Keeping Ants, Bees, Hornets & Wasps off of Hummingbird Feeders

[@jimperveiler3508]

Great tip It took about 20 minutes for the bees to learn to avoid the feeder.

[@christinepratt1875]

Thanks for the information. Your so lucky to have so many of these little guys around

[@CaptainWingnut]

They’re beautiful and fun, but having so many means a lot of noise. Imagine all of those wings beating,,, some say it sounds like a beehive on steroids. I think it sounds like being in a room with 10 fans on high. And don’t get me started on the cost of sugar! We go through 20-25 (25lb) bags of sugar a year feeding them. I wasn’t a problem until covid when everyone started hoarding sugar and its supply became low. We were driving over 100 miles last year just to buy a bag or two at twice the price as it was the year before. We made it but spent a ton of money. We found a somewhat good deal at a bulk store and bought 40 bags for this year, it was still almost $650. We’re hoping the price comes down as the supply goes up and so many people have so much, the demand will be less and force the price back down... just hoping. Thanks for watching and for the great comment.

[@jgsg2620]

@@CaptainWingnut omg that’s crazy that u spent that much money, talk about the dedication u have for hummingbirds. That’s awesome!!! I was just saying that it’s costing a lot but I love them so I don’t mind, but I know I’m not spending anywhere close to what ur spending so I guess I shd b grateful. Keep up the great work.

[@Sage-1111]

Did it .Works great to keep the bees & wasp away. But, now my humming birds are having to get used to the tea tree oil smell. But, their coming along. Thanks so much !

[@mrsjacqueline44]

Thank you for the tip about tea tree oil. So far it's helping with the bees.

[@CaptainWingnut]

Glad to help

[@sharonkaley1331]

I've heard that cucumbers will deter the bees. But I know for a fact that hummingbirds are territorial and will fight off other hummingbirds to keep their sugar supply to themselves. Therefore, putting hummingbird feeders close will make one or two hummingbirds think the feeders are only theirs. You have to spread the feeders around different areas.

[@CaptainWingnut]

That’s so true when you have just a few hummers but when you have a few hundred like we do, we’ve found you can place the feeders right next to each other and it doesn’t matter. In the spring when the males arrive there are disputes and an occasional male will dominate a few feeders so we spread them apart about 20 feet, but as the arrival numbers grow we can put them closer because the shear masses overwhelm the males domination. The most dominate of the hummingbirds (male & female) are the RUFOUS (Selasphorus rufus). The arrive late and try to take everything over. The males harass the masses for about 3 days and then give up trying to dominate the line of feeders. Not to say there is total peace at the feeding stations, but there are so many Rufous males, they are kept busy fighting between themselves and the rest of the hummers all get their feed. Early mornings first feeding and last night last feedings are always very peaceful while mid day has domination antics. It’s interesting to note that as the fledglings arrive at the feeders, none of the male of any species harass them. The babies get a free pass at any feeder.

[@mydyisgod]

We have a sister that has about 15 feeders, lined in a row, and the hummingbirds gobble the nectar like there’s no tomorrie!! Love watching them.

[@richardnewcomb9471]

Don't we all love the Occasional Expert... You know - those who have limited experience. I find it interesting that OEs know and state facts but never have knowledge of all the facts available. How do we ever survive without them?! Especially those that cannot see with their own eyes. Great advice CRR!

[@rogerbivins9144]

I almost gave up on feeding the hummers because of the territorial fighting, then I heard an idea and it works great. I originally had about 6-7 hummers trying to feed at the two feeders I had and one would always be vicious and try keep the others away. All my feeders are covered by my extended patio roof or under semi permanent umbrellas. I added 6 more feeders within the same area and the bullys have given up trying to keep the now 30+ hummers fought off. Only downside is that I now have to replenish the nectar every 1-1/2 to 2 days but it's really nice to constantly have them outside the windows.

[@carblarson8868]

@@rogerbivins9144 Oh, I’ve often seen videos of numerous feeders lined up with hummers feeding and no fighting and wondered how it happened. Did u see the study where a certain species of female hummers are mimicking the males in coloring to reduce the harassment by males. Ha.

[@beautifulheart7]

Thanks!! I was putting peppermint oil. Lol. I read your response about peppermint attracting bees!! Now i will uss tea tree oil. Priceless information. Blessings to you!

[@raeboyd5596]

Thankyou so much. My feeders were invaded with bees today. I wiped them w tea tree and in 10 minutes they were gone just in time for the evening rush hour

[@CaptainWingnut]

YW, You must be in the south as our males haven’t yet arrived this year.

[@raeboyd5596]

@@CaptainWingnut yes im between Austin and SanAntonio. I put my feeders out on st patricks day and oh boy, they were waiting for me., which surprised me with the snow we had just 3 weeks earlier. Im in an apartment with 7 feeders, i know i have at least 5 pairs, probably more, that is just how many i can catch eating at one time. I feel bad about the bees because i really care about them too, just not like yesterday when they were harrassing the hummers. I saw a sugar water feeder specifically for bees, cant remember if on tic toc or my birds and blooms magazine. Ill be checking that out today. Its warming up this morning and i see them out there still scaring off hummers by hovering around the feeders trying to figure out how to get to them today.

[@CaptainWingnut]

@@raeboyd5596 Usually the bees want 1 to 1 sugar water but if times are tough, I’ve seen them go for 2 to 1. If it’s hot and you can make your nectar for the hummers 3 to 1 or 4 to 1 it may be too diluted for the bees and they’ll forget it... may is the “buzz” word here as bees need a lot of water as well and you never know WHAT they’ll tolerate... Hornets and Wasps on the other hand don’t mind the extra water... that’s why the tea tree oil comes in so handy, they ALL hate it. On the other hand, if someone else close by has more concentrated nectar, you’ll lose your hummers to their feeders... Good luck and thanks for great comments.

