I have found that whatever feeder you use, the bees will go to your feeders. The hummingbirds spill sugar water when they withdraw their beaks from any feeder. The bees wait until the Hummingbird goes away and then goes after the spillage.Too bad we can’t hand out napkins!!!
We have no problem with the bees as we have a Big yard filled with clover and bees and we mow alternate patches of clover just before dark when they are back in the nests, and leave other patches growing, and not killing them. The wasps and hornets come to the feeders and we hang out a 2 liter seven- up bottle with sugar water in the bottom and holes punched in it near the feeders and they go in and can't get out, end up drowning. Helps somewhat keeping them away from the feeders.
Wasps and hornets don't seem to start bothering the feeders till mid - august. Then, in September, they start boring into the apples, so whatever wasps and hornets we kill, there's thousands more nested around here.
Hi! Just wanted to say thank you. I got my first hummingbird feeder last summer, and I LOVE it. This summer, I have two feeders and a couple hummingbirds. I’m an amateur photographer, and I love setting both my camera up and my iPhone up to shoot them. I’ve gotten some amazing shots, even slowmo clips. Your channel has helped me so much, I knew absolutely nothing about them, and I always feel so inspired after watching your videos. I could sit for hours on my back porch just watching them, and even now, they always make me smile. I just saw two just now! Anyway, thank you for sharing your wisdom, it’s easy to tell you delight in them too, which makes your videos a pleasure to watch.
I love you and your channel, you are one of my favourites. When life really stresses me, I will put on one of your videos and you calm me down and I can go to sleep. Yes, that is right! I often use you as my lullaby .... hahaha :) I think it is the good energy in your soul you are joyful and a sweetheart
I'm a MN beekeeker. Couple FYI: 1. Only female (worker) bees forage, so every single honeybee that's at your feeder is a she. 2. If you are intentionally giving bees their own sugar/water. Their ratio needs are different. In spring the ratio is 1:1. In fall they need 1:2 (water:sugar),because the thicker syrup is easier to fan moisture out of for longterm storage (as honey), which they'd cap with wax. Too liquidy syrup would freeze in the wax cells, creating too much moisture in hive.
Thanks for this as I have been using 1:1 as a deter since the 60's when I was a kid. I did notice them being more interested in the fall, now I know why.
What an amazing thing that you are so kind to post this information for us. I second the question ahead of me. Is there any negative to giving them this solution? As opposed to natural heck nectar from flowers. Is there a special feeder for the bees? So they don’t drown? I was just going to put a shallow ball withsticks in it for them to climb out if they fall in.
Thank you for your advice. I watched your video and went out and purchased the feeder from Walmart, they liked it immediately. I am now going to use the walmart ones when the bees start coming after my feeders.
Robbie I bought 2 after your recommendation. The hummingbirds love it but so do the bees. The bees have swarmed it for hours today since I hung it up. This has not helped at all.
Robbie, I found you three years ago when my husband died suddenly, your love of the flying jewels is very inspirational!! Love ypur videos and learning how to do these easy water and feeding fixtires...my son made me one of your hummingbird baths! Bless you!
So wonderful how your Son made you a water fountain ❤️. So sorry for your loss 3 years ago, and continue to think of all the good times. Some cultures believe hummingbirds are part of those that have past. Thank you so much 😊🙏❤️
Thank you we live in NJ we are in early September and never had bee problem since now. I did buy the 2 feeders you recommended. We had to order them like you mentioned in the video. Free delivery was a plus and feeders were roughly $4/piece. I kept the older feeders nearby to draw the bees away. Really appreciate your help. Go Hummingbirds
Very informative as usual. Our kids love to watch the hummingbirds, so we might get them a feeder. We never imagined all the factors that warrant consideration when shopping for a feeder. Thanks for sharing.
I've just purchased 3 of those feeders with the small slits and so far no bees! I've also put into pots a vermillionaire plant and the hummers love it. Thanks Robbie for all your great insight and advice!!knowledge knowledge
@@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy I've just seen on Utube that some dish soaps can leave a residue and vinegar and water is the better cleaner to use. What do you think?
Robbie, i think i have finally found the answer for the bees and wasps. I have the large hole Walmart feeder and bees were still always on the feeder trying to get to the sugar water and not letting the hummingbirds drink in peace. I purchased a product called Tree Tanglefoot insect barrier from Home Depot. It is extremely sticky. I spread it all over the base of the feeder, making sure i didn't put any on the flower area or their little landing bar. Before i applied it, there were constantly bees all over the base. Now i have seen a few try to land on it, but quickly fly off when they feel the stcky substance. It is also said to be good for ants.
Iam a beekeeper and a hummingbird feeder. We have always used the same feeders. As the resivore go bad from light exposure . I have kept the bottoms. Every time I refill a feeder a put a newly cleaned bottom on the feeder. I soak the bottom in a bleach solution. Almost no bee issues. Usually if I have an issue it's a leak or a dirty feeder bottom. I have about 20 hives so lots of bees. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for this video! I’ve been struggling with mostly wasps at my hummingbird feeder. To refill I would have to wait until dark and hopefully there wasn’t still a wasp lurking on the underside of the feeder. I did find the feeder with the slots at Walmart - given that this video was a few years ago, it was a bit more than $4, but no problem - as it turns out completely worth it! Because the feeder was hung in the same location, the first couple of days the wasps were hanging around, but couldn’t get to the sugar water, so they eventually gave up. Now my hummers can enjoy their nectar in peace and I don’t have to worry about the wasps deciding they don’t like me hanging around “their” feeder. So happy! 😊
I have feeders that do keep bees out. I grow every kind of salvia and bees can climb into the blooms, but our vermillionaire flowers bees cannot fit into so they are a safe flower for hummers. The nectar is still there and they produce thousands of blooms. I plant them in pots everywhere and hanging baskets.
Thank you for this! Is just like you read my mind… the past week or two, bees have discovered my lone hummingbird feeder, and now they think they just own it! And sadly have made my hummingbird friends no longer come by! I have had smaller bees actually fall in the holes and had to save them and free them… but, these are larger bees, but they still come to it and claim it, even though they cannot reach the nectar through the holes… and watching them, they don’t even go to the holes, but under the flowers to where they connect to the base, through silicone tubes… I had been thinking of rubbing hand sanitizer all around the base, underneath the flowers, everywhere except where the hummingbirds access it, to see if that will deter the bees… will see… am sad and missing my hummingbird friends, and hope they come back! But was just so great to see your video here pop up on my feed, when lo’ and behold, that is the very same problem I just now happen to be experiencing! So thank you!
