Tuesday 26 April 2011

Maintaining Your Hummingbird Feeder For Optimal Performance!

Have you ever been over to someone's house to eat? You sit down at the table and you are really, really hungry, but something catches your eye as you glance down at your plate. You notice something hanging off the side or stained on the edges of your plate. It's a piece of food that didn't quite make its way off the plate from the last time. You think to yourself, "Eeeeeuuuuwwwww, Gross". Well, believe it or not, there are those in nature that feel or think the same way, especially hummingbirds.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness with hummingbirds. Here are some tips below that you may or may not have thought about concerning your hummingbird feeders. Possibly you are having trouble with the hummingbirds coming back and you haven't quite figured it out yet. Let's explore some key behavior on our part in maintaining and cleaning our hummingbird feeders.

1. Does your hummingbird feeder come apart easily?
When purchasing or making your own hummingbird feeder, it is very important that it does come apart easily. This is so you are able to do a good job in cleaning the top of the feeder as well as the bottom, and especially those comely, difficult spots.

2. Do you have the right tools to really clean your hummingbird feeder?
It is critical that you use the proper tools in order to clean every part of your hummingbird feeder. Here is why. Mold and mildew is like causing hummingbirds to be drunk under the influence. It throws off their guidence something fierce. Ensure that you have proper brushes and tools to clean the feeder, especially in the little holes where they draw the nectar. Pipe cleaners, or a stiffer brush of the same type, work really well in these hard-to-get-to places.

3. Are you using the right type of cleaner in your hummingbird feeder?
You should never use soapy water. Hummingbirds DO NOT like the taste of the residue mixed in with their nectar. Bleach water is a very good resource to clean up your feeders well. Just make sure you rinse the feeder and parts out real good before reusing the feeder. You have to visually inspect the hummingbird feeder for nasty, black mold. A good bleach soaking and well rinse will remedy that. Simply add 1/4 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water. There is no need to air dry before refilling the feeder with nectar. Bleach water is very safe and effective and any residue that might remain after a thourough soaking will neutralize by reacting with the fresh nectar.

4. How frequently are you cleaning your hummingbird feeder?
You should clean the hummingbird feeder at least once a month, if not more, depending upon what the nectar looks like and how long its been in the feeder. You need to discard the unused portion of sugar water with every cleaning. This is to ensure that you are not adding fresh nectar to potentially spoiled left overs. If the humming birds are not fully draining your hummer feeder, then only fill the feeder partially. If you live in an area that is frequently 80 degrees or hotter, then you need to change out and clean the feeder once every 3 - 4 days. If over 90 degrees, then you might have a chance of it spoiling in 2 days.

One may be wondering why such tight maintenance is so important where hummingbird feeders are concerned. Think of it this way, the goal is to take care of and to enjoy these little hummers. If the feeders are not clean, have spoiled nectar or are mildewy and moldy, your chances of them returning to your feeder are slim to none. Like elephants, "They remember." So take a little extra effort with your feeder and your backyard activity will last a long, long time.

 


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