[@raeboyd5596]

@@CaptainWingnut i gave up on my main 3 feeders, the expensive mason jar kind, because i noticed the bees didnt even bother w the dollar tree feeders. Theyd try the feeder hole and back out, unable to reach any sugar water and those feeders do not leak where the flowers punched in and the bottom seals, they didn't even circle the joint trying to find a leak. But they were braving the tea tree oil on the jar feeders, So i took down the 3 and went and got 10 more dollar tree feeders, a total of 13 now, and ive got at least 1 more pair of hummers and absolutely no bees finally! And i went back to 3 to 1 as i had always done till i started watching robbie in SoCal and she says 4 to 1. But my porch is so busy i want to keep them even if someone else puts feeders out. I have a tree right in front of my unit that they go sit in between trips to the feeders so i think they would stay. I have feedera between hanging flower pots , some high and some low, along with some deep bell flowers i planted for them. If i were a bird i would think it a paradise. When it gets hot ill set up the water bath for them, but for now its been cool, windy, rainy.

[@CaptainWingnut]

@@raeboyd5596 🙌

[@twocyclediesel1280]

Thank you. I’ve always done 1 cup sugar to 4 cups water. One of the feeders I bought yrs ago had that as the directions.

[@TRoth858]

I was coming on to comment abt that. You are correct abt the 4 to 1 ratio.

[@twocyclediesel1280]

@@TRoth858 Thanks!

[@tammylandry8847]

Yes 4 cups water to 1 cup sugar

[@robertnicoletti3846]

I live in the Northeast. I have always used a 1:4 mixture. I’ve never heard of using a 1:2 mix. That is very concentrated.

[@speedmom1702]

Cougar Ranch answered Marvin Doolin, 5 months ago about the same thing. scroll through the comments to find the answer. :)

[@lisaciccanti7195]

I’ve always used the 1:3 mix.

[@charleneblake1146]

So have I, 1 cup water and 1/4 cup sugar and read a lot to make sure it is still correct❤

[@Pez2176]

Thank you for the great video! The ants were overtaking my feeders. I’ll be stopping by the local feed store this week.

[@graceislove3]

Use freshwater fishing string to hang feeders up with the ants fall off. Have been using it for years. Found the idea in a Birds and Blooms Magazine years ago. One strand of fresh water string only

[@johnforsyth8414]

@@graceislove3 Are you taking about monofilament?

[@deijzahj7717]

THE TEA TREE OIL DOES NOT WORK ON YELLOWJACKETS WHICH IS WHERE I HAVE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM

[@graceislove3]

If you don’t want ants use freshwater fishing string to hang the feeders up with the ants can’t climb on them they fall off. Found the hint in a Birds and Blooms Magazine years ago and never had a problem again.

[@CaptainWingnut]

Yeah, but your logic is a D at best. The hanging part does nothing for the flying pests. Gotta look at the whole picture to be logical. Nothing wrong with fishing line and it’s a good but limited suggestion. Thanks.

[@elainebernier]

Thank you for this valuable information. We have WASPS that are unrelenting!!

[@dlxmarks]

I have 4 feeders on my garden shed similar to your setup but they are on a curtain rod suspended on a couple of long hooks attached to the shed roof. On each hook I installed an ant moat (I made mine from the tops of 1 quart soda bottles but there are manufactured ones) and added 1/4 inch of vegetable oil. The oil won't evaporate and it has lower surface tension than water so the ants sink right in. That covers the land approach. There are plenty of yellow jackets, wasps, and honey bees in our garden but they never bother the feeders for whatever reason. We have a lemon tree 5 feet away from the feeders whose flowers the bees are always visiting but they thankfully ignore the feeders.

[@CaptainWingnut]

Thanks David, It’s so interesting to hear what people do to keep the pests away. As beekeepers, I can tell you that you must be in an area where there is plenty of natural nectar for the bees. When clover and alfalfa is in bloom they are absent from our feeders too but as soon as the hay is cut, since we’re at 7,000’ elevation, the bees are looking for large nectar sources of which hummingbird feeders “fit the bill”!

[@jeanettemiley7883]

How much

[@v.e.7236]

There sure are a ton of different uses for tea tree oil! Insecticide. Anti-fungal. And now, a way to keep those pesky bees/wasps/hornets (also wards off the occasional praying mantis trying to post up by your feeders) away from my hummingbird feeders - Awesome!

[@sherryfingerlin7595]

I put a yellow feeder (wasps like yellow) and fill it with a sweeter nectar than the hummingbird feeders. I place this feeder farther away from the hummingbird feeders in the yard. The wasps go to the sweeter feeder first. Something that works for me.

[@CaptainWingnut]

That's all fine and good but watch out for honeybees, they like it too....... Plus, the stiffer you make the nectar, the faster it turns to goo... Try my other video NO MORE WASPS. Thanks for commenting.

[@dr.patrickharrison9328]

O

[@DCasey-qg3zr]

The tee tree oil ATTRACTED over a dozen bees within an hour! It was crawling with them, and now even sprayed with soap and vinegar, they're hovering around. The Hummers are frightened away. Thanks a lot, chum.

[@CaptainWingnut]

If you used pure tea tree oil, insects are repelled by it, not attracted by it. It is deadly to insects and they can sense it so they don’t want to touch it.

[@randywatts7554]

...sooo, you can spell "attracted" in caps, but not "tea"? Hmmmmm...

[@guitarstuff4639]

The Tea Tree oil works great. What is the best way to clean the feeder after using the tea tree oil? After a few applications the feeder gets real sticky and it is hard to clean it off. I am assuming that is from the tea tree oil-or is it from the sugar water?

