In retrospect, they were a pain to clean. "For many years, I had used feeders and was happy with them, mostly because I didn't know about other feeders. But don't take our word for it here's what one loyal customer shared with us recently: From the Sugar Measure label for making perfect nectar every time to the bird-safe, bee-proof feeding ports and built-in ant moat, you simply won't find a better value in a hummingbird feeder made in the U.S. Handmade with exclusive features you just won't find in any other feeder, our HummerMagnet hummingbird feeders don't leak or attract bees and are a breeze to clean. We specialize in creating bee-proof hummingbird feeders, conveniently available through online shopping. You can start with wildflower seeds or perennials like lavender to make your yard more attractive to bees without them needing to go for the hummingbird feeder.Our HummerMagnet hummingbird feeders are specifically designed to solve the problems we kept finding in all the big brand feeders we tried. This is best done by enhancing your planting scheme. They won't if you provide plenty of other sources of food for them. Will bees leave my yard if I deter them from hummingbird feeders? Too slender for fatter bees.' This is exactly what bee guards on feeders do. They typically do this by making the openings to access the nectar There are flowers that feed hummingbird pollinators and have to excludeīees. Van Rees explains that this method essentially mimics what flowers do in nature in order to attract the right kind of pollinator: 'In Central, South, and North America, where you can find hummingbirds, What is the most effective way to deter bees from hummingbird feeders? This method is more effective in larger yards, as ideally, you should move the hummingbird at least 10 feet away from its previous location each time. This makes them slower at taking advantage when the feeder moves, while the hummingbirds should find it quickly.' The reason this works is that 'bees take time to re-orient to new nectar sources, and they have to show their hive-mates where they are. Van Rees only recommends this method 'as a last resort' since it's a lot of work, but you can try moving your hummingbird feeder around your yard frequently. Try moving your hummingbird feeder around Plus, the likes of mint, lavender and catnip are natural mosquito deterrent plants also. Van Rees recommends planting 'bee-magnet flowers like various mints, lavender, coneflower, sunflowers, and catnip', as well as providing water sources for the bees such as 'muddy puddles or birdbaths and placing those features strategically in your garden.' Provide alternative food sources for beesĪdding bee-friendly garden plants to your yard will go a long way toward deterring them from your hummingbird feeders. (Image credit: Rebecca Harding / Getty) 6. 'Using too much sugar in your hummingbird food can also cause extra sugar to collect outside of the feeder.' 'Not only does this protect the health of your hummingbirds, but it will prevent sugar from building up on the surfaces of the feeder, which will attract bees in the first place.'Īvoid excess sugar collecting on the outside of the feeder during filling, 'and check carefully for leaks', van Rees says. This is an essential step toward keeping bees away from your hummingbird feeder. I use one of these for my feeder I have to fill it up again every couple of days but it seems to work well.' 5. Charles van Rees, Conservation Scientist and blogger at Gulo in Nature, explains that 'adding a bee-moat, a tray of water that adds some distance between the nectar source and any airborne suitors may also prove effective since bees can't swim. You can also try the bee moat metod instead of buying a bee-guard hummingbird feeder. Rather, keep the feeder clean, use a bee-proof designed feeder, and dilute the concentration by up to 50%. I don't like moving the feeder as it won't be in your preferred spot. Make sure to monitor that hummingbirds are still enjoying the feeder, but this will help make the mixture a bit less attractive to bees. 'Look to dilute your hummingbird nectar by 25%-50% of its current concentration. Try to aim for a dark-colored onion bag to avoid resembling bright, floral colors that bees like.' 3. This will help deter bees, and still make sure that hummingbirds can get their beak on the inside. 'A quick solution to this is to place part of an old meshed onion bag over the top of the feeder. De Angelis advises that 'bees are attracted to the color yellow, where most hummingbird feeders are red with yellow feeding tips that resemble flowers (we wonder why bees are attracted to these!) Secondly, their color will help keep bees away. Firstly, they happen to be exactly the right shape to cover a feeder. Mesh onion bags are accidentally one of the best solutions for keeping bees away from hummingbird feeders.
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