I use buttons that I save from old clothes or even buy. I've lucked up before and found some shaped and looked like flowers. But if they're on the thicker side I only use one and if they're more thin I stack 2 or 3. You can glue them on or if you are pretty experienced with a soldering iron, you can "weld plastic to plastic". It took me a while to learn not to mention a couple of burns on my fingers. Hope y'all have a great week ahead and God bless.
Oh yes I know how to “weld” plastic. Yes there are so many ways to fix a feeder from bees but those feeders are so cheap, thanks so much for sharing ❤️
I bought a feeder that sticks to your window and had a million ants attacking it well I put vasaline all around the edge of the suction cup on the window and they couldn't get past it to the feeder. It worked great and cleans off the glass easily with windex.
Hi Robbie and everyone who loves the hummingbirds. The Walmart feeder is made by First Nature. How do I know this? I ordered directly from First Nature, after a major home improvement retailer jacked the feeder price way up. In one order, I was sent the feeder with the slits. They made it good - that was before I knew about your videos. First Nature sent me replacement bases with the round holes. The good news - First Nature sells direct, they send you emails about discounts and sales and they sell parts. If you only need flowers or a base, for example, you can now buy that alone. Hope this helps everyone...our fellow "humdingers." 😂
I bought some cute cup like feeders that have holes large enough to feed the Orioles too. All went well until this summer heat brought out the bees. Now they're covered I bees. I tried cheese cloth between the cap and cup. It worked well for awhile. Now the hummingbirds can only dash in for a sip when the sun is out. So I picked up a bunch of the Walmart ones for $4 each. Like you said as long as the wind doesn't blow them about, the bees ignore them. I do have to add ant motes though. The Orioles stopped using hummingbird feeders when I put grape jelly out. They have their own bee battles.
I will find a way to work with honey bees but in my area of NE Ga, the real culprit are yellow jackets, a ground nesting wasp. They are small and can get into amazingly small holes. I don’t think anyone is immune to ants. If your feeder is on a pole that is driven into the ground, you can put petroleum jelly on the pole near the ground to keep the ants from climbing up. DO NOT put any petroleum jelly farther up the pole where the birds may come in contact with it.
I have those feeders you show from Wal Mart with the ant moat built in. I would never put olive oil or any kind of oil in that top moat. I have seen my hummers drink from this and even bathe in it. Any oil in there could cause their death because they can’t get if off of their feathers. Only plain water should be used, and I would n ever make the holes bigger because then the bees can definitely get in. This year I’ve had many bees swarming my feeders, first time they have ever been this bad!
An alternative that works for me: instead of 4:1 water:sugar, dilute the mix. Somewhere between 4.5:1 and 5:1, the bees stop coming, but the hummers still show up.
Northern wisconsin here, just picked up some of these and hoping they help, the yellow jackets and other wasps are terrible this year. Just got stung in the ear last week. Thanks for the tips ! My hummingbirds send their regards 😊
I know you said that you can't smear anything on a feeder that will deter bees from going after the nectar. My wife and I thought that was true until we ran out of everything to try and decided to try olive oil. I removed the flowers from one feeder and replaced them with flowers that have raised petals. We were afraid that the oil would affect the hummingbird, so I took a q-tip and applied the olive oil to the flower's edge from the back of the edge to the front. You almost squeegee the oil to the edge and back of the flower, leaving the inside of the flower dry. Now Ohio birds may be different from other states, but the OLIVE OIL WORKS. The bees fly to the petals, sense the oil and back off. Confusion sets in and they eventually leave. In a few days, the bees are gone. One or two seem to come back but the oil keeps them away. We only reapply the oil if it rains. Remember, put is on thin. You want a very light coat. Dip the q-tip in the oil, dab on a paper towel to squeeze out most of the oil and squeegee to the back only of the flower petal. You should see a very light film. Try it on one feeder. If you like it, do the others. Remember to reapply after it rains. It works in Ohio.
@@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy I recently had a huge bee problem. It only took 1 day of an unnoticed small leak on my birds favorite feeder for those bees to almost take over completely. Even though I changed feeders, they still would not give up. They would keep coming back to check for sugar all day. I finally got fed up and pour equal parts of canola, corn oil(the only oils I could find in the kitchen)and water(yes water)into a spray bottle. I shook the bottle to mix it all and went spray crazy on my feeder until it started dripping. It was almost sunset, so I figured if my birds would use another feeder if they didn't like the oil. Well, my feeder and window sure got messy but I no longer has bees! My birds coukd finally eat in peace. The bees hardly even land on the feeder with the oil on it, it's like a force feild lol. Hopefully the bees will move along completely soon, they sure are aggressive with the hummingbirds.
Thank you for sharing your ideas. I have about 45 or so hummingbirds at the moment. I have noticed the bees are not only in the way but they are being aggressive towards the hummingbirds. I am aware of the importance of bees so I don't want to kill them. Just want them to move on. Going to try the suggestions here with using oil. Should also keep ants away I would think. Thank you again for sharing your strategies. Much appreciated!
I LOVE THAT FEEDER (The first Nature, the 3rd one you showed), it was $3.64 at Wal-Mart and it was the BEST DECISION! I had the Perky Pet with those bulbous yellow "bee guards" that I spent $100 on! Glass feeders and expensive like $10-$15 or more each! This year, I had bees INSIDE the guards and ants in the water and this was with an any moat! I was able to get 6 of the slit feeders for approximately $22!!! I LOVE THEM, MY HUMMINGBIRDS LOVE THEM! AND THE BEES AND ANTS DISAPPEARED!!! The First Nature slit feeders don't leak, by design if it leaks it catches inside like a moat! I had the dollar store feeder but it LEAKED!!! even with plumbers tape, leaking everywhere, bees everywhere! Qas hard to clean! For the moats, I did switch to the perky pet ant guards which I'm still undecided about but they are working. I used to have ants all over my patio and the yellow jackets and wasps were terrible! As soon as I switched to the First Nature feeders, they all disappeared!!! Now, I have to try and sell those perky pet feeders!