[@shravaka6241]

When the Hummers gather like this, it is called a "Charm" (not a flock). Great simple solutions! Thanks!!!

[@CaptainWingnut]

Well they certainly “Charm” us. A flock by the dictionary is: a number of birds of one kind feeding, resting, or traveling together, so I guess its a descriptive noun to describe a particular species like: a “Murder” of crows, a “Conspiracy” of ravens, a “Museum” of waxwings, a “Chime” of wrens, or a “Wake” of buzzards… among many others. They’er all flocks but with a descriptive noun, one particular species is identified. Thanks for the lesson!

[@brendametube]

You’re AWSOME!

[@louisedriesler8297]

Thank you !! Thank you, it worked ,the bees are gone , now my question is how often do I use the tea tree oil on my feeders ??? Thank you I was about to give up .

[@CaptainWingnut]

As often as needed.

[@lilliananderson1986]

I’ve been using a shmear of Aquaphor on the tops and cords of my feeders. Ants don’t like their feet touching it.

[@rhondapelletier2141]

OMG.....I have only 3-4 beautiful hummers!! Connecticut......I cherish them.....

[@cozsetjones129]

Thank you so much. As summer begins I've had an abundance of insects after the nectar. Some of my hummers have left. This makes since thank you.

[@CaptainWingnut]

You’re welcome. Yes this year has been a particular spectacular year for insects on our feeders too. I’m daubing the feeders with tea tree oil almost every other day just to keep the ants and bees off. I’m waiting for the ant killer to kick in. It’s very slow but takes the entire colony down so for now its tea tree oil to the rescue.

[@loycemarch8409]

Here in s California I have a few year round. Then many more as they hibernate N to S and S to N.

[@CoD_Maj3st1k]

Is tea tree oil harmless to hummingbirds? I've been using peppermint essential oil and doing something similar that seems to work great too. We have a big honeybee problem with the feeders, and I don't want to kill them for obvious reasons, so hopefully tea tree oil will work better.

[@CaptainWingnut]

Yes, the tea tree oil is harmless to the hummers, it’s on the exterior of the feeding station which they stick their bill through, never touching the oil. As for Peppermint oil, bees LOVE IT. As beekeepers we FEED our bees vitamins and probiotics and lace it with peppermint and spearmint oil to get them to eat it. If you’re using peppermint oil in an attempt to repel bees, you’re actually attracting them. Things we use as bee attractants: Peppermint Oil, Spearmint Oil, Wintergreen Oil (which is peppermint/spearmint oil) and cinnamon oil or powder. Bees love most essential oils EXCEPT Tea Tree Oil. CAUTION: Be Extremely careful with Lemongrass Essential Oil. This oil mimics the scent of the queen bee. If you have it on you, it WILL attract bees and they will become aggressive with it. When we create a new bee colony, we use a couple of drops of lemongrass essential oil in the bottom of a new hive box to make the new worker bees think that they’re queen is already home. We do this to calm them down until their new queens pheromones fill the space. In the box they’re calmed by the scent, but if its on you, it enrages them thinking you’ve got the queen and are harming her. We are very careful NOT to get any of it on us and usually only one person handles putting the oil in the bottom of the box. If we can put it in the day before, even better because it’s only in the hive box and no on anyone.

[@lindacauley1173]

Glad you asked your question, received extra helpful information. Thank you @Cougar Ridge Ranch for sharing about the lemon grass oil.

[@CaptainWingnut]

@@lindacauley1173 👍

[@mySustainableStories]

@@lindacauley1173 lemongrass attracts BEE swarms!! Beekeepers use it move swarms into boxes.

[@louisedriesler8297]

I don't no if I told you ,my 12 feeders were invaded too I trued the teatree and it worked ,I was so happy I was gonna give up ,thank you thank you

[@CaptainWingnut]

I was having a difficult time last year keeping our honeybees off. I realized that my feeders were in the morning sun and the expansion of the nectar was causing them to leak slightly. I put an American Flag up in front of them and that helped the teatree oil to teach them to stay away.

[@AdrienneAce2]

Cinnamon candies are delicioius for us but are not good for hummingbirds. All the reputable ornithological organizations (Audubon, Cornell University) say to NOT use aritficial red coloring. Cinnamon candies get their red color from fake ingredients and not cinnamon. Nectar for feeders should contain only white granulated sugar and water; nothing else. Please go to some of those websites to learn why we shouldn't use red food coloring.

[@CaptainWingnut]

Thanks for your comment but let me educate you in science vs rumor and unscientific innuendo in this matter. To do so, read MY article and research paper about the DDT scare of 1972 and how that transmuted into the Red Dye scare of 1976 and 1990 for humans and how that further transmuted into the Red Dye scare for all other animals and then hummingbirds. These rumors and innuendo took the country by storm in the 70’s through 90’s by people passing on unscientific rumor and hype and unfortunately they still abound and are propagated by people not willing to research the WHY vs the emotion today. You probably weren’t alive back then so ask someone who was, about the Red Dye scare and how prevalent it was. It was disproved over time as many rumors are but once that ball gets rolling, they never seem to stop. My Ph.D. is in behavioral psychology so I look at the WHY and behaviorally how did we get to this WHY above all else. I was extremely critical of my students to make sure they knew ALL of the facts and did not bring hype, innuendo or fiction into their thoughts and papers. If you’ll examine the data in my paper you see that Red Dyes have not been proven any more harmful to hummingbirds than humans, and over the past 30 years the data does not stand with the hype and innuendo rumors. Therefore if “reputable ornithological organizations” are still propagating the myth and rumor of “Red Dye”, they’re probably also propagating the myth and rumor of DDT too, just proving that they’re more political than scientific in some of their beliefs. This saddens me as they are scientific organizations who use empirical data to prove their research, but they are still leaning on rumor on this one. They know my paper is out there but they chose to turn their heads to it, versus standing up for the truth. It’s easier to lean on the rumor than having to take back their words and admit they jumped in too soon. Their turning their heads to the scientific truth that there is no conclusive proof that Red Dye is bad, doesn’t make the data in my paper any less true that there is no harm in Red Dye. Reading my paper you’ll also learn that there are 23 Red Dyes, and your precious reputable ornithological organizations don’t even know which of the 23 is the, so called “Bad One” and then the question... Why Just Red?. Behaviorally, they really don't care about the Red Dye scare, they're busy with other things. Thanks for reading... cougarridgeranch.com/hummingbird-nectar-recipe/

