How to Protect Hummingbird Feeders From Ants

Use nontoxic ant control at hummingbird feeders.

Enjoy dazzling, jewel-like hummingbirds at your hummingbird feeder, while keeping pests away from the feeder. The sugar solution so attractive to hummingbirds also draws ants, which not only drink--and contaminate--the nectar meant for hummingbirds, but can deter the birds by their very presence. According to the Rubythroat website, you should never try to get rid of ants by using insecticide or insect repellents at a hummingbird feeder; even products safe for humans can be toxic to hummingbirds. Petrochemicals, such as petroleum jelly, should never be used either; they can mat down the hummingbirds' feathers, leading to hypothermia and flight problems. Fortunately, there are some safe and nontoxic ways to keep ants away from your hummingbird feeder.

Things You'll Need

• Extremely thin fishing line
• Vegetable oil
• Commercial ant moat for hummingbird feeder
• Cap from spray can (optional)
• Hole punch or drill (optional)
• Silicon sealant (optional)

Instructions

1. Move the location of the feeder. Ants tend to travel along familiar paths to reach food sources; the location switch may be enough to confuse them.

2. Take the feeder down for a day or two if ants still persist. The hummingbirds will not be discouraged by this, and will find it again; the ants may not.

3. Re-hang the feeder with an extremely thin monofilament fishing line; this may prove too slippery for the ants to climb, but it will still be more than strong enough to hold the hummingbird feeder.

4. Coat the line from which the feeder hangs with vegetable oil, and reapply weekly.

5. Buy and install a commercial ant moat for your feeder, or make one yourself by punching a hole in the cap from a spray can, running the feeder hangar wire through it so that the cap is hanging above the feeder, and using silicone sealant to seal the hole. Fill the cap with water, and keep it full.

Tips & Warnings

• To avoid attracting ants in the first place, use a dripless feeder--such as a basin or saucer type--rather than a bottle. Because the air trapped above the nectar heats and expands, pushing the nectar out through the feed ports, bottle feeders are more likely to drip.

References

• Rubythroat: Hummingbirds--Bees and Ants at Feeders
• How to Enjoy Hummingbirds: Controlling Hummingbird Feeder Pests

Resources

• Birdwatchers: Debbie's Tips for Attracting and Feeding Hummingbirds