I switched out my regular feeders for the Walmart feeder because of the bees. The hummingbirds don’t like the new feeders. Most of them have stopped feeding. I put 3 of my old feeder out and they emptied them, but the bees use them too.
Use fresh water fishing line to hang your feeders up with, the ants can’t climb on it they fall off. You won’t need ant moat. A single strand of fresh water fishing string not double. Read this in a Birds and Bloom magazine years ago. Have not had problem with ants since.
Great info! I love the Strawberry feeder 💙🍓💙 I've seen basic Hummingbird feeders at Dollar Tree. I don't know how you clean all your feeders a job of passion for the birds 💜 One thing, be careful using bleach, vinegar or cleaners on plastic feeders plastic is absorbant and can harm the Hummingbirds.
The feeders we have, also from walmart, leak where the base goes together and the bees get it. We taped along that today with electric tape, experiment.
Do the anti-bee feeders keep out paper wasps? One of the problems I have with my perky pet feeder is the sugar water accumulates on the base of the feeder near the portals. The wasps will sit there and drink that sugar. I live on the third floor of an apartment and the wasp nest is in the eves just above my balcony and management will not spend money to get rid of the nests. The manager said to keep geraniums on the balcony or patio and that will deter the wasps. What a joke that is. Doesn't work for me. I've had germaniums before I put up my feeder. Moving soon to Arizona and I hope I can have a yard with hummingbirds all year trouble free. Thanks Robbie.
If you can see the nest, get a bug-a-salt pistol or rifle and blast it. Heck, if I knew which one of my neighbors had the nest, I’d give them the bugasalt as a gift and keep dropping hints. No one should have to live with a nest.
I enjoy watching your feeders. I guess for some of us it doesn't take much. ??? We don't have bees like others but we have wasps and when they are on the feeders trying to get juiced up the hummers run away. They seem terrified of wasps. Is there a way of getting rid of wasps? I bought 2 feeders couple of years ago and every time I went to fill it up there were at least 5-10 dead bees that had drowned in solution. 😮 oh well. Keep doing the fun things that you do. I so enjoy watching. Joyce
The problem I have had with the bottle feeders is as they heat up the nectar leaks out. Walmart here has had a pancake style feeder with an ant moat all plastic 10oz volume.
After trying everything to keep bees off I found a feeder that actually works. Its the Pennington triple trumpet 18 spout red from walmart. no more bees..
I have found, taking aliminum foil pieplate, cut hole in center, place over feeder with feeder hook through it, piece of twig to stop pie plate, from moving around, acts as raincoat, stops a lot of rain from getting in feeder.
Thank you for this very informative video. One request is please post the brand and page link for the Walmart hummingbird feeders you like. I may have missed them but did not see them, particularly the larger of the two, on their website. In the fall of the year with swarms of hummingbirds migrating I am constantly filling my 3 feeders plus fighting off bees so the larger feeder is what I need. Thanks again for this video.
I have a big bee problem currently with the first nature feeders. I put out the little hummblossom ones and no more bees! Once the bees leave, I will put the first nature ones back out.
I use a flying saucer shaped hummingbird feeder, and since the liquid is below and not above, where it can seep, it is bee proof. I had to do this after my neighbor's bees took over my feeders, and I am allergic and they were warding off the hummingbirds. Just search "saucer-shaped hummingbird feeder" and many will come up. At first I thought it was more work since you do the nectar and cleaning more often, but since they are simpler design and you clean frequently, it is actually much easier. Since I change it more frequently, I now make my nectar quickly in 2 X quart mason jars. 1/2 cup sugar, 2 cups of water is 1 : 4. I use 2 X 1/4 cup scoops bc it fits easier to pour the 1/4 c sugar in the widemouth jar. I shake and serve, instead of the longer process I used to do. I tried all the tricks, but if the liquid is above, like 99% of feeders on the market now, then it will seep, and bees will come. I feed the bees organic flowers, but I couldn't have the hundreds of bees that came from my neighbor's hive. They were interfering with my coming and going, as well as disturbing the hummingbirds. My favorite ant baffle is the bell shaped baffle, which usually worked on its own, but I add Vaseline/ petroleum jelly inside the bell for extra protection. 3rd generation Audobon birder
Im new to this humming bird feeding thing, I wonder if you could tell us about how to make the feeder liquid ? How much Sugar to how much water? thanks' Happy New Year, Bob
I beat feet to my local walmart. They had two of the feeders with the little slits. I bought both and some kind of window feeder with I'm going to put by my desk window. But, the dang bees came and started drinking out of the slits. I guess they weren't getting anything out but you couldn't tell them that, they just sat there trying. Naturally the bees hadn't hit the feeders all season, now today suddenly there are hundreds of them, hundreds. I have plenty of flowers for them to suck on. IDK. I'm really sad. I have the deer tipping them over and licking the spills too. 😣Looking at all the tule netting I bought for my garden too Robbie. Wondering how to fashion something from that to keep the bees away.
I have them,( the ones I have) if you look closer and if you are careful you can pop them open and clean with a tooth brush close them.gently put back in place...check a little closer..😊have a great day
You can clean a feeder in the same way you would do your own bowl, dish soap, baking soda, vinegar or a light bleach solution, rinse very well, air dry completely then store away 😊❤️🌺
I really do not have a favorite color, red looks good on me because on camera a blue or green hat makes my skin look yellow/green, red just brightens up my look. But I do like red because of hummingbirds too. Thanks
Robbie, I just bought a bunch of those slit feeders from Walmart and they have First Nature tabs all over them. I heard they were not popular so First Nature just sold them all to Walmart. My question for you is, I've heard those slit feeders can damage or break the beaks of hummingbirds. Have you ever seen anything like this happen?
My bigger problem is yellow jackets. A lot of them are smaller and can fit in the holes. I have opened them to clean and found them inside, alive a couple of times, but usually dead. Some of the bee guards have a larger flower with a slightly bigger hole and they an get in it. I have found the Perky Pet replacement t bee guards fit the dollar store feeder, have perches, the numbers love it and the yellow jackets and bees leave them alone. I live in the northeast, seems we always have a breeze which is enough to move the smaller feeders and allow the sugar water to leak out! It seems fruits summer all I have done is dealt with insects. Took care of the ants, got traps and took care of the yellow jackets, and then we got the bee problem for the end of season! I am making my plan of attack for next year. Don't want to kill the bees but I want them away from my feeders!