[@milothompsonvought7174]

@@CaptainWingnut the reason they say "red dye" and not other dye is bc ppl think red color attracts hummingbirds, and so they want more red on their feeder Look at all your hummingbird feeders, 90% of them are red

[@CaptainWingnut]

Milo Thompson Vought If you watch some of my other videos, you’ll see that the hummingbirds can SMELL the sugar nectar. They will even go drink it out of a cup on the ground while we’re filling the feeders. Hummingbird feeders are red in color for sure but the nectar need not be red or any other color... True they are attracted to brightly colored flowers, many of which are red, but they also like the yellow, purple and blue ones.

[@sueweathers3978]

@@CaptainWingnut my uncle used ddt on his farm and sometimes came back drenched in it himself. He died at the young age of 100! Ha

[@TxgrlnGa]

Omgosh I’m so jealous! Several years ago we had 20+ but now, I’m lucky to see any 😪

[@00calvinlee00]

Last year was my first year having feeders up. I was so sad when the little guys deployed for the Winter. But they are back. I have a few red ribbons near my feeders but out of the way.

[@A10TOES]

Started out with 2 hummingbirds, now I got 3….used to have 8-10 last year, (Indiana) where did they all go?

[@peterwhite9261]

To date the best info. Is it hard to keep the geefera clean. I saw a you tube video of a guy making hummybird feeders using empty soya bottles Great way to recycle and keep the birds safe.

[@erinsaraf8153]

Hoping this helps!! I bought 100% Tea Tree Oil, it says essential oil, is that the same thing?? Ty. 😊

[@CaptainWingnut]

Yes it is!

[@la196]

When you spray that on top the feeders, when it rains, it would flow into the feeder. Wouldn't that be toxic to the hummers, or do you not have that much rain to worry about it?

[@CaptainWingnut]

Lori A Its a very sticky oil and its hard to wash off with soap let alone rain, and you’re not SPRAYING it,,, you gently wipe a tiny film with a cotton ball onto each flower feeding station...

[@truthtalker4038]

@@CaptainWingnut I think she was talking about the Permectrin spray

[@graceislove3]

Use 1 strand of fresh water fishing line to hang up your feeders, ants fall off the fishing string. You won’t need ant moats

[@A10TOES]

@@graceislove3 wow, thanks

[@dragonfly9416]

1 cup sugar to 4 cups water,your mixture is hard on their kidneys...But great info about the bees.

[@CaptainWingnut]

You’re wrong! Hummingbirds are made to tolerate high glucose. Most natural flower nectars (their natural food) are equal to 1:1 sugar water. WE LEARN THIS IN BEEKEEPING 101 Stop Projecting human diabetes onto an animal that is made to tolerate it and stop propagating this stupid rumor. It’s NOT science to say it hurts their liver. It doesn’t.

[@crystalhenley4554]

They do sale humming bird feeders with cups on top of the feeders so you put water in the cup they can't crawl down pass the water to get to the bottom where the birds drink that's what I use to keep the ants out of the nectar

[@guitarstuff4639]

I got the feeders and the oil and it all works great. Thanks so much. I have a problem with aggressive male hummingbirds that wont let any other hummingbirds near the feeders. I have placed them farther apart but there seems to be one aggressive hummingbird for each each of my 4 feeders. Do tou have this problem?

[@CaptainWingnut]

We do have this problem at the beginning and end of the season but in between we have such large numbers at the feeders (the ranch is the breeding grounds for 4 species), the aggressive males give up.

[@jwat2396]

We've messed around with one humming bird feeder and dealt with the bees and ants. Appreciate the info. Maybe we'll try again and enjoy watching the birds again.

[@DawnMHubertJerzygirl]

Does the tea tree oil work for wasps also?

[@CaptainWingnut]

yes

[@karenmorris7274]

@@CaptainWingnut, what can I use for bald-faced hornets and yellowjackets swarming the grape jelly feeders for orioles (the kind where you can screw the jelly jar onto feeder upside down and then either squeeze or crank jelly onto a tray) ???

[@mikehendrix6558]

With that Sun Beaming on those Feeders please tell me what you think the temp of that water is that is on the Inside of that PLASTIC?

[@CaptainWingnut]

We only get a few days of 90 in late summer, sometimes an occasional day here and there. If you’re thinking it would harm the birds, it doesn’t. They drain those feeders daily. We make sugar water nectar replacement EVERYDAY to the tune of 3-6 gallons a day… they cost us a fortune in sugar but we’ve done it so long that when the males return in the spring, if we don’t have feeders out yet, they just hover where the feeders were last year. 3 years ago we moved the feeders to a new location and yet this year when the males returned, they were hovering where you see these feeders hanging where they have not hung for at least 3 years.

[@vaec58]

Thanks for the tip on the bees! Will try it !

