Do you have a favorite hummingbird feeder?

[gentlearts]

Mine has 4 perches, so the birds can perch instead of hover. I like that it holds 32 oz, because I make 4c water to 1 c sugar and it fits.
When I see any mold or cloudiness, I flush everything with hot water and bleach until its clean again.

[Giesela]

I like the "disc" types where the syrup is on the bottom because the other ones where the syrup flows down do seem to leak. There are other pros and cons. 1) they flood/dilute every time it rains so you have to stay on top of that. 2) they usually take a smaller amount of syrup - which is a benefit for me because I usually only get one hummer, but for others with more it might be a pain. Less chanch of syrup going bad though.

Please note. Get a tiny scrubbing brush for ports whatever type you use. If you look closely tiny tiny specks of mold often grow in the ports. Hummingbirds can get tongue thrush which is a death sentence. Don't have to use soap, just really hot water and run that small brush through the ports. Wildbirds unlimited have them for a buck or buck 50. Or baby bottle brushes?

[LIcenter]

"Wildbirds Unlimited"
First time ever being one of their stores two weeks ago. I'm hooked!

[no kudzu]

Originally Posted by Giesela

I like the "disc" types where the syrup is on the bottom because the other ones where the syrup flows down do seem to leak. There are other pros and cons. 1) they flood/dilute every time it rains so you have to stay on top of that. 2) they usually take a smaller amount of syrup - which is a benefit for me because I usually only get one hummer, but for others with more it might be a pain. Less chanch of syrup going bad though.

Please note. Get a tiny scrubbing brush for ports whatever type you use. If you look closely tiny tiny specks of mold often grow in the ports. Hummingbirds can get tongue thrush which is a death sentence. Don't have to use soap, just really hot water and run that small brush through the ports. Wildbirds unlimited have them for a buck or buck 50. Or baby bottle brushes?

Can't emphasize that enough. I use those little dental brushes. I save them all year to use during hummer season. I found even the smaller end of bottle brushes are too big.

[puginabug]

I have several, and I've been lucky enough that none are leaking at the moment. I did splurge last season on two of those disc type Humzingers, and I'm not wild about them.

Whenever I fill them, they spill when I'm hanging them (or *I*spill them!), and once the nectar gets a little low it looks as though the birds are not reaching it.

I have two glass ones with 4 red spouts on the bottom, I think I got them in Walmart---i like those best. They don't leak and they're not as unsightly as the cheaper all plastic ones.

[Mattie]

I put up the Humzinger I got two weeks ago, and no hummers have come. They were here earlier enjoying my old glass feeder , I can't figure out why they don't like this one.

[no kudzu]

don't despair mATTRIE. tHEY WILL BE BACK. Make sure you refresh the solution and keep the feeder clean. It's still very early in the game. Also do you have flowers they will be interested in. never knew anybody to rely entirely on feeders for many visitors but usually a combination of flora and feeder.

[Mattie]

I'm trying not to despair NK! I have a repurposed bird bath next to the hummingbird feeder that I keep planted with red begonias. In the past, that has always drawn the hummers. There is enough foliage in the vicinity to provide security and shelter. I replace the nectar every few days. Nada!

[LIcenter]

Originally Posted by Mattie

I put up the Humzinger I got two weeks ago, and no hummers have come. They were here earlier enjoying my old glass feeder , I can't figure out why they don't like this one.

What you probably saw was, transients headed farther north. I had them also, and then nothing til last weekend when one of my male regulars showed up. he loves to sit on one particular branch to watch over the feeders. He's the bully of the group.