If you are a hummingbird enthusiast, the sight of ants swarming your feeder is probably one of the last things that you want to see. Unfortunately, this is a common problem for many hummingbird enthusiasts, but that doesn’t mean that it’s an unsolvable one.
There are many ways to keep ants off your hummingbird feeder so that you can enjoy watching these beautiful birds feed in peace.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss eighteen tips on how to keep ants off hummingbird feeders.
- 1. Move the Feeder Away from Trees and Other Structures
- 2. Use Ant Traps or Baits
- 3. Install an Ant Moat
- 4. Use Petroleum Jelly or Other Sticky Substances
- 5. Change the Hummingbird Nectar Frequently
- 6. Hang the Feeder Higher Up
- 7. Use an Insecticide or Pesticide
- 8. Don’t Overfill the Feeder
- 9. Clean the Feeder Regularly
- 10. Rinse Out the Feeder with Boiling Water
- 11. Keep Your Yard Clean and Tidy
- 12. Plant Mint Around Your Feeder
- 13. Create a Barricade Around Your Feeder With Sand or Talcum Powder
- 14. Place Foil Near Your Hummingbird Feeder
- 15. Place a Pinwheel Near Your Hummingbird Feeder
- 16. Remove Any Ants That You See Immediately
- 17. Cover Up Any Cracks or Gaps Around Your Home or Decking
- 18. Choose a Hummingbird Feeder That is Designed to Keep Out Ants
- Conclusion
- Image Gallery – How To Keep Ants Off Hummingbird Feeder: 18 Tips
1. Move the Feeder Away from Trees and Other Structures
If you have the feeder close to a structure, such as a tree or a building, then ants are more likely to be able to climb up and get to it. To prevent this from happening, try to move the feeder away from any structures and make sure that it is not near any trees. This will reduce the risk of ants reaching your hummingbird feeder.
2. Use Ant Traps or Baits
Ant traps and baits are effective ways to keep ants away from your hummingbird feeder. Ant traps usually contain food that attracts the ants, which they then take back to their colony. The bait will then kill them off so that they are no longer able to reach your feeder.
3. Install an Ant Moat
An ant moat is a device that can be attached to the feeder, and it consists of a container filled with water that the ants will not be able to cross. This is an effective way to keep the ants away from your hummingbird feeder, as they will not be able to reach the nectar without being able to pass through the water.
4. Use Petroleum Jelly or Other Sticky Substances
Another way to keep ants away from your hummingbird feeder is to use a sticky substance, such as petroleum jelly or wax, on the poles that hold up the feeder. This will make it much more difficult for the ants to climb up, as they will get stuck on the substance and be unable to reach the nectar.
5. Change the Hummingbird Nectar Frequently
If you want to keep ants away from your hummingbird feeder, it’s important to make sure that you are changing out the nectar regularly. Old nectar can attract ants, so make sure that you are refreshing the nectar in your feeder every few days to ensure that they don’t come near it.
6. Hang the Feeder Higher Up
If possible, try to hang your hummingbird feeder higher up off of the ground. This will help reduce the risk of ants being able to reach it, as they won’t be able to access anything that is higher than their own height.
7. Use an Insecticide or Pesticide
Using an insecticide or pesticide is also an effective way of keeping ants away from your hummingbird feeder. Be sure to follow all instructions written on the product packaging and only use insecticides and pesticides in well-ventilated areas away from people and pets.
8. Don’t Overfill the Feeder
Make sure that you are not overfilling your hummingbird feeder with too much nectar, as this can attract ants and other unwanted guests. A full feeder can also mean that some of the nectar spills over onto other surfaces, which can then become a breeding ground for pests like ants.
9. Clean the Feeder Regularly
Keeping your hummingbird feeder clean is essential if you want to keep ants away from it. Regularly cleaning and disinfecting your feeders will reduce any odours or sugars which could attract pests such as ants.
10. Rinse Out the Feeder with Boiling Water
If you want a truly deep clean for your hummingbird feeder, try rinsing it out using boiling water each time that you refill it with nectar. This should kill any bacteria or germs that may have been left behind in between uses and will help keep pests at bay while keeping your birds safe from any toxins or harmful substances present in traditional cleaning products.
11. Keep Your Yard Clean and Tidy
Having a yard that is tidy and free of debris is very important if you want to reduce ant activity around your home and hummingbird feeders in particular. Make sure that there are no sources of food left lying around outside, which could attract pests like ants into your yard and near your hummingbird feeders.
12. Plant Mint Around Your Feeder
Mint has strong aromas, which many pests find unpleasant, including ants! Planting mint around your hummingbird feeders can create a natural barrier between them and pesky insects such as ants who may otherwise be attracted towards them for their sweet nectar supply!
13. Create a Barricade Around Your Feeder With Sand or Talcum Powder
By creating a barrier of sand or talcum powder around your hummingbird feeders (but not too close!), this can stop any crawling insects from reaching them! The sand or powder will act as a physical barrier against these unwelcome visitors!
14. Place Foil Near Your Hummingbird Feeder
The reflective quality of foil can create an area where light reflects brightly – this is something most crawling insects find uncomfortable! Placing foil near (but not too close) to your hummingbird feeds can help repel any unwanted guests!
15. Place a Pinwheel Near Your Hummingbird Feeder
The spinning motion of a pinwheel can also help repel ants, as the movement will deter them from wanting to get too close to your hummingbird feeder. Just be sure to keep it at a safe distance, as the pinwheel can be dangerous for the birds if they get too close.
16. Remove Any Ants That You See Immediately
If you notice any ants on or near your hummingbird feeder, remove them immediately. This will reduce the risk of other ants being attracted to the area and will help keep your hummingbird feeders ant-free for longer.
17. Cover Up Any Cracks or Gaps Around Your Home or Decking
Cracks or gaps around your home or decking can also be an entry point for many small insects, including ants. To help keep them away from your hummingbird feeders, make sure that you are filling in any cracks or gaps around your home or decking with caulk or sealant.
18. Choose a Hummingbird Feeder That is Designed to Keep Out Ants
Finally, if all else fails, you may want to consider investing in a hummingbird feeder that has been specifically designed to keep out ants. Many of these feeders come with special features such as ant moats built into them, which make it much more difficult for the ants to reach the nectar supply.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways that you can keep ants off your hummingbird feeders so that you can enjoy watching these beautiful birds without any disturbances from pesky crawling insects.
By following these eighteen tips on how to keep ants off hummingbird feeders, you should be able to enjoy watching these beautiful birds in peace and without any unwanted visitors!
Related Posts:
Image Gallery – How To Keep Ants Off Hummingbird Feeder: 18 Tips
References:
- About Hummingbird (Wikipedia).
- About Ants (Wikipedia)
- Greenewalt, C. H. (1960). Hummingbirds. New York: Doubleday. Google Scholar.
- Experiments in Feeding Hummingbirds during Seven Summers. The Wilson Bulletin, Vol. 25, No. 4 (Dec., 1913), pp. 153-166 (14 pages). Jstor.org