[@vaec58]

Update, they didn’t care, still swarming…

[@marksc1929]

What about regular cinnamon sprinkled into the sugar water ?

[@CaptainWingnut]

Honeybees are seriously attracted to cinnamon and love to eat it while ants hate it.

[@billyclemons7335]

Some very interesting comments. Mom allways used cotton balls on the hanger or string that holds the feeder up. She used baby oil on the cotton ball. It might work on the feeder flower as well.

[@CaptainWingnut]

The hummers don't like it (cotton balls) on the feeder flower, but on the hanging hook works, but just for ants.

[@terriepitfield]

Our issue is yellow jackets/wasps...... will the tea tree oil repel them... and also wondering.. that stuff you sprayed on top of the feeders... it only kills insects? It does not hurt the bees??

[@lovejcdc]

I always keep my feeder in the shade, if you have a feeder in the sun it cooks the nectar and causes the hummingbirds tongues to swell up and they starve to death.

[@nancyross3964]

i had no idea thank you. this is the 1st time I put it in the sun, that spot I dont have such an ant problem. I'll be regrouping

[@johnforsyth8414]

How often do you have to retreat with the tea tree oil?

[@CaptainWingnut]

Sometimes daily to every other.

[@judyjamison9860]

Does the tea tree oil repel hornets and wasps? That’s more my problem.

[@CaptainWingnut]

Yes it does. None of the insect like Tea Tree Oil while the hummingbirds don't mind it a bit. I also have another video on how to bait and kill hornets, ants and wasps. Don't forget to subscribe.

[@710MaryJane]

Thank you for your video. I’m definitely going to use the tea tree oil and the ant repellent.

[@CaptainWingnut]

Glad to be of help.

[@kathybroadway8160]

Buy ant moats to hang your feeders from the hooks!!

[@sharonkaley1331]

@@kathybroadway8160 Or you can make them like Nancy Valadez says above?

[@Mzzipperme]

The tea tree oil really works! I just chased away the bees off of my three feeders. I used a sprayer with some diluted tea tree oil, the next round will consist of pure tea tree oil when I take the hangers down and rub them. Thanks for the tip. By the way I am in Cedar Hill TX.

[@CaptainWingnut]

That was just the reaction we had when we tried it for the first time. I REALLY works! Glad to help.

[@sharihardin1]

How much cinnamon candy do you use per hummingbird nectar? Can’t wait to try your tips this summer!!

[@PearlHiggins1]

thank you so much. Question - some people don't cook the sugar water, they dissolve the sugar and go. Is there a difference?

[@CaptainWingnut]

Yes. Depending on a few factors… 1- Boiling dissolves it faster, commercial beekeepers have a 300 gallon tub with an electric paddle, the water goes in, the sugar goes in and the paddle stirs it all night long ready in the morning… Bees eat it up much faster than hummingbirds… if you can imagine that! 2- Boiled sugar water does not crystalize as fast if you have slow eaters… 3- Boiling removes small impurities in the water 4- Boiling sterilizes the nectar and slows contaminate growth, but this is only sterile until the first beak dips in!! 5- Boiling emulsifies the sugar into a more consistent nectar. In the end I think its personal choice, my chemistry intellect says it probably doesn’t matter one way or the other for hummers… I’ve tried the non boil method and my 4+ gallons are not totally dissolved by morning so to get ‘er done quicker, I boil. Thanks for asking.

[@ren2627]

I read that tea tree oil can be toxic to small animals .. hummers are tiny , have any of you experienced any problems with the tea tree oil ?

[@CaptainWingnut]

@@ren2627 They’re not eating it or even touching it… my thousands of hummers don’t seem to mind at all over many years. Good Question… Good Luck.

[@southerncomfort971]

you mentioned your hummingbird nectar is 2-1 ? I have been told it should be 4-1 ? Was that a mis speak or do you actual use 2-1 mix?

[@annt7843]

Heading out today to get some tee tree oil and hornet traps. Thanks for the great and easy tips.

[@CaptainWingnut]

Watch my video NO MORE WASPS HORNETS OR ANTS kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKionX5rf8elZ5o

[@blakesmith9039]

Thanks for the tip with the tea tree oil. I'll try that. Put some water On the top of feeder to keep ants out. I wouldn't use any chemicals at all.

[@LarriePetty]

For 8 cups of water how many cinnamon balls would you recommend ?

[@PineGeri]

The poison you spray on top of feeders...aren’t you worried that when it rains it will rehydrate and drip down into feeders?

[@CaptainWingnut]

Nope... the rain water doesn't get in either!! Physics of hydraulics, plus the feeding station flowers are raised, plus if you did any research, its permethrin and that's not toxic to mammals or birds. Thanks for asking a "Reski" question!!

[@PineGeri]

@@CaptainWingnut i did no research..asked the question after viewing your video...pretty COOL! 😎

[@CaptainWingnut]

@@PineGeri Glad you asked

[@sueweathers3978]

More good information, thanks!

[@PineGeri]

@@CaptainWingnut by the way..got the tea tree oil…works great…and the other “stuff” also works great…

[@danielsanteford978]

Does Peppermint oil work also? To keep bees away?

[@CaptainWingnut]

Great question. No. Don’t use it. As beekeepers we use peppermint, spearmint and lemongrass oils to attract bees. Most essential oils will attract bees as they think its a blossom food source. They really like to eat peppermint, spearmint and lemongrass oils. They also really like to eat cinnamon. The only only oil that we’ve found that is a good repellant is Tea Tree Oil. We don’t use it in beekeeping but some beekeepers use it to push bees out of the honey supers before they remove the supers for extraction but we prefer not to have the repelling scent in the honey supers because we want them to go back into them once we give them back.

