woods. We have been putting feeders out for 20 some odd yrs. Always put them out at the same date... hummingbirds will return and often bring others with them and if the feeder isn't out when they return from migration, they will go elsewhere. If you have the feeders up your population will continue to grow over the years. I''m in North Alabama and I have to have my feeders out by March 15th every year.
Do NOT color the nectar.. they don't need it to attract them and it's not good for them anyway.
Nectar is 1 part sugar, 4 parts water. Boil 2 cups water, add in 1/2 c. sugar, bring back to a boil quickly while stirring, then take off the heat and let cool then fill feeders.
Right now, I change the nectar about every week but could prob go a little longer. As it gets hotter out you might have to change it a bit more frequently to keep mildew from building in it.
If you let it run dry... they'll leave if it's empty too long. That's when we start putting up more or larger feeders. When we are at the height of the season we use huge feeders and sometimes have to refill in the same day. (those are busy feeders)
If you really want to build up a population it is a commitment. If you just want to observe the occasional hummingbirds you don't need to be quite so diligent.
Oh.. and a lot of the feeders have ant moats built right into the top.. and you can buy some that hang above the feeder.
If you don't get any nectar on the outside of the feeder it shouldn't be too much of a problem.. if you do get some on the outside of the feeder.. rinse it off or you can really have a nightmare on your hands.
Occasionally you might see a praying mantis near the feeder. If so, knock it away or something. They will kill hummingbirds. They lie in wait for them by the feeders sometimes.
What we do... and we are deep in the forest... and here's a peek at just one of our feeders and we frequently end up with 4 or 5... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tao8ibrw8XA&t=17s (closest one near the door so I didn't scatter them going outside).
I set bright fake flowers out on my patio so they will see them and be drawn in since I'm deep in the woods. We have been putting feeders out for 20 some odd yrs. Always put them out at the same date... hummingbirds will return and often bring others with them and if the feeder isn't out when they return from migration, they will go elsewhere. If you have the feeders up your population will continue to grow over the years. I''m in North Alabama and I have to have my feeders out by March 15th every year.
Do NOT color the nectar.. they don't need it to attract them and it's not good for them anyway.
Nectar is 1 part sugar, 4 parts water. Boil 2 cups water, add in 1/2 c. sugar, bring back to a boil quickly while stirring, then take off the heat and let cool then fill feeders.
Right now, I change the nectar about every week but could prob go a little longer. As it gets hotter out you might have to change it a bit more frequently to keep mildew from building in it.
If you let it run dry... they'll leave if it's empty too long. That's when we start putting up more or larger feeders. When we are at the height of the season we use huge feeders and sometimes have to refill in the same day. (those are busy feeders)
If you really want to build up a population it is a commitment. If you just want to observe the occasional hummingbirds you don't need to be quite so diligent.
Fascinating...my guys are territorial. Get two at the feeder at once the war is on. And they play rough. Whack each other. And one or the other leaves. Different species?
Fascinating...my guys are territorial. Get two at the feeder at once the war is on. And they play rough. Whack each other. And one or the other leaves. Different species?
We have hummers at our cottage. I used to have just one feeder out the front but the little darlings were spending more time fighting/defending, than eating.
So okay I thought, I'll buy two so they'll each have a feeder and won't fight.
I left the one in front and put the other one around the side near the back of the cottage hanging from a tree. Well, that worked for all of five minutes. One of the little darlings got smart and parked his little toes in a tree at the corner so he could watch and guard BOTH of them. lol Two feeders and they still fight.
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