I've bought those tiny slitted feeders from Walmart. They didn't work at all! I've never had such a big problem with yellow jackets in over ten years. This is the first time I've had swarms and clusters on everyone of my feeders. They can't reach the sugar in the feeders, but that doesn't discourage them at all! They still keep trying to get the sugar! I've tried everything but killing them! That's my next step. I'm so bloody tired of them! They keep my hummingbirds away and the bees attack my friends and even me!
Walmart is so frustrating with their “seasonal items”. I wanted to buy a frisbee for the kids. I couldn’t find one so I asked. “Oh no sir….that’s a seasonal item, we only have those in summer” So frisbees are out of the question in October in NC I guess? They act like they’re in Siberia or something.
Is it ok to use galvanized metal and glass bc I worry about the galvanized metal possibly making them sick, 🥺 I would appreciate and love an answer, please 🙏🏼 from a new hummingbird mommy 😊
Robbie we live in Las Vegas and we have lots of wind and sometimes very heavy wind my feeder gets empty just like that …yes i can make it seat somewhere but again heavy wind will make it fall down…what can i don?
You may have to build or put up a pole with an open frame bird house look so some of the side will reflect the wind, kind of like a box with open front facing away from the wind. 😊
I have a problem with downy woodpeckers, I chase them off and I throw sticks at them, I haven't kill them yet, the woodpeckers do attack the humming birds. I want to kill them and I might, but " By chance do you know of any other way I might get them to stay away ? " I hang my feeders on a shepherd hooks it has 2, I thought about putting a sticky trap on the pole but I am afraid the humming birds might fly to close and get trap. The woodpeckers land on the side of the pole then fly to feeder they hang upside down on the feeder. I Hope You might be able to help.
I feed my downy woodpecker a sunflower seed and woodpecker mix that has dried fruit and berries mixed with sunflower seeds. These are placed in another part of the back yard behind the garage. The hummingbird feeders are closer to the house. I have never had a woodpecker feeding from them. I love my woodpeckers and other birds. Now that the summers are gone for the year I will be feeding the birds through the winter and spring as this is when they need it most.
I don’t know how you manage to get so many hummers sharing your feeders. I have three up and a couple of hummers have claimed them and viciously fight off any visitors! I have a male Anna’s and one male Allen’s. There is also a female Allen’s that is allowed to feed at one of the feeders. I have witnessed several visitors being chased off and it is frustrating for me because there is plenty of nectar. I’ve tried moving the feeders, adding extra ones, but nothing has worked. I live in San Diego on the coast.
I love that you have the energy of a hummingbird.
I have found that whatever feeder you use, the bees will go to your feeders. The hummingbirds spill sugar water when they withdraw their beaks from any feeder. The bees wait until the Hummingbird goes away and then goes after the spillage.Too bad we can’t hand out napkins!!!
This is the problem I am having and my hummers won’t stop at my feeders anymore because the bee’s just found my feeders. 😢
We have no problem with the bees as we have a Big yard filled with clover and bees and we mow alternate patches of clover just before dark when they are back in the nests, and leave other patches growing, and not killing them. The wasps and hornets come to the feeders and we hang out a 2 liter seven- up bottle with sugar water in the bottom and holes punched in it near the feeders and they go in and can't get out, end up drowning. Helps somewhat keeping them away from the feeders.
Wasps and hornets don't seem to start bothering the feeders till mid - august. Then, in September, they start boring into the apples, so whatever wasps and hornets we kill, there's thousands more nested around here.
Thank you Robbie, I have made feeders and learned so much from you. You just make it so joyful!
Thank you so very much, makes me just want to keep going 24/7… okay maybe not all night 🤣, again thanks for this uplifting comment ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Hi! Just wanted to say thank you. I got my first hummingbird feeder last summer, and I LOVE it. This summer, I have two feeders and a couple hummingbirds. I’m an amateur photographer, and I love setting both my camera up and my iPhone up to shoot them. I’ve gotten some amazing shots, even slowmo clips. Your channel has helped me so much, I knew absolutely nothing about them, and I always feel so inspired after watching your videos. I could sit for hours on my back porch just watching them, and even now, they always make me smile. I just saw two just now! Anyway, thank you for sharing your wisdom, it’s easy to tell you delight in them too, which makes your videos a pleasure to watch.
You should post it. We love looking at hummingbird clips. 🙏🙏❤️🌈🐦
I love you and your channel, you are one of my favourites. When life really stresses me, I will put on one of your videos and you calm me down and I can go to sleep. Yes, that is right! I often use you as my lullaby .... hahaha :) I think it is the good energy in your soul you are joyful and a sweetheart
I'm a MN beekeeker. Couple FYI:
1. Only female (worker) bees forage, so every single honeybee that's at your feeder is a she.
2. If you are intentionally giving bees their own sugar/water. Their ratio needs are different. In spring the ratio is 1:1. In fall they need 1:2 (water:sugar),because the thicker syrup is easier to fan moisture out of for longterm storage (as honey), which they'd cap with wax. Too liquidy syrup would freeze in the wax cells, creating too much moisture in hive.
Thanks for this ❤️
Mine is 1:4 and the bees keep coming lately.
Thanks for this as I have been using 1:1 as a deter since the 60's when I was a kid. I did notice them being more interested in the fall, now I know why.
Does sugar water hurt bees?
What an amazing thing that you are so kind to post this information for us. I second the question ahead of me. Is there any negative to giving them this solution? As opposed to natural heck nectar from flowers. Is there a special feeder for the bees? So they don’t drown? I was just going to put a shallow ball withsticks in it for them to climb out if they fall in.
Thank you for your advice. I watched your video and went out and purchased the feeder from Walmart, they liked it immediately. I am now going to use the walmart ones when the bees start coming after my feeders.
Robbie I got the Walmart feeder a couple of years ago, and the hummingbirds love it!!!
