Request: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
Archived on 05/16/2009
I hung a hummingbird feeder last year, no problem. I hung one this year and the ants took it over. Any suggestions?
Sandie from Morganton, NC
Feedback:
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
Do a search for Ant-Off by Artline. They sell a bell that the feeder hangs from. Put Vaseline inside the bell. This will not harm the hummingbirds. Just hang your feeder on a longer line. I've used it 2 summers now and never have an ant problem.
Hope this helps with your problem (07/31/2007)
By maggie3956
Editor's Note: See ornithologist's caution below.
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
Tried Vaseline and gear oil and almost everything else. They all failed. My feeder is off a hanger on the porch, I used Terro liquid on the ant path, within a week and a half the ants were gone, dead. No more ants in my house either. Great stuff. (08/02/2007)
By mcmillan968
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
I had a terrible problem with ants in my hummingbird feeders, so checked all the helpful suggestions here and found the bay leaves to be the best. I have several feeders that were constantly full of ants and now - none. I tied two bay leaves each to the top string of feeders and have no more problems.
Thanks. (08/12/2007)
By Rhonda
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
I put a little bit of oil on the top of the hummingbird feeder or you can put it on the hook that the hummingbird feeder is hanging from. I haven't seen any ants on it. (08/21/2007)
By doubletroubletammy
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
We found that coating the hanger and top of feeder with Vicks Vaporub is very, very effective way to keep ants out of our hummingbird feeder. (09/02/2007)
By Shirley B.
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
No grease, Vaseline or anything sticky should ever be exposed around a hummingbird feeder. Even if you do not think or see that a hummer has come in contact with it, it may have. The bird will fly off, try desperately to groom itself, expend valuable energy and become stressed. Consequences are that it is sure mortality.
(06/12/2008)
By Guest Ornithologist
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
Another use for DUCT TAPE. I put duct tape on the pole that holds the hummingbird feeder. I simply wrap the tape inside out, it sticks to itself and the ants stick to it. I only put it 10-12 inches up the pole so there is no way the birds can touch the sticky tape. It lasts quite some time. (08/06/2008)
By Verna
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
Hang the feeder with monafilament fishing line. Ants can't get to feeder, works great. (08/28/2008)
By lovebirds
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Tip: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
Archived on 07/30/2007
Since summer is here, I'm sure a lot of people have hummingbird feeders. Well here's an idea of how to keep ants out. If you have the feeder hanging from a small pole, go out and buy the sticky paper that catches flies and wrap it around the pole. It works great. You could also use contact paper, it is much prettier. Just put the paper on with the sticky side out. No more ants.
By Sandy from Bluff City, TN
More Answers:
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
A great idea. I'm going to try it (06/20/2007)
By Doris Goehring
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
I agree with the post about being careful with using Vaseline. I know it's said to be dangerous for use around birds - gums up their feathers if they brush against it and it's also not healthy for them to get on their feet or accidentally to eat some. I would be DOUBLY careful with anything sticky used on or around the pole. Hummers weigh less than some bugs and could easily become stuck and injure themselves trying to get free or become panicked and die from fright. The water barriers are said to really work pretty well. I wish you luck outsmarting those ants! (06/20/2007)
By bd
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
I found a dab of Vaseline on the hanger works great also. (06/20/2007)
By okscooter
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
I live in south western Spain and have a big problem with ants as does everyone in south western Spain. Across the road from me is a little Spanish man called Manolito who has always worked the earth. He came into my garden and wrapped old t shirts around the trunks of all my fruit trees ( oranges, lemons, apple, pears and figs) and then painted everything with old, used cooking oil. About 6 inches up from the t shirt and then soaked the t shirt and then all the way down to the ground. He told me to renew this about once a week with old cooking oil. I have done this and, VOILA! it works! The ants don't like it and mainly the snails don't like it either. (06/22/2007)
By Sue Whelan
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Tip: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
Archived on 06/20/2007
I had the problem of having ants in my hummingbird feeder. I went to Wal-Mart and bought a couple of small plastic bowls and some super glue. I drilled a hole in the bottom of the bowl and ran the wire from the feeder through it and covered the bottom of the bowl with the glue where the wire passes through. Let it cure for a few hours, and voila! No more ant problem after putting water in the bowl! Now both of my feeders are ant-free. Cost about $4.00. Good luck.
