A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
By smiles56 from M-ville, KY
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RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
We found a fantastic solution for keeping ants and earwigs out of our feeder. Get a plastic takeout container and make a small hole in the center at the bottom. The hole needs to be small enough to require some pressure to pull the cord through, as you want it to be a tight fit.
The container we found fit perfectly on the top of the feeder (see picture below) and has high, smooth sides. Fill the bottom of the container with cinnamon. Firstly, ants don't like cinnamon and it doesn't take long before they don't come calling again. Secondly, the cinnamon coats the sides of the container too and, once the ants and earwigs are in the bottom they cannot get out as they keep slipping down. It did not take long before neither ants nor earwigs were coming around anymore. We keep the container up to prevent this from happening again. The lid on top of the glass cylinder screws off, making it easy to clean the feeder without having to pull off the plastic container from the cord each time.
Post by midastouch
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
The most effective method we have found for keeping ants out of hummingbird feeders is an
ant moat or ant guard. While some people make their own, Parasol Garden makes a great ant moat. It looks like an upside down umbrella, and has a loop on top for hanging on the hook, and a hook underneath to hang your feeder on. The ants won't cross the water to get to the feeder.
These moats come in a black umbrella shape, red flower shape, or green leaf shape. We carry these under Hummingbird Accessories in our CreekTreeUSA store. They really do work!
Post by CreekTreeUSA
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
I have read NOT to use oil or Vaseline the post or hook or anything near the Hummingbird feeder! If those precious little birds get it on them it can impare their flying! Google it!
Post by Ariela
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
Oil the feeder post or hanger. The ants slip off. Vegetable oil works well.
Post by catastrofy
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
These are good ideas! Anyone have any pix of their contraptions they can post? Some of these ideas are hard to get a 'visual' of what you're talking about.
Post by Selahgal
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
Re: Water filled moats. Add a drop of dish soap to the container. I use old pudding cups or other snack cups and a
piece of coat hanger wire. Very frugal.
Post by mapl1948
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
Rub cinnamon on your fingers and slide it down the cord or hanger to your feeder, ants do not like cinnamon and will not cross it.
Post by theseamstress
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
Try tying some bay leaves to the top of the feeder.
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf733903.tip.html
Post by Anonymous
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