How to Make a Ceramic Hummingbird Feeder
Brightly colored hummingbirds add energy and life to any garden or backyard deck. These highly metabolic creatures feed constantly. When garden flowers run out of nectar, it is nice to offer these birds an alternative food source. Hummingbird feeders are simply constructed and when filled with sugar water they can be the center of hummingbird activity. Hopefully, the migratory beings will remember your kindness and return to your yard the following year.
Things You'll Need
- Wire hanger
- Wire cutters
- File
- Nails
- Hammer
- Ceramic vase
- Rubber stopper
- Glass feeding tube
- Red tape
Instructions
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1
Choose a shaded location for your hummingbird feeder so that the feeder does not heat and cool rapidly.
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2
Clip the long side of a hanger at the spot directly across from the hanger's neck. Use a wire cutter.
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3
Extend each end of clipped wire so that they are no longer bent.
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4
File down the clipped edges until they are no longer sharp or dangerous.
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5
Loosen the twisted neck of the wire hanger to create two spaces just wide enough for the length of a nail to pass through but not wide enough for the head of a nail to pass through the space.
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6
Bend one length of clipped wire so that it is perpendicular to the wire neck.
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7
Take this end and form a loop that will also be at a 90-degree angle from the twisted neck.
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8
Twine the end of the loop back around so that it meets with and connects to the wire neck. Repeat this process with the remaining clipped edge.
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9
Slide the ceramic vase into the loops and adjust as needed. The loops should be able to support the weight of the ceramic vase. Remove the vase from the loops.
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10
Drive nails through the spaces created in the twisted neck and into a tree or other supporting structure. Use a hammer.
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11
Fill the ceramic vase with hummingbird feeding solution.
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12
Cap the vase with a tapered rubber stopper. This kind of stopper is easily purchased from pet retail stores.
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13
Insert a glass feeding tube into the stopper. This device is also readily available from retail pet stores.
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14
Apply a strip of red tape around the glass feeder tube. This will attract hummingbirds to the feeder.
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15
Slide the ceramic vase through the loops.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Hang your feeder at least 18 inches above ground. Any lower and it will not be within the feeding range of hummingbirds.
Hummingbirds can be become sick if they are fed honey or improper solutions.
Clean your feeder. Bacteria accumulate and can threaten bird health. It is a good idea to build your feeder using a clean and sanitary ceramic vase. Purchase vases from any thrift store and discard them at the end of hummingbird season.