By Chris
Feedback:
RE: How do I keep ants out of my hummingbird feeder?
Try putting Vaseline on the wire or string you have it hanging with. I mean alot too. The ants have a hard time walking thru it and get stuck. This is the only non-chemical way i found to ward them off. (06/11/2005)
By Kat
RE: How do I keep ants out of my hummingbird feeder?
Try smearing Vaseline around the hanger. The ants won't be able to get through it. (06/11/2005)
By seagrape
RE: How do I keep ants out of my hummingbird feeder?
I tried the Vaseline last year and it seemed to help but this year the ants have gotten smarter. They seem to walk through the Vaseline. They move very slowly and very eagerly but a few still manager to get through, maybe the rest turn back. If you are going to put it on be sure to put it on thick and from every angle that they might find to come toward the feeder.
Good Luck! (06/11/2005)
By Connie
RE: How do I keep ants out of my hummingbird feeder?
I have one of those long poles meant for hanging two plants, but decided to hang two humming bird feeders this year. The ants climbed up the tall pole and filled the feeders. I heard that ants don't like bay leaves so i tied a couple to the pole and it worked, they won't cross the bay leaf. Just tie a bay leaf to the wire that is holding your feeder on the hook. (06/11/2005)
By LEONA
RE: How do I keep ants out of my hummingbird feeder?
Go to your local plant nursery. I ordered through our nursery here last year and got them to bring in for me... an ant moat. (Just google this item for a picture). It works wonderful. Ants will not cross water. Easy to attach to the hummingbird feeder and just fill with water. I ended up paying about $10 each (ordered 2) after shipping and handling but it was worth it...no more large black ants to clean out of the feeders!
Last year I tried vaseline. Vaseline collects dirt and is messy to work with. I found that it sort of deterred the ants but not really.
The ant moats can be used year after year. I attached it to the top of the hummingbird feeder and filled it with water. It deterred the ants. Next time I had to refill the hummingbird feeder I did not use the moat and found that the ants did not come back because they thought that the moat was still there.
Now to deter them from my retaining wall! (06/13/2005)
By valleyrimgirl
RE: How do I keep ants out of my hummingbird feeder?
The ant moat idea works. My mother-in-law made her own out of a paint can lid. Just drill or poke a hole in the center of it and thread it down the wire or string hanger and fill with water.
(06/14/2005)
By firemanswife90
RE: How do I keep ants out of my hummingbird feeder?
Is there not a big drawback with using any water-filled obstruction, namely, you are creating the perfect environment for mosquito-breeding? (07/16/2005)
By Woogie Monster
RE: How do I keep ants out of my hummingbird feeder?
We have tried white grease on the wire holding the feeder... no luck. Tried Vaseline... no luck. We tried fishing line (they are not supposed to be able to climb it)... no luck. We have now moved the feeder to a different area, about 15 feet from the original spot. I heard this sometimes works. Our feeder fills up with so many ants, the birds won't feed! We live in a sandy area, and ants are a big problem and almost impossible to get rid of. Our next try will be the moat as mentioned here. (07/21/2005)
By mamajuice43
RE: How do I keep ants out of my hummingbird feeder?
You know I have tried the Vaseline, thick, thin, backward, forward. I am not convinced that it is my key. I have tried peppermint oil that I heard may work, smells good but didn't work. I am now convinced the only thing that will work is fire. I love my birds and am ready to give up.(08/07/2005)
By Marcie
RE: How do I keep ants out of my hummingbird feeder?
Hey Mama, I had the same problem. I went to Wal-Mart and bought a couple of small plastic bowls and some super glue. I drilled a hole in the bottom of the bowl and ran the wire from the feeder through it and covered the bottom of the bowl with the glue where the wire passes through. Let it cure for a few hours, and voila! No more ant problem after putting water in the bowl! Cost about $4.00. Good luck. Chris. (08/14/2005)
By overcj
RE: A Remedy for Ants in the Hummingbird Feeder
Be careful with vaseline, it can gum up the birds wings. (04/26/2007)
By birdlover
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