Yes I agree with you thanks so much for sharing ❤️
Robbie I bought 2 after your recommendation. The hummingbirds love it but so do the bees. The bees have swarmed it for hours today since I hung it up. This has not helped at all.
Robbie, I found you three years ago when my husband died suddenly, your love of the flying jewels is very inspirational!! Love ypur videos and learning how to do these easy water and feeding fixtires...my son made me one of your hummingbird baths! Bless you!
So wonderful how your Son made you a water fountain ❤️. So sorry for your loss 3 years ago, and continue to think of all the good times. Some cultures believe hummingbirds are part of those that have past. Thank you so much 😊🙏❤️
Thank you we live in NJ we are in early September and never had bee problem since now. I did buy the 2 feeders you recommended. We had to order them like you mentioned in the video. Free delivery was a plus and feeders were roughly $4/piece. I kept the older feeders nearby to draw the bees away. Really appreciate your help. Go Hummingbirds
Great to hear that helped. Thanks for sharing
Very informative as usual. Our kids love to watch the hummingbirds, so we might get them a feeder.
We never imagined all the factors that warrant consideration when shopping for a feeder. Thanks for sharing.
I've just purchased 3 of those feeders with the small slits and so far no bees! I've also put into pots a vermillionaire plant and the hummers love it.
Thanks Robbie for all your great insight and advice!!knowledge knowledge
Wonderful! Thank you so much 😊 ❤️
@@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy I've just seen on Utube that some dish soaps can leave a residue and vinegar and water is the better cleaner to use. What do you think?
Had lots of bees the last three weeks but am grateful for them I had mason bee houses guess they worked we do need bees everyone ate well🙂🙂🙂
You are so right, bees are important, that is why we set up a feeder here just for the bees too, thanks so much ❤️🐝
Robbie, i think i have finally found the answer for the bees and wasps. I have the large hole Walmart feeder and bees were still always on the feeder trying to get to the sugar water and not letting the hummingbirds drink in peace. I purchased a product called Tree Tanglefoot insect barrier from Home Depot. It is extremely sticky. I spread it all over the base of the feeder, making sure i didn't put any on the flower area or their little landing bar. Before i applied it, there were constantly bees all over the base. Now i have seen a few try to land on it, but quickly fly off when they feel the stcky substance. It is also said to be good for ants.
Iam a beekeeper and a hummingbird feeder. We have always used the same feeders. As the resivore go bad from light exposure . I have kept the bottoms. Every time I refill a feeder a put a newly cleaned bottom on the feeder. I soak the bottom in a bleach solution. Almost no bee issues. Usually if I have an issue it's a leak or a dirty feeder bottom. I have about 20 hives so lots of bees. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for this video! I’ve been struggling with mostly wasps at my hummingbird feeder. To refill I would have to wait until dark and hopefully there wasn’t still a wasp lurking on the underside of the feeder. I did find the feeder with the slots at Walmart - given that this video was a few years ago, it was a bit more than $4, but no problem - as it turns out completely worth it! Because the feeder was hung in the same location, the first couple of days the wasps were hanging around, but couldn’t get to the sugar water, so they eventually gave up. Now my hummers can enjoy their nectar in peace and I don’t have to worry about the wasps deciding they don’t like me hanging around “their” feeder. So happy! 😊
That feeder from Walmart is perfect to keep bees away❤️ thank you so much!🐝🦋🌸🌹🌼🌺
I am with you on this, glad I could help, take care ❤️😊
do you have the link? I can not find it
I have feeders that do keep bees out. I grow every kind of salvia and bees can climb into the blooms, but our vermillionaire flowers bees cannot fit into so they are a safe flower for hummers. The nectar is still there and they produce thousands of blooms. I plant them in pots everywhere and hanging baskets.
Sounds perfect and wonderful! ❤️😊🌺
Thank you for this! Is just like you read my mind… the past week or two, bees have discovered my lone hummingbird feeder, and now they think they just own it! And sadly have made my hummingbird friends no longer come by! I have had smaller bees actually fall in the holes and had to save them and free them… but, these are larger bees, but they still come to it and claim it, even though they cannot reach the nectar through the holes… and watching them, they don’t even go to the holes, but under the flowers to where they connect to the base, through silicone tubes… I had been thinking of rubbing hand sanitizer all around the base, underneath the flowers, everywhere except where the hummingbirds access it, to see if that will deter the bees… will see… am sad and missing my hummingbird friends, and hope they come back! But was just so great to see your video here pop up on my feed, when lo’ and behold, that is the very same problem I just now happen to be experiencing! So thank you!
I use buttons that I save from old clothes or even buy. I've lucked up before and found some shaped and looked like flowers. But if they're on the thicker side I only use one and if they're more thin I stack 2 or 3. You can glue them on or if you are pretty experienced with a soldering iron, you can "weld plastic to plastic".
It took me a while to learn not to mention a couple of burns on my fingers.
Hope y'all have a great week ahead and God bless.
Oh yes I know how to “weld” plastic. Yes there are so many ways to fix a feeder from bees but those feeders are so cheap, thanks so much for sharing ❤️
I bought a feeder that sticks to your window and had a million ants attacking it well I put vasaline all around the edge of the suction cup on the window and they couldn't get past it to the feeder. It worked great and cleans off the glass easily with windex.
Perfect, and thank you for sharing 😊❤️
I've had one like that for years and they love that one it stays on the kitchen window every year
Hi Robbie and everyone who loves the hummingbirds. The Walmart feeder is made by First Nature. How do I know this? I ordered directly from First Nature, after a major home improvement retailer jacked the feeder price way up. In one order, I was sent the feeder with the slits. They made it good - that was before I knew about your videos. First Nature sent me replacement bases with the round holes. The good news - First Nature sells direct, they send you emails about discounts and sales and they sell parts. If you only need flowers or a base, for example, you can now buy that alone. Hope this helps everyone...our fellow "humdingers." 😂
That one you said was good from Walmart and opened up the holes is my worse for bees. But best feeder
With the winds, now I know why we've got the bee problem. Thank you for telling us about that. I'll try the bowl & rocks.
I bought some cute cup like feeders that have holes large enough to feed the Orioles too. All went well until this summer heat brought out the bees. Now they're covered I bees. I tried cheese cloth between the cap and cup. It worked well for awhile. Now the hummingbirds can only dash in for a sip when the sun is out.
