Ants are pesky creatures that like to climb on your window and keyboard. They also tend to feed on liquids that are left out such as your Hummingbird feeders. This causes a major problem in the hummingbird community because they usually arrive to eat the nutritious nectar, but it is too late. The ants have filled up their stomachs and there is nothing left for the Hummingbirds. So today I will be showing you some tips on how to prevent these ants from climbing your windows, and feeders. Hummingbird feeders are a treasure of the summer. They provide a feast of nectar to hummingbirds while they’re in your yard. If you have them, you know that ants can be a problem. I dont really understand why because ants only seem to go after foods high in sugar. The nectar in these feeders is about 15% sugar and has little nutrition for the ant (but it does make them want more so I guess there’s some evolutionary reason). Ants love sugary treats and will keep coming back to the feeder, even if its not nutritious for them. Unlike mosquitoes there is no repellent to keep them off, but there is some control. Here’s how to get rid of ants at hummingbird feeders. Ants are a common issue when it comes to hummingbird feeders. Ants can become a significant problem for hummingbird feeders. Here we’ll go through the most common ways to stop ants from hummingbird feeders. Stopping ants from accessing your hummingbird feeder isn’t as difficult as you might think. You can easily make your own homemade ant guard or find an herb or pesticide that eliminates ants from feeding from the nectar you have waiting for the birds.
How To Stop Ants From Hummingbird Feeder
Introduction
Using natural ant repellents for hummingbird feeders is an excellent way to keep ants away. There are many different methods you can use, but most involve making a liquid solution or spreading it around the base of your feeder so that ants cannot crawl up into it. Soapy water can be used as well since they will not cross over an area where they sense danger (your hand). You may need to do this more than once before all the ants have been killed off because some will always come back again later on if there is still food available in their immediate vicinity.
Cut a piece of thread and tie it to the wire hanger.
- Cut a piece of thread and tie it to the wire hanger.
- Tie the other end of the string to the hanger, just below where you hung your hummingbird feeder. The length of the string should be long enough for it to reach down to ground level, but not so long that ants can climb up and get into your feeder through its opening in your window screen.
- Tie a knot at both ends of this piece of thread (so nothing can fall off), then cut off any excess length from each side so that there is no loose material hanging around outside your window or doorframe while you wait for them to crawl over these threads when they start entering their territory again next year!
Lay the thread across the top of the feeder and tie the other end to the hanger, just below where the feeder hangs.
- Tie the thread to the wire hanger that hangs your hummingbird feeder.
- Tie the other end of your string just below where you want your feeder to hang, making sure that it’s not too short or too long for the space between your hanging point and where ants are getting into your feeder.
- The length of this piece of string will determine how much weight is held by ants; if it’s too short, they may be able to pull off both ends of the string and steal nectar from inside (which defeats our purpose).
If you do not have any clear objects like plastic wrap that you can use, you can also spread petroleum jelly on a non-porous surface such as plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
If you do not have any clear objects like plastic wrap that you can use, you can also spread petroleum jelly on a non-porous surface such as plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Just place the petroleum jelly around the feeder and ants will not be able to come in contact with it. Be sure to replace the petroleum jelly frequently so it does not build up too much moisture and become ineffective.
Once the petroleum jelly is spread out over this surface, you can place it around the top of your hummingbird feeder.
Now that you’ve spread out a layer of petroleum jelly on the top of your hummingbird feeder, it’s time to put it in place. You want to make sure that there is enough petroleum jelly on this surface so that ants can’t get through; but, you also don’t want too much petroleum jelly because it could drip down the sides of your feeder and ruin it.
Fill up a jar with about 2/3 water and about 1/3 hand-soap or dish soap.
- Pour about 2/3 cup of water into a glass jar and add one tablespoon of hand-soap or dish soap.
- Gently swirl the solution together until it is mixed well, then set the jar aside for about a minute to let it settle before pouring the mixture through your hummingbird feeder’s spout like you would regular nectar.
You will need to remove a small portion of the grass around your feeders if you want to create this trap.
If you want to create this trap, you will need to remove a small portion of the grass around your feeders. Using a shovel or weed whacker is probably best for people with limited mobility. If you’re an avid gardener and have access to more advanced equipment, such as a lawn mower or leaf blower, then those will work too.
If you can’t see any ants on the ground around your feeder but still think that they are there, try using a lawn edger for about two weeks straight. This will kill off their tunnels without harming other insects in the area (or yourself).
The liquid solution that you used to kill ants around hummingbird feeders should be used within two weeks.
The liquid solution that you used to kill ants around hummingbird feeders should be used within two weeks. The solution should be stored in a cool, dark place to ensure that it remains effective for use. If the solution remains unused after two weeks, then it is possible that the formula may have lost its potency and no longer be effective for killing ant colonies.