[@OTTO_Man]

Will a permetherin solution harm hummingbirds? I have feeder hanging on a para cord and watch a steady stream of ants crossing it. Was going to spray the cord but the hummingbirds also purch on it.

[@CaptainWingnut]

No. We use it all the time. Hummingbirds are exposed to the same natural killers from common marigolds and painted daisies.

[@OTTO_Man]

@@CaptainWingnut thank you

[@amberkemble6340]

Won't Tea tree oil harm the hummingbirds ? And how many cinnamon disks do u add to the nectar I do 4 cups water and 1 cup sugar

[@CaptainWingnut]

No the Tea Tree doesn’t bother them a bit, in fact I think they like it there as the bees hate it and the hummers are deathly afraid of the bees. As for the cinnamon, that is only for ants, if and a BIG IF, you don’t have honey bees within 10 miles... Cinnamon to bees is a serious attractant. They love it. They eat it and love it. They can smell it for miles and come to get it. As beekeepers, we use it to calm them down and get them to go to water or into a new box. Be careful with cinnamon you’ll attract honey bees to your feeders. For ants use tea tree oil or water moats or grease on the hanger wire. Thanks for watching and asking a great question.

[@sharihardin1]

Does that method deter yellow jackets and hornets too? I had a hornet trap this year but didn’t work.

[@CaptainWingnut]

yes

[@lindabaker1776]

Thanks for sharing the great ideas

[@CaptainWingnut]

YW.🙏

[@audraslavin3188]

Thank you for this video. I have just gotten into hummingbirds and was struggling with the bees. Your Tea Tree Oil tip worked perfectly. I am using ant water catchers for the ants and so far so good! Do you know how often I will need to reapply the oil? I am guessing after each heavy rain. Thanks again! Nicely done video

[@radradhakrishnan7508]

Amazing! Worked well! THANK YOU, for the great video. Very much appreciated!

[@huntingthekaiser6490]

You wander around a bit in your presentation but it has genuinely good helps in it. Thanks. I'm getting me some of that tee tree oil stuff.

[@CaptainWingnut]

Glad it was helpful!

[@susylopez9308]

Hello Mr. Brad, how often do you need to put the tea tree oil on the feeders?

[@CaptainWingnut]

Hi Susy, thanks for the question. I apply it when I notice a few bees gathering on a feeder. Timing depends on a lot of variables like; how often the feeders are cleaned by rain or sprinklers, if you wash your feeders down at every filling, if they’re in the sun which dries out the Tea Tree Oil and other events.

[@susylopez9308]

@@CaptainWingnut Thank you very much. This his helpful, makes total sense.

[@fashun008]

I goggled the bee problem today and immediately put the tea tree on the feeder ports. My must have some backwoods country bees because they braved it and kept drinking.

[@ahamoment3626]

Thanks Brad! 👍

[@ashawheeler415]

How do you keep yellow jackets off of them?

[@CaptainWingnut]

We also have yellow jackets in the mountains. They don’t like the tea tree oil either. We put out juice and soda pop stations to kill the yellow jackets because they can overwhelm and kill bee colonies, so they are our mortal enemies. I have another video on that.

[@chrisbrown3925]

I just put a small ball of axle grease on the feeder mount, the ants won't cross the grease...beese don't bother our feeders (cane sugar water)for some reason

[@CaptainWingnut]

Great tip unless you live in temperatures over 90° in which case the grease, what ever type you use melts like the wicked witch of oz. Thanks for watching

[@payne7028]

When should we take away the feeders in zone 5? Last couple years we take them down when we no longer see the lil guys… Typically we leave them for the stragglers. This year went much like yours in that one last super late hard frost took most the adult hummers 😢 As the babies fledged the numbers increased, but now there may be a handful or less left. Since you are the authority on this (and so many more) matters… We ask you. Also, we have visited your other channel and checked out some merch of facepage. We were looking for soap and honey- just not sure if you are still doing that. TY for alllll you share with us. You’re the best ❤ Derek and Michella Payne

[@CaptainWingnut]

I leave my feeders up until mid Nov just to make sure any stragglers passing through have a sweet meal on their way.

[@stevehyle3433]

Thank you so much. Super,simple and informative

[@CaptainWingnut]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bettytruesdell6033]

I have tried the tea tree oil, two nights I used it on my three hummingbird feeders and I woke up this morning and the bees are so bad you can't hardly see the base of the feeder, it's like the bees have taken over everything in my garden, what else can I do to stop this I am desperate. Thank you

[@braveheart51able]

Thank you so much for your wisdom!!! Grreat videos!!!

[@connectionoflivesandinterests]

*Thank you for the tips. I'll have to try these. I loved that you ended your video with the hummingbirds feed. 😁😁😁* Sharon in SC

[@CaptainWingnut]

👍

[@007DFWAngel]

Awesome tips thanks

[@barbarabennett5385]

Thanks Brad for this information.

[@timteevin4517]

Tried it. Worked while the oil was damp. When it dried, it was like it wasn't there. It's been a hundred degrees here, so it dries fast . Doesn't work.

[@CaptainWingnut]

It does work... I put it on every morning in the heat.

[@DumpsterDivingMoe]

I just love hummingbirds! New Sub here 🤗👍❤

[@CaptainWingnut]

Thanks and welcome, more coming.

[@dominodarwin]

Do you have a video or advice on killing flies? Thanks!

[@CaptainWingnut]

Here on the ranch we use QuickBait fly bate. It’s small pellets the size of lawn fertilizer pellets. You just follow the instructions and spread it around lightly. We put it on the ground in shady areas where flys go to stay cool, under the porches, on ledges etc. It’s something that the flies like to go lick (or what ever they do) and it kills them. When we had a dairy, we used it a lot to keep the flies down in the milking parlor. I don’t know where you live but we buy it at the farm supply store. Hope that helps.

