Photo Description So now each summer, I have a plastic container that I'd cut a hole out of the bottom so their smallest feeder will slide into it, and then I ice the surrounding area inside of the container. Now they have chilled nectar :) I put a small amount of foil in the bottom of the container because the hole in the bottom I'd cut out was a bit too large, and that helps support the ice from falling out. With this particular feeder the juice stays nice and chilled for the hummingbirds. Initially I didn't know if they'd even like (nectar on ice) in this summer heat, but they DO! :) They go nuts over this one feeder, all of the other feeders are within a couple of feet of each other so I was able to see if they kept going back to it or not, and they do prefer their juice chilled. The ice cubes actually last about 3-4 hrs in full sun too! When it melts, I just put more ice cubes in the container. Little Tuxie, we call him, is in the third and fourth picture, he's the one with the purple "bow tie" as we say. He's the Black Chinned Hummingbird that flies to south America each year at the end of September and returns about 6 months later. I can see in the picture when it's enlarged, he's got some tiny white spots on his little black feathered face, which tells me he's been fighting and lost a few tiny black feathers or he's getting a few greys, hehehe. The first picture is a young/juvenile male Ruby Throat Hummingbird, I think/he appears to be. The last pic, this little sweetness is new to the pack here, we call her Freckles, and we know she's happy like the others because she's been here daily now for over a week and she too loves the "nectar on ice".
A few years ago when I was changing one of the feeders, I emptied it out to put in fresh sugar water/nectar, and the sugar water was *scalding hot* from the triple digit summer's heat.
Photo Location
In our backyard, Las Vegas NV.
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What a "Cool" idea ! Good thinking ! :)
Thanks, I'm glad I did this because initially I didn't know how important it was to them, but to see them "prefer" the cold drink, helps me know I did the right thing by them.
So very thoughtful! I know it can get especially hot where you are. Love little Tuxie!!!!!!!!!!
Attosa,
Thanks, and yes, little Tuxie, hehe, he's so funny, he does not like the camera, whereas it doesn't even phase the others when I'm taking their picture. We've got the three males which are easy to identify, (the Black-chinned Hummingbirds) and they'll only be with us for another month or so, then they'll be headed to south America.
What a genius idea!! I'm going to try this!
Pandy,
I'm glad you'll try it, your hummers will be very happy with a nice chilled drink in this heat. :)
Great idea I had not thought of. In addition I do add ice to the bird bath/feeder and the other birds love the chilled water on those hot Texas summer days.
Hi, what a thoughtful cool idea!
I did the opposite in the the really cold winter days. I live in Tucson and it can get below 0 for some nights.
christelheidim,
I could just hug you for what you do for the hummers in the winter cold. Thank you for caring as much as you do! :)
Last winter in Vegas we had several days of a hard freeze, which was very different for here, and I was actually shocked that our feeders didn't freeze, because the fountain did.
I'm glad to know so many people help out our tiniest feathered friends in these hard to take temps being so hot or so cold.
We had our hummingbird feeder freeze one very cold winter. We would do the same thing, bring it in at night and rehang it in the morning.
Hi Jess, I definitely could give you a big hug for that too :) - and for so much you do for all of US here also ((thank you)). :)
I know we don't get as much "frozen" here as so many other parts of the country does in the winter, and it feels so wonderful to know so many people care so much about any kind of animal to help them out. :)
Gosh, I don't know if I clicked the wrong thing or something, because my post isn't here with the (baggie and ice).
Anyways, this picture I thought was funny, it's from June 2017.
I initially used a baggie filled with ice, then taped all around to hold the ice bag to the feeder, which they used, but, it was hard to fill with more "sugar water" and it was impossible to put in more ice once it melted.
So the container with a hole in the bottom center (top photos) work the best, it's easy to drop in more ice cubes, and filling it with more "juice" is simple too (before ice is put in) the feeder gets filled, and nothing needs to be taken apart.
Well, this is suppose to go with this last picture.
It's how I use to try and cool hummingbird feeders. I'd take a baggie, fill it with ice, then tape it around the feeder. But filling more ice when it melted wasn't an option, had to do it all over again each time.
The (container) as pictured above is so easy to keep dropping in ice cubes when they're needed, plus I can fill the feeder (before putting in ice) without having to remove anything.
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