How do I keep ants out of my hummingbird feeders?

  7 answers
  • Em Em on Aug 25, 2018

    This is called a nectar protector. The ants can't get around it. Costs 4.99 from Spring Hill Nursery

  • Janerose Janerose on Aug 25, 2018

    if it is on a pole you can put dble sided sticky tape on the pole

  • Terry Stone Terry Stone on Aug 26, 2018

    My feeders hang from my gutters. I used ant spray on the hangers only and the ants have not been back!

    • See 2 previous
    • Lol Terry, I know...right!! I also used Raid ant & roach spray but I guess the dew & rain must have weakened it's effectiveness. I just watched a video on how to make your own "nectar protector" using a paint cap, cup holder screw & cork, all of which I have, so I'm gonna try making one today. Thanks so much for your response! 😊

  • Dorothy Sittler Dorothy Sittler on Aug 26, 2018

    This company also seems to have a solution ....


    your best bet is to purchase a Perky-Pet® hummingbird feeder that has built-in bee guards.

    • Thanks Dorothy! I will check that out as I do also have a problem with bees, wasps & hornets getting to my feeders. But those annoying ants are covering my feeders causing my hummingbirds to not be able to sip nectar. The ants even get inside the feeder & drown.

  • Mar33493829 Mar33493829 on Aug 26, 2018

    We solved the longstanding problem of ants crawling down from the eaves along a thick wire that hung our hummingbird feeder. We just replaced the thick wire with fishing line. Too small for ants to crawl down.

    • See 1 previous
    • Em Em on Aug 27, 2018

      That was my next solution, have not tried that for ants but it works for squirrels. They cannot hang on to the fishing line if you make it long enough so they can not touch the feeder.

  • Mar33493829 Mar33493829 on Aug 26, 2018

    We solved the longstanding problem of ants crawling down from the eaves along a thick wire that hung our hummingbird feeder. We just replaced the thick wire with fishing line. Too small for ants to crawl down.

  • Fredi berge Fredi berge on Aug 26, 2018

    Put petroleum jelly on the wire/chain that the feeder hangs from and even on the top of the feeder. This definitely keeps them away. :-)

    • Thanks Fredi! That should definitely do the trick! It certainly kept the squirrels from climbing the pole my seed feeders used to hang from & was quite entertaining watching the squirrels try to climb the pole. Thanks for responding! 😊