[@dominodarwin]

I will get some of that! We are in a rural region in Louisiana and the flies are terrible at certain times of the summer.

[@CaptainWingnut]

@@dominodarwin 👍

[@Dandiggas]

Just tried tea tree. All the bees immediately left! Thank you so much

[@hummingbird275]

Great video!

[@CaptainWingnut]

Glad you liked it. Some critics are not so kind. Thanks for watching

[@AirConditioned]

Does sugar water give them cavities? Like teeth?

[@OurCatioHome]

Thank you for posting a video regarding bees and hornets on hummingbird feeders. We love our Hummers too and anticipate their arrival during the spring and summer. This year however they are competing with yellow jackets on their feeders. I just purchased tea tree oil and can't wait to try it's effectiveness.

[@lh98]

Did the tea tree oil work for you? I have yellow jackets in the feeders live and dead and they harass the hummingbirds. Wondering if I seal the feeder holes to make them smaller of that would help keep the yellow bastards out

[@rickprusak9326]

The hummingbird formula is not 2 parts water and one part water. It's 4 parts water and one part granulated sugar. That's 4 cups of water and one cup granulated sugar. Allow the sugar water to fully cool before filling the feeder. I like to put my sugar water in the refrigerator and fill the feeder with cold hummingbird juice. They really seem to love it cold, too. Especially on a hot day, too.

[@sueanna597]

How many times A-day do you put the tea oil on

[@suezbell1]

An ant moat cup will block the ants from getting to the feeder without killing them and different small birds also drink the water.

[@CaptainWingnut]

You’re right but for us, its too difficult to maintain ant moats and feeders with the numbers that we have, plus, moats don’t do a thing for bees, hornets and wasps and we needed to find something that was easy and worked for all of the above... And yes we’ve captured flickers and woodpeckers on video using their long tongues to drink from the feeders.

[@judyjamison9860]

It’s funny, I never see my goldfinches using my regular birdbaths, but they love to drink from the built-in ant moat in the center of my hummingbird feeder!

[@CaptainWingnut]

@@judyjamison9860 That's funny, or ironic... we used to have a dog who, if the toilet seat was up, refused to drink from her bowl and preferred the toilet!! Yuk! Guess she liked really COLD water!

[@Chris.Haines.]

does the tea tree oil keep wasps away to or just bees? I had a heck of a time the last 2 years with yellow jackets and mud wasps swarming the 3 feeders I have up they were so thick some days it looked like a cloud of them and I ended up taking the feeders in and out of the house early in the morning and evening they would feed the humming birds but once the heat of the day was on i had to hide them as they would fill up with yellow jackets.

[@kkane8809]

Thank you! Would it work if I put a dab of cinnamon oil on bottom of feeder To keep the ants away? Would it bother the hummingbirds? Thank you sir

[@CaptainWingnut]

First in reverse order, cinnamon will not repel the hummingbirds they don’t even seem to notice if its emulsified into their sugar nectar. Second, to your first question; Cinnamon oil or powder will definitely repel ants, but it will also DEFINITELY attract honeybees if they’re within 10 miles. You’ll trade one pest for another... If ants are the only problem, try tea tree oil, or some axle grease, crisco or other grease (not animal fat) on the hanger of your feeders or even on the tops of your feeders.. (I’ve watched ants avoid tea tree oil on the hanger clip and just jump off the roof onto the top of the feeder and climb down). When we lived in the city cinnamon repelled the ants and I never though twice about bees as there were no honeybees close and our bees were out of the city on farms. When we moved to the mountains and our bees are here with us... a different story... they can smell cinnamon from miles away and want it to eat. We use cinnamon to get the bees to notice things, like a new hive box or a new water source,,, ergo... tea tree oil. Thanks for watching and a great question.

[@truthtalker4038]

any type of citrus oil will do! Citrus oils not only repel them but will kill them on contact! They hate all citrus... only problem with oils are that they are volatile so you have to keep reapplying, but if you are diligent, that is what kept them away from my mom's feeders! Another person said tie your feeders up with fresh water fishing line. The ants can't walk on it! Good luck! Also there are ant motes if none of that works... Good luck

[@L.E.S.Survivor]

Thank you for the info, very informative

[@CaptainWingnut]

YW

[@perrypelican9476]

If you hang the feeders with wire or cord, you can keep ants off by coating the wire with Vaseline. Of course that doesn't stop flying insects so you still need the tea tree oil. I wonder if hummingbirds eat bees.

[@CaptainWingnut]

Perry Pelican Yes, we started with the Vaseline on a wire many years ago but as you point out, it only discourages the ants... What we found is that the bigger ants will just DIVE down onto the feeder and go for the sweetness without ever climbing down the wire. When their done they just jump off and hit the ground running. I’ve often cheered the hummingbirds on to just bite or slap the bees with their wings but in reality, they are deathly afraid of the bees, hornets and wasps. One sting and the bird will die so they can’t afford to be agressive. There are birds that eat bees “bee eaters” but thankfully we don’t have them as they would decimate our colonies and we wouldn’t get our honey.

[@cmcd9213]

I use Vicks...great minds!

[@PineGeri]

So, hummers aren’t bothered or turned off by tea tree oil and not harmful to hummers?

[@CaptainWingnut]

RIGHT... pass the word!

[@PineGeri]

@@CaptainWingnut i ordered some and came in today..so just a very light wipe with a cotton ball or similar ?

[@CaptainWingnut]

@@PineGeri Ju Gotit mang! (From Miami Vice a century ago..love reruns).

