How to Keep Bees & Ants off of Hummingbird Feeders FREE & $4 for Your Hummingbirds & Hornets & Wasps

[@jujubee7351]

The best feeders ever! I have 6 because of your recommendations . No bees at all

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

Perfect ❤ Thank you

[@LeslyeMcCulloch]

My hummingbirds love the slits! Maybe because it’s all I’ve ever used! I have more of a problem with red wasp. Haven’t been able to find a way to get rid of them. Another problem I HAD was leaking around joint in the feeder. Found a solution, so now bees aren’t drinking from leak. I got some denture adhesive, and with my finger, rubbed a tiny bit around on upper and lower part. Put it back together, wiped off anything that oozed out. No more leaking, no more mess on my deck.😊😊😊😊

[@gwenwimthelady3479]

Genius, I've used the denture effervescent tablets in "soaks" for stained clothing and regular baby shampoo for blood stains. Sorry not sure why I'm sharing that.

[@twinfin8571]

The feeder you put out for the bees can have just water. Bees will drink water. I make a water feeder with water for the bees and wasps with a feeder that has the ability to leave the top with holes part off and leave the open bottom. I put stones or gravel in and fill the whole bottom with water. The bees leave the feeders alone if they can get water without downing. The top part is still there so there’s a water reserve.

[@adriankap2978]

Thank you too!

[@lindahines144]

Hi Robbie, cheap and functional I love it ❤ I have had a few different ones but the Walmart ones are the best 👍 Thanks Robbie

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

Glad you like them! I love them too ❤️😊

[@jwater63]

I have been using these feeders for several years and I agree with you 100% about these feeders being easy to clean. I have 20 of them, and I love them, and bees never get on them, but the yellow jackets are another story. They love these feeders, I fight them every year, and I have been stung a few times because I forgot to look to make sure that a yellow jacket isn't on the feeders. And then there's the bald faced hornets that occasionally find the feeders. I guess that's just part of living in the woods, but I hate how they chase the hummingbirds. ❤😅😅❤

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

The hummingbirds don’t like them either. We have here very few hornets. All this was interesting, because careful thanks

[@TerryChrist541]

I use lavender essential oils for wasp, bee stings etc. Works wonders. 🤗

[@jwater63]

@TerryChrist541 That's interesting 🤔. I use a drawing salve as soon as I can, and it works really well. I am allergic to stings, and the salve keeps me from having a full-blown reaction, as long as I can get it on pretty fast. 😊

[@dcs4219]

I have one of those as well. I'm on my second one. We had a long rainy spring and a short how summer. Flowers were short lived that year. Bees swarmed the feeder. So I took a yellow frisbee, filled it with sugar water and the hummers had safe access again. University extension center loved it as a solution as they were more concerned with the bees than I waa about the cherished hummers.

[@BeckyA59]

One of my feeders has the small slit holes and it's hard to get them clean, I use a straw cleaning brush for the regular ones. I don't mind the bees much but I hate the wasps!

[@sonflowersue.CHOOSE.L0VE]

Thanks Robbie. I don’t have bees coming around my feeders, but they do stop at my fountains to get a sip of water. Take care. ❤

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

Well that is cute, they need some water too. Thanks

[@GardenExperimentsByBLEth]

Robbie, thanks SO MUCH for this - I put out my first 2 feeders (the ones you recommend here) this weekend (widened the holes with a soldering iron) and saw hummingbirds yesterday 🎉. I'll be getting 2 more and keep one of each (widened and not) outside. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience!

[@lisagreen9496]

My problem is that chase my hummers away if there 5 or more bees . I put water in a feeder for the bees . Not sure what else too do . I don't want the baby hummers to get stung . Any ideals will be helpful please ?

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

Wonderful! You are doing great there!❤️

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

@lisagreen9496 try the Walmart feeder I use, might help on stopping the bees

[@judydwiggins3456]

Thanks for the advice about adding oil and soap to the ant motes. I worried about it here in Oregon because sometimes rain fills the moat and it overflows. I don’t want that dripping into the nectar in the feeder. I am relieved to know I can use plain water.

