Last updated on April 30th, 2022 at 12:17 am
Hummingbird feeders are a great way to support local bird communities, especially during migration seasons. But how many hummingbird feeders are enough? Is there a benefit to putting up multiple feeders?
You should have as many hummingbird feeders as you can reasonably maintain. More feeders just mean more birds finding your yard, so there really is no upper limit. However, there’s a benefit to having at least two feeders because that way, bully birds can’t block access to all the nectar.
This Is How Many Hummingbird Feeders You Should Have
You should have as many hummingbird feeders as you want! Putting up two or more will draw in even more hummingbirds than one, so just be prepared for a swarm.
The most important thing to remember if you’re putting up multiple hummingbird feeders is to keep them all full with nectar rather than letting some of them go dry.
This will teach the hummingbirds that a feeder is a sure source of food.
In addition to drawing in more birds, putting up multiple hummingbird feeders will allow hummingbirds that are shyer a chance to get at the nectar.
Sometimes, bully hummingbirds will guard and protect nectar sources so that others can’t get to them.
With multiple feeders, these birds can claim space while still leaving plenty for everyone else.
Benefits of Having Multiple Hummingbird Feeders
The benefits of having multiple hummingbird feeders include:
- Hummingbirds having an easier time finding food.
- Bully hummingbirds not getting in the way of other birds as much.
- Lower chance that all food will be contaminated or overrun with ants.
- Helpful for hummingbirds during migration seasons.
How To Set Up Hummingbird Feeders
When setting up any hummingbird feeders, you need to think about how you’ll deal with the threat of bully birds and what kind of food you should provide.
You should also know how often to clean your hummingbird feeder and how to protect against ants, mold, and other pests.
How To Deal With Bully Birds
Unfortunately, some birds are bullies, and if they have access to a feeder, they’ll prevent other birds from getting a drink.
This includes both hummingbirds and larger nectar-drinking birds like orioles.
Having multiple feeders is a great way to allow space for the bully birds while providing plenty for everyone else at the same time.
However, you need to make sure to set up the feeders the right way to ensure that bullies don’t take over a group of feeders.
How Far Apart to Space Hummingbird Feeders
When you have multiple hummingbird feeders, you need to consider how far apart you want them to be from each other.
Often, hiding feeders from each other is a good way to go because of bully hummingbirds.
When they cannot see others feeding on a different food source, they’re more likely to focus on the food in front of them and protect it.
Nectar Feeders for Large Birds
The following are nectar feeders for large birds like orioles, meant to distract them from going after a hummingbird feeder (all recommendations are found on Amazon.com):
- The Solution4Patio Baltimore Oriole Feeder has spaces for orange halves and grape jelly. It also has a cover to keep out the weather and squirrels.
- The Perky-Pet 253 Wild Bird Feeder has a single jar for grape jelly, and it attracts Baltimore Orioles and other nectar-feeding birds.
- The Heath Outdoor Products Clementine Oriole Feeder has space for jelly and a space for an orange. Its bright and colorful design makes a great addition to any yard.
What’s the Best Way To Fill a Hummingbird Feeder?
The best and easiest way to fill a hummingbird feeder is to boil four cups of water with one cup of white granulated sugar.
Once it’s boiling, turn the heat off and let it cool; it’ll form a syrup that you can use to fill your feeders.
Just make sure that you let the syrup cool completely before putting it in the feeder to avoid damage to the plastic.
How To Protect Your Hummingbird Feeder From Pests
There are many ways to protect your hummingbird feeder from pests, including physical and chemical deterrents.
Prevent Physical Access
There are several ways to prevent ants and other pests from physically being able to access your hummingbird feeder.
These include using a fishing line to hang the feeder, placing the feeder over a body of water, and installing a moat, such as the Hummer’s Galore Insect Guard on Amazon.com.
This guard prevents ants and other bugs from being able to climb down the wire to the feeder.
If you do use an ant moat, be sure that you check the water level often in the summer, when it may evaporate quickly.
Without holding water, an ant moat won’t be able to protect your feeder from any pests.
Remember that if you don’t want to purchase an ant moat, you can also build one at home.
Follow these steps to build an ant moat at home:
- Cut off the top of a plastic soda bottle to make a bowl shape with the cap at the bottom.
- Trim a wire coat hanger to remove the bottom straight part.
- Drill a hole through the bottle cap and push the coat hanger through it.
- Fill the cap with hot glue to secure it.
- Once dry, bend the ends of the coat hanger and fasten to the feeder.
- Fill the moat with water!
Clean Your Hummingbird Feeder
Another important way to prevent pests from getting to your feeder is to clean it regularly.
Simply empty the feeder, take it apart, and then let each part soak in a bowl of soapy water. Scrub the feeder parts gently and then rinse with warm water.
After washing, make sure that your feeder dries completely before putting it back together and filling it.
Ideally, you should let your feeder soak for at least 1-2 hours, as it may take some time for the residue from the nectar to loosen up and wash away.
The longer that you let it soak, the easier it will be to scrub later.
Most hummingbird feeders are also dishwasher safe, so that’s another option for regular feeder maintenance.
However, you should not use this method if there is any buildup of mold or other residue in the feeder, as these parts will require a more thorough cleaning.
You should also check first to make sure that your particular feeder is dishwasher safe.