So I picked up a bunch of the Walmart ones for $4 each. Like you said as long as the wind doesn't blow them about, the bees ignore them. I do have to add ant motes though.
The Orioles stopped using hummingbird feeders when I put grape jelly out. They have their own bee battles.
I will find a way to work with honey bees but in my area of NE Ga, the real culprit are yellow jackets, a ground nesting wasp. They are small and can get into amazingly small holes.
I don’t think anyone is immune to ants. If your feeder is on a pole that is driven into the ground, you can put petroleum jelly on the pole near the ground to keep the ants from climbing up. DO NOT put any petroleum jelly farther up the pole where the birds may come in contact with it.
Super review and instruction Robbie, thank you!
7-12-24 I just got the feeders with thin slots & they're great! Thanks for all you share!!!
Wonderful ❤️ Enjoy
I was told the dish type feeders work better for repelling bees. Fill them only partially so the bees "tongues" can't reach it but the hummers can.
I love your videos so much!!! You and Gary are just amazing
Omg thank you so very very much❤️😊
I bought the $4 feeder fromm Walmart, and it was a bee magnet! I have tried everything including peppermint oil. No luck!
this is great! you have helped me with all my bee problems. thank you!
I have those feeders you show from Wal Mart with the ant moat built in. I would never put olive oil or any kind of oil in that top moat. I have seen my hummers drink from this and even bathe in it. Any oil in there could cause their death because they can’t get if off of their feathers. Only plain water should be used, and I would n ever make the holes bigger because then the bees can definitely get in. This year I’ve had many bees swarming my feeders, first time they have ever been this bad!
Thanks so much! A life saver. You are the best❤
Thank you 😊 Anyone feeding a hummingbird is a life saver too ❤️
An alternative that works for me: instead of 4:1 water:sugar, dilute the mix. Somewhere between 4.5:1 and 5:1, the bees stop coming, but the hummers still show up.
Thank you for the bee info it did help to know which feeders work best
You are so welcome and those feeders are cheap and they never leak either and they work great, thanks so much 😊
My flat round feeders filled with bees 2 days ago, 1st time I have ever had it happen
They figured out how to get in, worth a try on these feeders for now until the bees go elsewhere, take care ❤️
Northern wisconsin here, just picked up some of these and hoping they help, the yellow jackets and other wasps are terrible this year. Just got stung in the ear last week. Thanks for the tips ! My hummingbirds send their regards 😊
I know you said that you can't smear anything on a feeder that will deter bees from going after the nectar. My wife and I thought that was true until we ran out of everything to try and decided to try olive oil. I removed the flowers from one feeder and replaced them with flowers that have raised petals. We were afraid that the oil would affect the hummingbird, so I took a q-tip and applied the olive oil to the flower's edge from the back of the edge to the front. You almost squeegee the oil to the edge and back of the flower, leaving the inside of the flower dry.
Now Ohio birds may be different from other states, but the OLIVE OIL WORKS. The bees fly to the petals, sense the oil and back off. Confusion sets in and they eventually leave. In a few days, the bees are gone. One or two seem to come back but the oil keeps them away.
We only reapply the oil if it rains. Remember, put is on thin. You want a very light coat. Dip the q-tip in the oil, dab on a paper towel to squeeze out most of the oil and squeegee to the back only of the flower petal. You should see a very light film. Try it on one feeder. If you like it, do the others. Remember to reapply after it rains. It works in Ohio.
So interesting will have to give it a try one day, thank you so
@@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy
I recently had a huge bee problem. It only took 1 day of an unnoticed small leak on my birds favorite feeder for those bees to almost take over completely. Even though I changed feeders, they still would not give up. They would keep coming back to check for sugar all day. I finally got fed up and pour equal parts of canola, corn oil(the only oils I could find in the kitchen)and water(yes water)into a spray bottle. I shook the bottle to mix it all and went spray crazy on my feeder until it started dripping. It was almost sunset, so I figured if my birds would use another feeder if they didn't like the oil.
Well, my feeder and window sure got messy but I no longer has bees! My birds coukd finally eat in peace.
The bees hardly even land on the feeder with the oil on it, it's like a force feild lol. Hopefully the bees will move along completely soon, they sure are aggressive with the hummingbirds.
Thank you for sharing your ideas. I have about 45 or so hummingbirds at the moment. I have noticed the bees are not only in the way but they are being aggressive towards the hummingbirds. I am aware of the importance of bees so I don't want to kill them. Just want them to move on. Going to try the suggestions here with using oil. Should also keep ants away I would think. Thank you again for sharing your strategies. Much appreciated!
I used the olive oil and it worked great!!! No more bees or wasps.👏👏😃
I love your viewing area!
So much great information! Thank you!!!
Thank you so much ❤️
I LOVE THAT FEEDER (The first Nature, the 3rd one you showed), it was $3.64 at Wal-Mart and it was the BEST DECISION! I had the Perky Pet with those bulbous yellow "bee guards" that I spent $100 on! Glass feeders and expensive like $10-$15 or more each! This year, I had bees INSIDE the guards and ants in the water and this was with an any moat! I was able to get 6 of the slit feeders for approximately $22!!! I LOVE THEM, MY HUMMINGBIRDS LOVE THEM! AND THE BEES AND ANTS DISAPPEARED!!! The First Nature slit feeders don't leak, by design if it leaks it catches inside like a moat! I had the dollar store feeder but it LEAKED!!! even with plumbers tape, leaking everywhere, bees everywhere! Qas hard to clean! For the moats, I did switch to the perky pet ant guards which I'm still undecided about but they are working. I used to have ants all over my patio and the yellow jackets and wasps were terrible! As soon as I switched to the First Nature feeders, they all disappeared!!! Now, I have to try and sell those perky pet feeders!
Yes that feeder is great and none of these have ever leaked , as you said. Thanks so much ❤️
Thanks for SHARING!!🥰☺️
You are so welcome! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thanks
I switched out my regular feeders for the Walmart feeder because of the bees. The hummingbirds don’t like the new feeders. Most of them have stopped feeding. I put 3 of my old feeder out and they emptied them, but the bees use them too.
You are Amazing!! Thank you for this informative video!!!
