Bird feeders that are specially designed for humming birds were made available commercially at around 1950. The Webster hummingbird feeder was originally designed by Laurence J. Webster, who made it for his wife. Nowadays, there is a wide assortment of hummingbird feeders to choose from. Manufacturers have responded to the growing interest in feeding humming birds and have designed and marketed many kinds of feeders. Some feeders are unique, elaborate and pricey, but most are bulk-produced and inexpensive.
The finest commercial feeders are durable, easy to maintain and has a minimum number of removable parts. Feeders are offered at a variety of sizes and can either be plastic or glass. There are many choices of hummingbird feeders out there. Here are a few things to remember in looking for the ideal feeder.
. The color. Hummingbirds find the color RED attractive. Feeders should be red, or at least have some red designs on them.
. Ant Protection. A good feeder should have built in ant moats, or should allow for add-on moats.
. Bee Guards. You should look for feeders that are designed to keep the bees from getting to the nectar.
. Perches. The ideal feeder should have built in perches. Hummingbirds prefer to perch when feeding.
. Feeder Size. The smaller the feeder, the better. Switch to a larger feeder once you've found out the frequency of hummingbird usage.
. Ease of cleaning and maintenance. The best feeder would be one without any small corners and crevices and easy to take apart for cleaning.
. Ease of use. Try to find feeders that don't require a lot of hassle to put together.
. Rain guards. Rain guards are either metal or plastic disks used to prevent rain water from seeping into the nectar reservoir. Look for feeders that have this feature built it, or purchase separate guards and use them with your feeders.
. Instructions. Look for feeders that come with instructions on how to put together, clean and maintain.
There are a lot of hummingbird feeders available from birdfeeder dealers, but you can also try and make one for yourself. Here are the steps to make your own hummingbird feeder.
Materials:
Small bottles (red in color)
Crafting wire
Sugar and water (for nectar solution)
Steps:
1. Cut a long piece of wire to hang the bottle securely. Tie the wire tightly around the lip of the bottle. You can also secure the wire onto the bottle by using hot glue or superglue.
2. Mix up the nectar solution, combining 4 parts of water to 1 part sugar.
3. Pour your solution into the bottle and hang it in an observable area.
For this project, make sure that the bottle openings are large enough for hummingbirds to get their beaks into.
Points to remember:
. Clean your feeders regularly.
. Replace the nectar solution at least every 3 to 5 days.
. If the sugar solution becomes cloudy or spoiled, replace it immediately. Clean your feeders before refilling.
. Use a mild bleach solution or vinegar to disinfect your feeders. Do this at least once a month.
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