Found that on the U.of Ky. site,which has info on Hummer flowers,etc.

http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/for/for97/for97.htm

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Cheers,Bob

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a
Lexington,Kentucky
How to add a Signature

I LOVE this...Thank You!

That's interesting thanks!

Sarah from merion station, Pennsylvania zone 6B

that is a little spiffier than the ones that I made but same principle and they work like a charm. Thanks for posting that Bob!

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

I am going to "knock on wood" but ants have never presented a problem for me at my feeders. I just have problems with red ants that want to eat me up while I am out working in my flowers.

Now ya'll will probably hear me screaming next week.

Dianne
Southeast Alabama
Heat Zone 8
Sunset Zone 31

Dianne The only blessing about living up north is we don't have fire ants up here. I used to hate those things and used everything I read about to eradicate them. One year my pet duck Peep got into a nest of them and we had to rescue her and dunk her in the pool to get them off of her.



Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Thanks for the visuals on the ant moat Bob, a step up from my paint can lid with a hole for the hangar made with a hot needle. Will have to try and make this if I can ever get a break from frantic planting and watering. We here are in an unseasonable heat wave and I haven't all my beds ready for the starts that are screaming to be planted out from their 4 inch pots. There was no seaonal change in weather here we went from cold and wet,wet,wet to hot and dry almost overnight.
Cheri

(aka hummymummy vancouver, b.c. canada z8)

Wow Bob. That looks a lot spiffier than my paint can lids.

Kendra
zone 5 - MA

I am on the same page with Kendra anc Cheri, Most of my ant moats are paint can lids with wire and contsruction adhesive. I used an ice pick to make my holes and then sealed around it with construction adhesive. Yesterday I did go to the hardware store to look at the turnbuckles but I thought the ones they had were too big. but I think the smallest one they had was the same size you used Bob. So I think I will go back and get one. The smallest one at our local hardware store was only $1.19 and I am sure I have nuts and washers around already but I would need to get a rubber gasket too. Tuna fish cans or if you have cats, cat food cans work really well too. I have used those and the bottom half of variou sizes of pop bottles.


Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

I used "O" rings,as in the drawing;but, I wonder if those rubber washers that are used in faucets won't work too. I really had to tighten it to get a water-tight seal.

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Cheers,Bob

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a
Lexington,Kentucky
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I was even thinking about using silicone sealer like the stuff you use to seal aquariums.



Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

That would probably work too

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Cheers,Bob

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a
Lexington,Kentucky
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Bob
with regards to the rubber washers. They work really well I got the really small rubber washers so that I had to actually screw them on and they made a nice water tight seal.

I wanted to bring this thread up again since the ant question has been brought back up.


Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

I've added this thread to the forum FAQ's:

http://tinyurl.com/oe459

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Cheers,Bob

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a
Lexington,KY
How to add a Signature

Great idea Bob!!!!

This is undoubtedly the best and safest idea for keeping ants away from the feeders and something that everyone who uses feeders should use whether they choose to make their own or purchase a manufactured ant moat.



Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Hi
I came across your ant moat plan a few years ago and made three. Just recently I gave one to my mother-in-law and came back to the site today to get the plans to make another. I used a plastic dessert type container and painted it bright red with Krylon paint. Looks nice over the mostly red feeders. I have two of these hanging from brackets on a privacy screen with a large red sun design plaque between.

It's just this year I've had any consistant success in attracting hummingbirds. The plants I put in haven't come to much yet but the feeders are being accepted with a couple of pots of petunias nearby to lure the little guys into the yard.

Haven't seen an ant since I put up the moats. Thanks for the plans.

This is the FIRST year I've had ant issues with my feeders. I relocated them and the ants haven't found them...but this set-up looks like it'd be great.

Patrick
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place

Bob,

We made a few of these last year. By the time DH got done buying Stainless steel parts (its outdoors, you need these he said) It would have been alot cheaper and easier to buy them for $4.99! Live and learn.

Pam NJ 6B

Since ant moats aren't available anywhere locally, just the shipping charges to place an order on line would have cost more than the cost of the parts. I have made at least 4 of these moats according to Bob's directions and they work beautifully...as long as I remember to keep water in the moat

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Penny, did you use stainless steel hardware? I wonder why one couldn't use galvanized (if available)? And whether that would significantly reduce the cost?

Patrick
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place

Patrick, I believe I used galavanized but not 100% sure. I just bought what was available at the local hardware store.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

BTW folks, in no way was I trying to say that Bob's method isn't a GREAT one, only that my DH has to do things the "Right Way" when it comes to certain things. He is a "Ham operator" and all his outdoor antenae equipment has to be Stainless Steel because "it gets exposed to the weather" (he just told me this, lol) So of course he picked out the most expensive compnents for the ant moats!

Pam NJ 6B

Well Pam as a 'thrifty do it yourselfer', most of the time for my projects I use the cheapest or should I say the most economical and available method LOL! Since by the time I ordered just one online (cost of the moat plus shipping) I was able to make all the ones I am currently using and still have change left over. That's ok Pam. Tell DH that high end is ok too.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Hi Bob,
That is great of you to share this.My aunt problem got so bad this year.I actually went on Ebay and bought some made of copper.I put vaseline in the little cups.No more aunts.I actually needed at least 18 more.My hubby went out and bought the parts and made them in an hour!! I have no ants at all.He said that if anyone would like to try these he would be glad to make them.Just cover the material cost and shipping.

Take care,Fran