Thank you for all the information, every year I have trouble with ants and bees,I am from central Wisconsin!
Use fresh water fishing line to hang your feeders up with, the ants can’t climb on it they fall off. You won’t need ant moat. A single strand of fresh water fishing string not double. Read this in a Birds and Bloom magazine years ago. Have not had problem with ants since.
Thank you😊
You are so welcome 🤗 thank you❤️
Great info! I love the Strawberry feeder 💙🍓💙 I've seen basic Hummingbird feeders at Dollar Tree. I don't know how you clean all your feeders a job of passion for the birds 💜 One thing, be careful using bleach, vinegar or cleaners on plastic feeders plastic is absorbant and can harm the Hummingbirds.
The feeders we have, also from walmart, leak where the base goes together and the bees get it. We taped along that today with electric tape, experiment.
Do the anti-bee feeders keep out paper wasps? One of the problems I have with my perky pet feeder is the sugar water accumulates on the base of the feeder near the portals. The wasps will sit there and drink that sugar. I live on the third floor of an apartment and the wasp nest is in the eves just above my balcony and management will not spend money to get rid of the nests. The manager said to keep geraniums on the balcony or patio and that will deter the wasps. What a joke that is. Doesn't work for me. I've had germaniums before I put up my feeder. Moving soon to Arizona and I hope I can have a yard with hummingbirds all year trouble free. Thanks Robbie.
If you can see the nest, get a bug-a-salt pistol or rifle and blast it.
Heck, if I knew which one of my neighbors had the nest, I’d give them the bugasalt as a gift and keep dropping hints. No one should have to live with a nest.
I enjoy watching your feeders. I guess for some of us it doesn't take much. ??? We don't have bees like others but we have wasps and when they are on the feeders trying to get juiced up the hummers run away. They seem terrified of wasps. Is there a way of getting rid of wasps? I bought 2 feeders couple of years ago and every time I went to fill it up there were at least 5-10 dead bees that had drowned in solution. 😮 oh well. Keep doing the fun things that you do. I so enjoy watching. Joyce
The problem I have had with the bottle feeders is as they heat up the nectar leaks out. Walmart here has had a pancake style feeder with an ant moat all plastic 10oz volume.
Thank you, this info helps
Thanks for your video 😁👍
After trying everything to keep bees off I found a feeder that actually works. Its the Pennington triple trumpet 18 spout red from walmart. no more bees..
I just ordered one! Thanks for the reference!
I have found, taking aliminum foil pieplate, cut hole in center, place over feeder with feeder hook through it, piece of twig to stop pie plate, from moving around, acts as raincoat, stops a lot of rain from getting in feeder.
Thank you for this very informative video. One request is please post the brand and page link for the Walmart hummingbird feeders you like. I may have missed them but did not see them, particularly the larger of the two, on their website. In the fall of the year with swarms of hummingbirds migrating I am constantly filling my 3 feeders plus fighting off bees so the larger feeder is what I need. Thanks again for this video.
Ty robbie...yes I had many problems with Bees. Great video:)
Lord bless
I have a big bee problem currently with the first nature feeders. I put out the little hummblossom ones and no more bees! Once the bees leave, I will put the first nature ones back out.
Hi Robbie! Enjoy your videos. I love hummers too, but never have but around 3. I’m in Alabama.
Do not kid yourself 3 is wonderful ❤️😊
@@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy I’m proud of them. Lol
Thank you everyone!! 🐝🐝🐝
Thank you ❤️
The dead bee trick worked for me
I had to smoosh a little juice out of him for it to work
I use a flying saucer shaped hummingbird feeder, and since the liquid is below and not above, where it can seep, it is bee proof.
I had to do this after my neighbor's bees took over my feeders, and I am allergic and they were warding off the hummingbirds.
Just search "saucer-shaped hummingbird feeder" and many will come up.
At first I thought it was more work since you do the nectar and cleaning more often, but since they are simpler design and you clean frequently, it is actually much easier.
Since I change it more frequently, I now make my nectar quickly in 2 X quart mason jars. 1/2 cup sugar, 2 cups of water is 1 : 4.
I use 2 X 1/4 cup scoops bc it fits easier to pour the 1/4 c sugar in the widemouth jar. I shake and serve, instead of the longer process I used to do.
I tried all the tricks, but if the liquid is above, like 99% of feeders on the market now, then it will seep, and bees will come.
I feed the bees organic flowers, but I couldn't have the hundreds of bees that came from my neighbor's hive. They were interfering with my coming and going, as well as disturbing the hummingbirds.
My favorite ant baffle is the bell shaped baffle, which usually worked on its own, but I add Vaseline/ petroleum jelly inside the bell for extra protection.
3rd generation Audobon birder
@Robbie and Gary Gardening Easy
I made my first ant moat out of a metal coat hanger, a plastic cup from fabric softener (clean) and hot glue. Testing in the garden now.
If you use fresh water fishing line to hang your feeder with, the ants can’t climb on it they fall off you won’t need any moat!
@@graceislove3 Interesting. Thanks for sharing
Im new to this humming bird feeding thing, I wonder if you could tell us about how to make the feeder liquid ? How much Sugar to how much water? thanks' Happy New Year, Bob
I beat feet to my local walmart. They had two of the feeders with the little slits. I bought both and some kind of window feeder with I'm going to put by my desk window. But, the dang bees came and started drinking out of the slits. I guess they weren't getting anything out but you couldn't tell them that, they just sat there trying. Naturally the bees hadn't hit the feeders all season, now today suddenly there are hundreds of them, hundreds. I have plenty of flowers for them to suck on. IDK. I'm really sad. I have the deer tipping them over and licking the spills too. 😣Looking at all the tule netting I bought for my garden too Robbie. Wondering how to fashion something from that to keep the bees away.
If you're using a feeder with the mesh bee guards, be aware mold develops inside the guard, where you can't get to it.
I have them,( the ones I have) if you look closer and if you are careful you can pop them open and clean with a tooth brush close them.gently put back in place...check a little closer..😊have a great day
What is the best cleaning solution to clean the feeders before putting then away for the winter?
You can clean a feeder in the same way you would do your own bowl, dish soap, baking soda, vinegar or a light bleach solution, rinse very well, air dry completely then store away 😊❤️🌺
@@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy thank you
Is red your favorite color Robbie?