[@ElaineReiter]

I used those with the bigger holes a few times in winter, but ended up using dish feeders with the center ant moat, the hummingbirds can reach the sugar water but bees can't reach so far into the dish where the formula sits

[@MakiMiyashiro-Morris]

Thank you! My hummingbirds love the new Walmart feeders, and they thank you so much from going hungry!

[@cindylocke6488]

1:13 hi Robbie. I just got 2 of the Walmart ones. Thanks for the recommendations. I only have one or two hummingbirds that come around. So far they haven’t used the solar fountain or maybe they use it when I’m not looking.

[@conniedavidson1807]

Hi Robbie. You look so cute in your hat and sunglasses. I've got one of those with the small slits but last year these wasps got inside and I found dead ones when I cleaned it. This year the wasps are bigger and I haven't had any problems with that. They look different so I guess I have a different kind.

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

That would be a different species that are coming now, you must had something really tiny last year😮 Thank you ❤😊

[@kathleensavidge1385]

I have been having problems with squirrels trying to chew on the hummingbird feeders, so what I did is get a little dish and put the little dish under the hummingbird feeders, and put the hummingbird nectar in a little dish, and the squirrels can eat the hummingbird nectar out of the dish and they have a tendency to stop chewing on the hummingbird feeders, but they can’t tear the hummingbird feeders apart. If they chew on them now they just drink out of the dish and get all the sugar water they want.

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

That is so sweet 😆 I had to do the same with a little bowl for the house finches that were tipping the hummingbird feeders, now they just go to the bowl take a sip and off they go. Smart minds think alike. ❤️😊

[@patkrueger7353]

Wow that is a great price. Thanks for the info and how to fix it. 😊

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

Any time! 😊 Thanks

[@adriankap2978]

For ants I coat the bottom of the feeder poles about 18” up with bold or robust olive oil, then I use 2” duct tape with a third of an edge flipped up and wrap it around the pole above the olive oil for good measure. They hate the smell of the olive oil and won’t go across the sticky tape. Coat the poles about once a month. I’ve had No more ant issues. For tree limbs I’ve seen ppl wrap clear packing tape, sticky side out about 8” around the tree trunks to keep the ants from climbing. It really works for the poles. Bees, I haven’t had an issue yet but maybe later in the season.

[@sistersrus2]

Just got some of the Walmart $4 ones and hope the hummingbirds like them. I am in San Marcos CA and still have lots of hummingbirds but also bees are getting active. Thank you for your suggestions. They are very helpful and thorough 😊

[@Tanyashka111]

It’s crazy this year all my feeders are being swarmed by hundreds of bees. I’ve tried all kinds of essential oils and nothing has worked. I’m going to watch, hoping there’s something that can help

[@Pt225go25]

I’ve been having the same problem! I use orange feeders for the orioles and the hummingbirds use them but the last few weeks (very hot weather in Southern California) the bees are covering ALL 5 of my feeders. So I read they may not be attracted to red and bought 4 and I no sooner hung them up than they were covered in bees! I tried moving the feeders, tried MORE feeders, but the poor hummers can’t get to them! I’m sooo sad!

[@deboradavidson8634]

My feeders leak like the one with small holes . Around where bottom clicks on to the one with holes. I have 2 and both drip .

[@calicat7794]

Thanks to you I went to Walmart and bought 2 of the hummingbird feeders and my bee problem is gone. No flowers or beeguards, just slits!

[@CobraDove1111]

I wouldn't mind at all if bees came to my hummingbird feeder, but I am getting yellow jacket wasps and other huge crazy black wasps! I'm beginning to think it's not worth having that feeder out cuz I don't want those suckers around. Anyone know how to get rid of wasps??

[@ascricco987]

Have you ever used peppermint oil? The type of feeder I have has an indent in the center of the bottom (underneath), and I have a balled up piece of fabric secured in it. I put a few drops of my organic peppermint essential oil on the fabric, and it repels the bees extremely well! It does cause a little more work in washing the feeders, I remove it to clean, but it’s very easy to do, I just reuse the fabric. Many times you don’t even have to use more oil, it lasts. I wouldn’t recommend to anyone using peppermint oil (or any other) putting it anywhere the birds can touch it in any way. This is why I secure it underneath. As far as ants, nope, never seen them swim….leave it to Australia to have the swimming kind 🤣

[@Rocketrecliner]

I bought this exact feeder from Wal-Mart due to the recommendation here, but bees still go all over it. They specifically seem to be able to reach the nectar at the thin slits. The hummingbirds don't have a problem with the thin slits, but they are constantly fighting with the bees for an available spot. I'm not sure what to do now.

