That was fast. priority mail. Excellent service from Nottawa.

Now about the feeder. Some hummers have checked out but they dont seem to know what to make of it, not like their usual bottle feeders. They have not drank from it yet. A couple hummers would land it and like 'whats this' and then move over to the first nature. But right now theres so much fighting in the front yard that not much is being drank anywhere. Right now I have it at my window so I could watch their tongue action in the clear bottom if they did drink from it. Tomorrow I may need to swap it out with a busier feeder or hang it on the back porch till they get used to it. Just watched another hummer perch on it but didnt drop its beak instead moved to the first nature. I even made this mix a little sweeter just because. Hmmmmm.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

Steve good luck with the hummzinger.

Dianne
Southeast Alabama
Heat Zone 8
Sunset Zone 31

Steve,

I too ordered the Hummzinger from Nottawa. Excellent company, as you mentioned. I had the Walmart feeders before and the hummers adjusted well to the Hummzinger. However, they do prefer the walmart ones. If both are near each other they go the the walmart.

Suchie

Steve, I would leave it where it is if that's where you see it best. They'll start using it! They've probably used it already and you just haven't seen them.

Carol

Carol R
Tennessee
USDA Hardiness Zone 7
Heat Zone 7

After all this Ive decided to send my hummzinger back. I now find out that the nectar guard tips do not work on all hummzingers especially mine. After just 24hrs my hummzinger is full of the nat size flying bugs. I talked at length with a rep from Nottawa and certain hz will use the tips and some wont. My HZ needs the tips to block all the little bugs from getting in. The other HZ I was interested in was the Ultra 12oz 4port and can use the tips, but they have all but drained the 16oz I have now. I will ponder it for awhile but I think I may be done with hummzingers stinker.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

That is really strange. My Hummzingers virtually never get the flying insects. I may have one inside when I clean them but not always. I don't understand how you can keep them out of your other feeders but not the Hummzingers.

Carol

Carol R
Tennessee
USDA Hardiness Zone 7
Heat Zone 7

It's because the HummZinger feeders have holes that are larger than is really necessary (the main thing I don't like about them); that's what allows small to medium sized insects to get inside and drown in the nectar. That's why they sell the nectar guard tips that attach on the inside to keep bugs out, but I also noticed recently at a birding store that the smallest and cheapest model, the HummZinger Mini did not come with any nectar guards, nor did it have the right shape for them to fit on inside the lid.

The smallest model you can go with and still use nectar guards would be the HummZinger Ultra, for about $5 more. I bought one of those last year and I just ordered a second one, but I try not to use the nectar guards until the bugs get so bad that I absolutely have to. I've noticed that the hummers don't seem to use it as much when the nectar guards tips are in place, perhaps because they have to squeeze their bill in through a tighter opening and it might feel to them like they're getting stuck in a trap. I always use a toothpick or pipe cleaner to try to stretch the x-shaped hole in the nectar guards as often as possible to make the opening larger and looser so it will be easier for them to use.

I'm still waiting for someone to invite THE perfect hummingbird feeder. At first I thought the HummZinger would be it, but even it still has drawbacks.

My hummers like and defend their hummzingers. It's the only feeder I use anymore because it's so easy to clean.

If your hummers are having trouble figuring them out, remember we have lots of juveniles right now who aren't used to feeders at all so that may be some of the problem.

I have both juveniles and adults now and everybody seems to be using the hummzingers. These shots are from last year but I will take some new ones shortly.





I am having a ton of hummer action lately. Seems to be 3 - 4 hummers in the garden at all times, which is alot for me! The 10 "David Verity" cupheas I bought seem to be a big hit this year - but they also like the "Black and Blue" salvia, my other red salvias ("Furmans Red", "San Carlos Festival", and "Maraschino"), and of course my red cannas.