I really do not have a favorite color, red looks good on me because on camera a blue or green hat makes my skin look yellow/green, red just brightens up my look. But I do like red because of hummingbirds too. Thanks
I have a yellow jacket problem, would these anti bee feeders work the same for them?
Trying to end the war on my balcony
This is my favorite feeder. Clean it with a sponge and detail with a toothbrush. Have never seen any bees on it. Why the slits in the feeder Vs holes?
Small long thin slits so bees can not get into it 😊
Robbie, I just bought a bunch of those slit feeders from Walmart and they have First Nature tabs all over them. I heard they were not popular so First Nature just sold them all to Walmart. My question for you is, I've heard those slit feeders can damage or break the beaks of hummingbirds. Have you ever seen anything like this happen?
My bigger problem is yellow jackets. A lot of them are smaller and can fit in the holes. I have opened them to clean and found them inside, alive a couple of times, but usually dead. Some of the bee guards have a larger flower with a slightly bigger hole and they an get in it. I have found the Perky Pet replacement t bee guards fit the dollar store feeder, have perches, the numbers love it and the yellow jackets and bees leave them alone. I live in the northeast, seems we always have a breeze which is enough to move the smaller feeders and allow the sugar water to leak out! It seems fruits summer all I have done is dealt with insects. Took care of the ants, got traps and took care of the yellow jackets, and then we got the bee problem for the end of season! I am making my plan of attack for next year. Don't want to kill the bees but I want them away from my feeders!
I put a little feeder for the bees on purpose on the other side of the yard.
The small yellow jackets invaded my irst natures and Dollar tree feeders this year, whole tiny bodies inside floating in the nectar!
Would a small piece of tulle between the flower and the base like a screen, where it screws in keep wasps and bees out?
You mention bee guards. Are they specific to a brand of feeder or do they fit most feeders?
When bees come in, this is what I use, and seems to really be the only thing I can do and WORKS great, thanks ruclips.net/video/OgYmXcaea74/видео.html
My problem is wasps viciously chasing hummingbirds from accessing the feeder. Will this Walmart feeder prevent this?
I've bought those tiny slitted feeders from Walmart. They didn't work at all! I've never had such a big problem with yellow jackets in over ten years. This is the first time I've had swarms and clusters on everyone of my feeders. They can't reach the sugar in the feeders, but that doesn't discourage them at all! They still keep trying to get the sugar! I've tried everything but killing them! That's my next step. I'm so bloody tired of them! They keep my hummingbirds away and the bees attack my friends and even me!
We had that happen so we put up a yellow jacket trap. No more yellow jackets and very few in the trap.
What about the saucer-shaped feeder? Isn’t that a better shape than the upside down version in controlling bee attraction?
It depends on the design but it can be, thanks
Walmart is so frustrating with their “seasonal items”. I wanted to buy a frisbee for the kids. I couldn’t find one so I asked.
“Oh no sir….that’s a seasonal item, we only have those in summer”
So frisbees are out of the question in October in NC I guess?
They act like they’re in Siberia or something.
I didn’t have a hummingbird fountain last year & I had a hummingbird use the ant mote as a bathtub.😂Where do you get the dots?
Is it ok to use galvanized metal and glass bc I worry about the galvanized metal possibly making them sick, 🥺 I would appreciate and love an answer, please 🙏🏼 from a new hummingbird mommy 😊
Is it ok to use those plastic feeders? I always thought the feeder must be a glass jar.
Robbie we live in Las Vegas and we have lots of wind and sometimes very heavy wind my feeder gets empty just like that …yes i can make it seat somewhere but again heavy wind will make it fall down…what can i don?
You may have to build or put up a pole with an open frame bird house look so some of the side will reflect the wind, kind of like a box with open front facing away from the wind. 😊
Yes thank you robbie🙏 tonight we have wind 34 mph ferls like 48 😛
I have a problem with downy woodpeckers, I chase them off and I throw sticks at them, I haven't kill them yet, the woodpeckers do attack the humming birds. I want to kill them and I might, but " By chance do you know of any other way I might get them to stay away ? " I hang my feeders on a shepherd hooks it has 2, I thought about putting a sticky trap on the pole but I am afraid the humming birds might fly to close and get trap. The woodpeckers land on the side of the pole then fly to feeder they hang upside down on the feeder. I Hope You might be able to help.
Omg, I love woodpeckers would love to feed them from my feeders. Just put up a few more feeders
I feed my downy woodpecker a sunflower seed and woodpecker mix that has dried fruit and berries mixed with sunflower seeds. These are placed in another part of the back yard behind the garage. The hummingbird feeders are closer to the house. I have never had a woodpecker feeding from them. I love my woodpeckers and other birds. Now that the summers are gone for the year I will be feeding the birds through the winter and spring as this is when they need it most.
How do you make your own small square hummingbird feeders that you showed that come in the multi pack for a dollar
Wonder if an artifical bee glued on the feeder would stop bees.
7:50 you need a long, bendable brusn. Still it might not work though depending on the design
I have a problem with fruit flies in my hummingbird feeders.
Any suggestions ?
In Mn I get only wasps, never honeybees.
These are wasp proof too worth a try
The tear drop feeder you have the bees are all on the bottom!
I've seen suggestions on swabbing tea tree oil under flowers...to deter bees, comments?
What's the rainbowed thing on the windowsill?
That is a planter growing onions as an indoor plant, I think I have finally came up with a way that works great 👍 thanks ❤️
@@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy it's really pretty!
Well....... WalMart $4 a COMPLETE failure. Wish I could post a picture.
I don’t know how you manage to get so many hummers sharing your feeders. I have three up and a couple of hummers have claimed them and viciously fight off any visitors! I have a male Anna’s and one male Allen’s. There is also a female Allen’s that is allowed to feed at one of the feeders. I have witnessed several visitors being chased off and it is frustrating for me because there is plenty of nectar. I’ve tried moving the feeders, adding extra ones, but nothing has worked. I live in San Diego on the coast.
Oh, wow! I didn't know ants contaminate.
Some ants can make it kind of bitter ,
What do u do for hornets
Do you have a link for your favorite Walmart feeder?