DIY Moat to Keep Ants Out of Hummingbird Feeder

Supplies:

• 8 - 10 in piece of plastic coated wire
• 1 plastic cap of some kind
• glue gun
• Phillips screw driver

Steps:

1. First heat up the Phillips screw driver with a flame, this enables it to go right through the bottom of your plastic cap with ease. Don't make the hole too big, just the same diameter as your wire if possible.

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2. Next string your wire through, you need at least an 8-10" piece of wire.
3. Twist the end like in the picture (the bottom part first).

4. Then twist the other end (which is the top).
5. Now apply the glue, using the glue gun, really well on the outside on the bottom twist, and let fully dry.

6. Then apply the hot glue to the inside really well, as we don't want the moat to leak water.

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7. Now use the bottom 'loop' to hang your feeder from, and the top loop is what you put your hanging wire through.
8. The moat will be in the middle.
9. Ants can walk down the wire hanging from a tree or your house eaves, but as soon as they get to the moat, which is before the feeder, they can't go any further (as long as there's water always in it).

Nice

What a great idea and one I can use! I bought something similar at a store which cost $8. It fell apart after one year of use. I can make this for zip! I will probably use E6000 glue instead of a glue stick since it might melt in this Texas heat (over 100 degrees). E6000 won't melt and will stay there forever.

Thanks for such clear instructions for a truly inexpensive "fixer" to keep those ants from our feeders.

I am going to try the E6000 glue also as someone borrowed my glue gun and forgot they borrowed it so I hope this will work. At least I do not have to be concerned about whether it is harmful to the ants!

Thanks for all the great hummingbird pictures and stories on your other postings - I love these little critters!
Betty

Vaseline on my sheperds hook works really good.