How do I keep the ants out of my hummingbird feeder?
+6
I have ants crawling up the hanger which holds my hummingbird feeder and getting into the liquid I leave for the birds. Will the birds use the feeder if the ants are in it? I don't want all those ants around the feeder.
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You can now purchase ant moats which hang above the feeder and are filled with water. I purchased mine at Lowes. I have also seed new feeders that come with the ant moats.
You could try vegetable oil all over the feeder. They seem to slide with it.LOL
You can sprinkle cinnamon on the ground surrounding the hanger. Ants will suffocate from it. The cinnamon gets on their antennas and they also take it back to their nest and it wipes them all out.
I just got a very inexpensive feeder at Walmart that comes completely apart for cleaning and has an ant moat built in. Also, the ports are slits not round and the bees can't get in either. Less than $4...best feeder I've had. I even watched the ants come running and were complete stumped when they got to the water moat.
Google make your own hummingbird feeder moats. They are very easy to make and you probably have everything right their at home to make them. I use a spray paint can top, 2 cup screws, and 1 cork.
an old country remedy is to cover the wire with Vaseline- supposedly gums up their legs and/or bothers them... can't hurt to try!
you can buy water moats separately. The feeder hangs below it on a hook. Menards sell them so does Walmart
Wild bird unlimited, and other stores sell ant excluders..fill it w water, but add a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid or the ants may be able to climb out.
clean outside with vinegar