How do I keep the ants away from my Hummingbird Feeders????

It doesn't matter where I put my Humming bird feeders in my yard it seems those pesky little sugar ants seem to find them...GRRR! Does anyone have any Suggestions on how I can keep them away???

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see all those floating ants...:(
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Can you see the Humming bird hiding from me? It's like he's playing peek a boo... I C an ant or 2 on the also..:(

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Sharron W Memphis, TN

WOW Kate! I literally haven't had an ant, wasp, or bee anywhere near my feeders since I started doing this....can't really remember either 2 or 3 years ago.... But I don't use anything but Vicks....and now that you mention it... I did have a lot more problems with the ants when I had them on Sheppard crooks....I had to keep the vicks thick all the way from the hanging cord to the bottom of the bend in the hook....if I missed a spot they would find it, and also I used boric acid around the ...»
bottom where it was stuck in the dirt, and made a wide circle around it on the dirt, if it rained I had to replace it...Ultimately hanging it in a tree helped prevent a lot of that along with changing out my feeder to one that didn't drip at all.... hope that helps you! For the first time ever I had 5 hummers this morning!!! I'm so excited, I've Never seen more than 3!

on Aug 31, 2012 · Like 3
Dolores Henderson Arlington, TX

I tried the vicks 2 wks ago on the pole (shepherd's hook) & the wire holding it. It was over 100 deg. all that week and it started running down the wire towards the feeder. Vaseline does the same thing in really hot weather. So I spray the pole itself. It helps keept he squirrels off of it too. They are just as much a pest as the ants. I will try the corn meal as I have heard that kills ants as well. The birds don't get on the pole except the very top to perch on. I just like the moat ...»
idea best since the little chickadees & titmouse use them for their drinking. I'm available to refill them each day. Now to keep the darn mourning doves out of the feeders. They keep the little ones away and eat all the food. Never thought I'd hate a bird, but they are coming very close.
Dee

on Sep 09, 2012 · Like 1
Sharron W Memphis, TN

Delores, I put a plate of food on the ground for the doves, they are ground feeders naturally and prefer to eat what falls out of the feeders, so I just started putting a plastic plant saucer on the ground with food for them and another with water and they leave my other feeders alone...

on Sep 09, 2012 · Like 1
Marilyn C Salem, OR

I have planted MINT around my trumpet vines and around the exterior of my house, it has the capability and the results you need to keep those pesky ants at bay. No need to have an infestation anywhere around any feeder for our dear hummers and the nectar they come to sip. Plant mint and your troubles are over. Try it ! You enjoy the outcome.

on Sep 10, 2012 · Like 5
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

Mint plus trumpet vine is really the battle of the titans, Marilyn!

on Sep 11, 2012 · Like 2
Marilyn C Salem, OR

Yes I agree Douglas. Placing the feeders on their posts or wherever you hang them, one must be careful not to drip any on the ground, it attracts ants like crazy then the battle begins all over again...*sigh*

on Sep 12, 2012 · Like 2
Bev Carstensen Mccloud, CA

I use a soft wheel bearing grease, about 2 in on the hanger....heat doesn't bother it...No ants..yah

on Sep 13, 2012 · Like 4
Candy J Erwin, TN

The bees are my worse problem and would like some ideas for that?

on Feb 12, 2013 · Like 0
Joyce R Shippensburg, PA

I read somewhere that hanging your feeder with fishing line will keep ants from geting in feeder.

on Feb 12, 2013 · Like 0
Kathy Van Wert, OH

We hang our feeder on shepherd's hooks. Then we spray "Home Defense" starting from ground up and all over the post. Then hang the feeder. We tried hanging from a tree limb, just because we liked the look of it. But, could not keep the ants off. So, we just put our feeders in areas where trees and bushes are not actually touching the feeder. Home Defense works well.

on Feb 15, 2013 · Like 0
Sharron W Memphis, TN

Kathy Home Defense is an insecticide? If so, then the hummers only have to rub up against it or get it on their feet resting on the top of the crook for it to kill them as well as any ants.