Some people recommend using mustard oil as well because they think it is more effective at luring ants away from hummingbird feeders than peppermint extract.
Many people recommend using mustard oil as well because they think it is more effective at luring ants away from hummingbird feeders than peppermint extract. However, the evidence suggests that peppermint extract is just as effective and much less expensive than mustards oils. If you are going to use an oil, however, make sure that your hummingbirds don’t touch or ingest it.
How To Stop Ants From Hummingbird Feeder
You can stop ants from hummingbird feeder by using one of the following methods:
- Use peppermint extract. Ants do not like this smell, so you can put some on a cotton ball and place it near the feeder. The ants will be repelled by this smell and stay away from your hummingbird feeder.
- Use a trap. You can make your own trap using a flat dish, water, sugar and red food coloring (or another color). Place these ingredients together in the flat dish and wait for an ant to get into the mix; it will die within 24 hours due to dehydration so use caution when handling dead insects or animals if someone in your household is allergic to them! Do not use harsh chemicals that are harmful for humans or birds; this includes DDT which was banned because it causes cancerous tumors even though it kills many types of insects very effectively!
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can keep the hummingbirds safe and the ants away. We hope this article has helped answer all of your questions about how to keep hummingbird feeders ant-free. Please share it with others who may be interested in learning more about how they can protect their feeders from unwanted guests!
- Attracts & Kills – Kills common household ants including acrobat, crazy, ghost, little black, odorous house, pavement, and other sweet-eating ants
- Kills the Ants You See & the Ones You Don’t – As worker ants discover the bait, they share it with the rest of the colony to eliminate them all
- Works Fast – You should see a significant decrease in the number of ants visiting the bait stations within just a few days
- Ready to Use – Place the bait stations, watch it attract ants, and eliminate the entire colony
- Use Throughout Your Home – Place stations near areas where you’ve seen ant activity including along baseboards, in corners, on counters, and more
Additional Info :
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 4.5 Inches |
Width | 6.6 Inches |
Length | 1.2 Inches |
Weight | 0.27 Pounds |
- Safe
- Extra Concentrated for Long-Lasting Protection
- Natural Ingredients Proven Effective in the Real World
- Large 16oz Bottle
- Powerful Essential Oil
Additional Info :
Item Dimensions | |
Weight | 1 Pounds |
- PREMIUM QUALITY: GrayBunny traps are built to last. Not plastic like some other brands, enjoy solid iron feeder traps built from high quality materials. Premium powder coated steel will withstand the elements for years to come. 100% safe for hummingbirds and orioles. Large sized at 7.25 x 2 inches (18.4 x 5 cm).
- STYLISH: Exquisite, sleek look that blends elegantly with standard black iron garden hooks and bird feeding stations. Doesn’t look out of place.
- EFFECTIVE: A great solution to stop ants at your nectar feeders. Simply fill the cup with water and ants will be stopped, stopping them from ruining feeders which can harm visiting birds.
- GrayBunny offers premium products for your garden while exceeding the highest industry standards and offering impeccable customer care. If you’d like your money back at any time within 30 days of your purchase, just ask. Click the “Add to cart” button now to say goodbye to them at your nectar feeder!
Additional Info :
Color | Gray |
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 7.25 Inches |
Width | 1.8 Inches |
Length | 1.8 Inches |
Weight | 0.1625 Pounds |
- Made of textured powder coated steel
- Defeats squirrels every time
- No need to remove bird feeder when mounting
- Secure black coupler (included) around any 1/2-inch to 1-3/8-inch pole or shepherd hook
- Snaps apart with inward pressure on each side of the seam. Additional pieces that will hold the cover are tapped to the bottom of unit.
Additional Info :
Color | Black |
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 7 Inches |
Width | 18 Inches |
Length | 18 Inches |
Weight | 2.75 Pounds |
Release Date | 2011-02-21T00:00:01Z |
- KIT INCLUDES : 2 Ant Guard With 2 Sewanta Bird Feeder Hanging Chain 9.5 Inches.
- EFFECTIVE REPELLENT: Ants become attracted to the nectar in the AntGuard and enter the device; the protective disk inside AntGuard repels ants and keeps them from reaching the feeder. *Excludes fire, harvester, Argentine, carpenter, and pharaoh ants.
- EASY SETUP: AntGuard easily attaches in-line above all hummingbird feeders on their chain hook. Easy to follow instructions with illustrations are included for your convenience.
- DURABLE QUALITY: Made in the USA, Attractive red exterior. No maintenance required. Permethrin is encased in a plastic dome for long lasting protection. Upper baffle of the AntGuard keeps the rain off the disk, and the lower baffle protects the nectar supply.
- FAST-ACTING: Starts to work immediately; with ant activity stopping within 24 hours. the ant Preventer lasts up to a year. Safe for use around birds, pets, and people. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Net weight: 0-106 oz.
Additional Info :