How to Make a Moat for Hummingbird Feeders

If you have a hummingbird feeder, then sooner or later the ants in the area will discover it if they haven't already. Once the ants are attracted to your feeder by the sugar water, there is no discouraging their invasion. You can easily block them from accessing the sweet nectar with this simple moat that you can make using things you already have around the house.

Things You'll Need

• Spray can lid with inner ring
• Wire coat hanger
• Pliers or wire cutter
• Ice pick

Instructions

1. Cut the long straight section from a wire coat hanger with pliers or a wire cutter. Set the section of wire aside.

2. Use an ice pick to poke a hole through the center of a spray can lid. The lid should be the type that has a plastic "ring" in the middle, forming separate inner and outer compartments within the lid.

3. Push one end of the wire through the hole in the lid. Use the pliers to bend each end of the wire into a hook.

4. Hold the lid so that the inside of it is facing upward. Hang the upper hook from where you always hang your hummingbird feeder.

5. Fill the outer compartment in the lid with water, creating a moat. Hang the hummingbird feeder from the lower hook. Although the ants will climb down the wire, they will not be able to pass the water to complete their mission.

Tips & Warnings

• Never put any liquid other than water in a hummingbird feeder moat. Many other birds will be drinking from it.