on Feb 19, 2013 · Like 0
Celeste W Lawrenceville, GA

Our local bird supply company sells a plastic moat for a couple of dollars. It is filled with water and it hangs above the feeder...the ants don't cross the water. It looks a lot like the cap of an aerosol hair spray can, except that there is a small opening in the center for attachment purposes. Water surrounds the center (Not sure I am explaining this very well. If needed I will try to find a photo.) It was cheap enough not to be worth the attempt to duplicate it.

on Feb 22, 2013 · Like 0
Candy J Erwin, TN

Need to keep bees away from feeders - can anyone help me?-

on Feb 23, 2013 · Like 0
Colleen Stout Hannibal, MO

Cover the hook and wire that you use to hang your feeder with vaseline. The ants can't cross it.

on Feb 24, 2013 · Like 2
Barbara S La Mesa, CA

I use the moats...have some that are cute little upside down umbrellas, and then there are plain red ones that hook to the top of the feeders and then attach to whatever hook you hang them from...

on Feb 25, 2013 · Like 0
TaniaC Fairfield, IL

Candy J I had a lot of problems with the bees last year since we had in the next street over from us a bee keeper and the bees would swarm my feeders... it was almost impossible to keep them away so I ended up taking the feeder away for a while until the bees finally left and then I moved the feeder a little over from where it was before... it worked for a while but the bees soon honed in on them again GRRRR!!!!... Here is some ...»
Ideas that might help you with your feeders that I felt was a pretty good source... Hope this can help you with your dilemma :) http://birding.about.com/od/birdfeeders/a/in...

on Mar 01, 2013 · Like 0
Candy J Erwin, TN

Thanks Tania C. It helped but I guess the bottom line is you can't have your hummingbird without some adversity. I will keep trying.

on Mar 02, 2013 · Like 2
Peggy W San Angelo, TX

I put Vaseline on the rod or wire holding the feeder. Worked for me.

on Mar 05, 2013 · Like 3
Sharron W Memphis, TN

Vaseline won't stop the bees, but the smell of Vicks probably will and the ants in particular hate it...so not only do they not want to cross it because it's greasy...but the smell puts them off as well...you do have to refresh it about once a week but I;m usually filling the feeders that often anyway...

on Mar 08, 2013 · Like 1
Robyn Phoenix, AZ

I have two things that I do for ants on my hummer feeder. The easiest is just coating the sheperd hook with salad oil. But the one that works the best is using a cup of water before they can get to it. My husband made one, you can see it in my post on my hummingbird feeder. You can make it out of a half of an ornament, add water to it and a chain and the ants get stuck in the moat. Or you can buy an ant moat at Home Depot.

on Mar 11, 2013 · Like 2
Linda Lewis Canada

I have my feeders hanging from the evestrough. Ants are a big problem. Found these small cones (at the dollar store) that fit over the top of the feeder. They have two way tape on the inside. Ants don't get past it. they get stuck on it :)

on Mar 12, 2013 · Like 2
Marris R Zephyrhills, FL

I read that cinnamon keeps ants away. Give it a try.

on Mar 13, 2013 · Like 1
Nancy Hart Texarkana, TX

I have put non stick cooking spray on the cord which hangs the hummingbird feeder and the ants won't climb over it. I have used this for a few years now and I don't have a problem with the ants.

on Apr 03, 2013 · Like 2
Connie Bella Vista, AR

non stick cooking spray works great !

on Apr 13, 2013 · Like 1
Bonnie S Clarion, PA

Hooray for Duct Tape:
I just wrapped some around the pole with the sticky part of the duct tape outward.
This has seemed to work for all my bird feeders and even kept the chipmunks from climbing the big wooden one. I did this last summer and still the chippies have kept away this spring. Probably will replace it with fresh soon.

on Apr 26, 2013 · Like 1