Wilmington, Delaware
USDA zone 7a
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 32

Carol--- The above poster said it right , the holes are larger than they need to be , much larger than the holes on my PP209 for example which I get no bugs at all. The nottawa rep said they even tried to fit the guards on the excel at their store and they just wont fit.How hard would be for them to just make special tips for the excel to make it better or just make them with the holes much smaller so bugs wont be able to get in. I can get the ultra at their store only about $. 25 difference. But it only has 4ports and 12oz, which will take the tips, not sure it would be worth it. After all the hoopla about the hummzinger being so great , it leaves me a little flat. My excel is being mailed back today.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

It's true the holes are "large" on the Hummzingers...but that's so the hummer's beaks fit comfortably. They're not large enough for wasps or bees to get in (unless you count those really tiny wasps). So you trade out wasps and bees--which keep the hummers away from the feeders--for little insects the hummers like to eat. IMO, not a bad trade.

Even when the insects do get in, they just drown in the nectar anyway, and you dispose of them down the sink with the old nectar. Heck, we're all gardeners here, right?...what's a few gnats?

Just trying to understand what the issue is...but I respect that to each his/her own. And it was very sporting of you to try out the Hummzinger, Steve--if you have any issues with returning it, I'll be happy to take it off your hands for the price you paid, plus shipping.

We're all on the same team here--keeping hummingbirds happy and healthy!

Zone 7B
North Carolina Piedmont

Steve,

I just compared the port holes in my Droll Yankee Traders Little Flier with my Hummzinger. The DYT holes are much smaller than the Hummzinger. They are just like the holes in any other feeder you might have. You might want to just exchange your Hummzinger with the DYT Happy Eight at Nottawa if you still have any interest at all in trying a saucer type feeder. The DYT is every bit as nice and easy to clean as the Hummzinger. The best part about the saucer feeders is that you can actually see the hummers at the feeder. When I have bottle feeders out they are always at the port on the side I can't see.

I think I've said before that my first hummingbird feeder was the DYT Little Flier. I bought it in 1990 and it's still usable and in good condition. I finally upgraded this year because they have definitely been improved. The snap-off lid is the main improvement. It was still a nice feeder though! They're definitely worth the money when they last this long IMO.

Carol



Carol R
Tennessee
USDA Hardiness Zone 7
Heat Zone 7

Thanks Mat-- No problem returning it I had already discussed this with a rep and no problem its already been mailed back. I need to go a little bit further when it comes to this company's service. I called them about 10 min before 5pm and I got a recording which said customer service ends at 5, but less than a half hour later they called me back and talked with me at length about what the options were and the fact the guards would not work on the one I had and which ones they would work on. To make a long story short I have to give Nottawa company on a scale 1-10 a 10plus. I highly recommend them for any of your bird supply needs.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

I've given up on my Hummzinger. The birds will have nothing to do with it. Maybe it's the red flower around the hole instead of a yellow one to get their attention.

Nancy
Chazy,NY zone 4

I'm surprised some people have such problems with hummzinger type feeders! They are all I use and they get well visited in my garden - and even defended. They might be slightly harder to figure out at first but my hummers seem to like them. And I rarely find any insects in them or have to deal with any bees or wasps using them. I think the key is a clean feeder with fresh solution and I find the hummzinger design so easy to clean that I find it hard to justify switching to something else.

I do find that feeder use is lighter right now but I assumed it was because I have juveniles feeding who are testing everything and enjoying my flowers. But come September, when they need to fatten up fast for migration, they are all battling over my hummzinger feeders.



Wilmington, Delaware
USDA zone 7a
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 32

Carol

I am giving some thought to the droll yankee happy eight-2 as I am getting tired of not being able to see the hummers well at my window. Right now I have a first nature at a hook hanger at my window and its a great feeder out in the open but not good at the window as hummers will always feed from the dark or blocked side, so I am now wanting to change out my window feeders. I even got out one of my old artline feeders which gives you better viewing of hummers but they do tend to leak. I have read that the DYHE-2 are leakproof. Is that correct?

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

Steve, I would say they are leakproof. I don't see how they could leak unless they were overfilled. You just fill them to a certain point so that they won't attract bugs or leak. The instructions will explain. They are very similar to the Hummzinger only the holes are smaller.

Carol

Carol R
Tennessee
USDA Hardiness Zone 7
Heat Zone 7

Carol -- Im more interested now in getting window feeders that dont have the bottle, for better viewing.

My back porch continues to be the main center of attention as they are now draining the two 30oz glass feeders in two days or less. I need to add a third feeder back there to slow them down like I did last year. Sugar bill is rising. I buy at least #10 lbs at a time now. With august not quite here yet that is scary.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35