[@norloredo]

What can i do about a hummingbird bully?😮

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

Try this: How to STOP Hummingbirds Fighting at Hummingbird Feeder Protect from Sun & Predators & Bird Blinder kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6i2aIh3fpagl68

[@STicKy-IQ]

Recently, I had ants get on a feeder. Took it down & FULLY cleaned it inside and out. Filled the moat with water & next morning ants on the feeder. I couldnt believe it. Checked the water and it was still there in the moat... Now, I spray the "ant & roach" RAID on the hook before I hang the feeder after cleaning. I do the cleaning after its dark outside so by the morning the smell isnt there anymore.

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

Just be so careful not to get the spray anywhere where a hummingbird could even touch the spray. The ants cannot swim, so if the answer on your feeder, they’re getting on there someway, there might be a branch or something leaned up against your feeder.

[@STicKy-IQ]

@@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy yeah.. I spray the hook that's hanging from the gutters before bringing out the feeder to hang. There was no other way for the ants to get to it. It's basically in the wide open except Sycamore branches about 7 ft away. I swear that before I took it down, I saw one of the ants test the water like he wanted to "gun ho" for it. It was already about 20 on the other side. I didn't need to see any more & just took it down and thought about the spray.

[@debraaurandt4228]

I have a large question that's been bugging me for years I have no trees nothing for the hummer's to hide and everything is in the Sun no shade the food is constantly in the Sun and I have to change it like everyday....

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

Do you have hummingbirds there feeding on Your feeder? This way I have more to go on.

[@CobraDove1111]

So why don't you ask an actual question?

[@TheGrimlock16]

I just got stung this weekend in the hand due to bees. I will try this. I am bee friendly w plants but swarmining my feeders for hummingbirds is upsetting. Then they sting me for being in the area.. sigh...

[@alfredbrown7608]

I've gotten bit by bees and Ants this past weekend to

[@jlittsey6243]

I have had one all season and now wasp or bees go elsewhere. The bees are active on my SUNDFLOWERS and other flowers.

[@jackierandle8412]

Hi Robbie!

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

Hi Jackie❤

[@cindylocke6488]

I wanted to send you a video of the hummingbird that visited me daily but not sure how to do that.

[@paigeblom3838]

The Walmart feeder is the only feeders I use

[@Dclark905]

We have these and still have to fight the wasp off. The wasp fight and run the hummingbirds off. It is so sad to watch.

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

At night, keep trying to move the feeders in different places.

[@caroleeppler4539]

I purchased these "slit" feeders from walmart. My bees still take over. Hummers can't get to feeder.😮

[@caroleeppler4539]

Same here

[@stephm281]

❤👍👍👍

[@lindawilson4625]

"...when I'm too lazy to hang ant moats out." Lady, you are anything but lazy :-) Thanks for all your tips!

[@cchen185]

Use fishing line can stop ants!

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

Thanks!

[@jlittsey6243]

The birds (Not Hummers) are drinking the water out of the moat.

[@debzthomson9671]

earth can't survive without bees, bats, wasps, hornets, etc

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

Bees are very important to our plants, yes

[@supertamashalar2601]

Poetic baby 46

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

?

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

*_BEE GONE!_* 😉

[@barbarajones57]

Intelligente girl 57

[@desertdogo]

👎 deletes comments that she disagrees with despite documentation to the contrary

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

Ok I see, you wrote here total misinformation quoting a large organization, which I don’t believe they would want either. But I didn’t delete it you did.😂

[@debzthomson9671]

shame, the bees r also just trying to survive..dipper (Probosis) n all...🤤

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

We cater to our bees, we have water fountain set up for the bees

[@debzthomson9671]

bees r the solution to earth survival, not the problem, poor bees..🤮🤮

[@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

Keep in mind, bees are not good for hummingbirds if a hummingbird gets stung, they won’t make it