My daughter sent me this very pretty feeder.



I don't use feeders, but feel I should try this one, but can see it is too deep for a hummer, so there will be a lot of waste.
Question is, 'any ideas on what to put in the feeder so that it will raise the nectar level but not spoil it'? I was thinking of some small glass or plastic beads, but other suggestion are wanted.
I presently have in with potted plants including a Gartenmeister bonstedt Fucshia which is just starting to bloom, but without the red flower insert, so as not to 'upset' the Ruby throats, who are more used to feeders.

Thanks!

Patricia
Your idea of filling the feeder with beeds sounds like the best solution to me. I think I would use glass as opposed to plastic

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

Hi Patricia, I have a feeder like that. My Atlanta ruby-throateds drank from it all the time. (I live in Tampa now.) You have to keep the base fairly full for the red glass flower on the top to contain nectar. As long as the red flower part reaches the nectar in the base, the hummers have access --thanks to their super long tongues.

Your black supporting part sticks in the ground, mine hangs. I had to use an ant moat or place oil on the hook to guard against ant invasion.

Hope this helps!

Thanks, ladies. Julie, did you add anything to keep the liquid level high?

The glass beads sounds like the best idea, but won't you have to empty them out and clean them every time you clean the feeder? I guess if you don't mind, glass is very easy to clean and sterilize. Too bad there isn't some inflatable balloon you could put in there. It might be easier to clean, but the plastic, or latex, or whatever might be harmful.

As for reach, I discovered in my feeder making experiments that Ruby-throats have a comfortable reach of about 25 mm from base of the bill to end of the tongue. As the distance gets longer, they start to have more trouble. 30, and possibly even 35 mm is reachable, but anything approaching 40 mm and over seems to be too much for them. This is just something to think about when making sure the sugar water level stays within reach. I can't speak for other species you may have down there, but if it's Ruby-throats, 25 mm and less is best.

Sorry I don't have any better ideas.