There are many styles and sizes for hummingbird feeders, each with their own merits. There are many details to consider, depending on your environment, and how dense the hummingbird population. My own feeders are ferociously guarded and owned by my year-round hummingbirds, and each day is filled with maneuvers maneuvers maneuvers chases as the new younger hummingbirds enter the scene. In other areas the a couple of feeders can support dozens of hummingbirds, requiring daily refilling. What type of feeder should you use? Is design or beauty the most important detail?
- Is the feeder easy to clean, giving you the ability to run your hummingbird feeder cleaning brush in every nook and cranny? Don’t think you can just bleach out any deposits! Never use bleach or soap in your feeder. Clean often, use your brush with hot water, and refill.
- How many hummingbirds visit? A big feeder might take weeks to empty. While this seems like the easy route the sugar water will likely go rancid before you think of refilling. If you have many hummingbirds visiting you may need that bigger sized feeder!
- Is the design and color(s) appealing to you and the hummingbirds? I have a feeder gifted by a friend that is purple. I love the color but the hummingbirds would not visit this feeder, even when it was the only feeder available.
By design, this has to be my favorite feeder. I like the covering, though it doesn’t offer actual shade for the sugar water, and you will have to refill often, but this one works for my situation, as one of many feeders offering variety. This feeder is called the Parasol Bouquet Basketweave Shelter Hummingbird Feeder.
No matter which hummingbird feeder you use, always give clean, fresh sugar water. Do not add food coloring, it coats the tongue and is harmful to the hummingbirds.
Many admire the hummingbird, sharing special moments or feeling that there is some spiritual meaning in those rare visits. Hummingbirds are, in my opinion, the most special of birds, and it is a blessing to have hummingbirds in our lives.
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