[@PineGeri]

@@CaptainWingnut am a Dallas rerun fan myself!!! 😎😎

[@chrissyreagle3044]

Thanks for the info! I will definitely try the tea tree oil. The bees are awful here in Pennsylvania with the hummingbird feeders.

[@CaptainWingnut]

As you may have learned we’re beekeepers so we HAVE to deal with and not kill bees. We’re grateful nowadays that people are conscience about saving the bees and want to use alternative methods to keep them away but not kill them. You’ll notice that as soon as you get Tea Tree Oil daubed on each feeding station, the bees will try and try but they’ll eventually leave. They really hate the smell of it and the hummingbirds don’t seem to notice it at all. There are feeders with little bee screens but we have huge feeders and they don’t come with the screens. Some people try 1/4” hardware cloth (heavy screen) but we use 1/4” hardware cloth over the bee water stations to keep the rodents out of the water. The bees have no problem going right through the 1/4” spaces to get water, so this won’t work on hummingbird feeders. I’m toying with getting some 1/8” hardware cloth this spring and trying to fashion some little buttons of it over the feeding stations. I’m pretty sure the hummingbirds bill can get through that. Some times in the early spring the males arrive early in mid April and we occasionally find one that didn’t make it through some of our cold mountain April nights which can sometimes dip into the teens. Good luck.

[@tonidibernardo171]

I have tried that and it didn't work

[@deijzahj7717]

@@tonidibernardo171 SAME HERE

[@SparkyOne549]

We get alot of yellow jackets on ours. I don’t know what to do. I take towels put with me when i need to change the feeder, i imagine i look like a frog in a blender swatting all around me with the towels so i can get the feeder,

[@CaptainWingnut]

Watch my other video, NO MORE WASPA

[@aneiahisfree]

Thank you so much! This has been bugging me the last couple of days. I will try this later.

[@kiwigirlNZ]

Pun intended? 😂

[@n.w.414]

I have a moat the hangs above my feeder, ants won’t cross water, ever. Made it out of the top few inches of a water bottle. It works great and now the nuthatches and chickadees like to drink from it.

[@CaptainWingnut]

Yeah, that works great for ants but not the flying invaders...

[@rebeccawright4371]

Good advise found here! Thanks 😊

[@markiossi8445]

What is the spelling of the stuff you get to keep the ant off the top of your hummingbird feeders?

[@CaptainWingnut]

Dairy Aerosol or Dairy Aerosol II, or Permectrin Liquid or Aerosol... all made from Permethrin. Search for Permectrin... an 8oz bottle is abt $10 and it takes 1tsp per quart of water in a spray btl.

[@arlenedrake9305]

Where buy t trea oil

[@CaptainWingnut]

Online and most drug stores OTC, oer the counter.

[@bidkid2020]

Any other suggestions I have tried the tea tree oil does not make any difference might keep them away for a few minutes then honey bees come right back even tried moving it to my front yard any more suggestions would be greatly appreciated just getting started in this

[@CaptainWingnut]

Are your feeders leaking, even ever so slightly? Mine were in the sun and it heats them up and the nectar expands and comes close to the top and sometimes overflowed slightly... when that happened, the honeybees didn’t mind the tea tree oil. I’ve been looking for bee guards that go over the flowers on the feeders but haven’t found any that work as of yet... Probably going to have to engineer something out of 1/8” hardware cloth (bees and WHY’s can crawl through 1/4” hardware cloth).

[@bidkid2020]

I was thinking about using a water bottle cap they fit right over the red flower put a small hole in the water cap would move it up higher away from the liquid what do you think or have you tried this

[@CaptainWingnut]

@@bidkid2020 That’s an idea, it may be too far, but you’ll never know unless you try it.

[@portialanden6353]

When we get a lot of rain, we get ants in the house. I also noticed we have spiders crawling along outside of our windows. How do we get rid of spiders? Probably different types...we rent this house and can't afford a professional to come spray. Any other suggestions?

[@CaptainWingnut]

Hi Portia, Permethrin is the answer....... got another video coming soon.

[@portialanden6353]

@@CaptainWingnut thank you! Looking forward to your video!

[@CaptainWingnut]

@@portialanden6353 👍

[@sueweathers3978]

@@CaptainWingnut oh I'm glad you're doing something on spiders! Don't know why they're coming inside at the beginning of summer. My hubby got bit by one that was on our sheets. (We hang clothes out in the line..)😁

[@CaptainWingnut]

@@sueweathers3978 Yes, my princess loves to hang the sheets on the line vs the dryer and yes, it seems as though the insects are particularly intense this year.

[@EllenCPickle]

So tonight I heard a huge crash against my second story window...it was a raccoon, he had crawled up the drain pipe to get to my feeders which solved my second problem, my feeders where getting dinged up apparently from the raccoons which was attracting the bees more. will try out your tricks to get rid of bees

[@kaylaschmitt4285]

How can I safely remove the current bees swarming my feeder without getting stung?

[@CaptainWingnut]

Wait until the evening when the bees have gone back to their hives.

[@theshift2010]

Does the tea tree oil affect the hummingbirds?

[@CaptainWingnut]

No, they don’t show any sign that they even notice that its there. I’m sure it has an odor but they know that the sugar water is below and steathfully avoid it. The insects really don’t like it and avoid the feeder altogether.

[@patriciagoyette8091]

Wonderful advice tea tree oil got rid of the bees THANKS

[@CaptainWingnut]

Glad to help

[@connectionoflivesandinterests]

*YAY.... Good to hear!!! 😁😁😁* Sharon in SC

[@lorihavener2647]

Do you know if it works for oriole feeders??

[@CaptainWingnut]

It will but use your common sense. Don't put it directly on their fruit or feed... only on the feeders where the insects attempt access.. Flying insects instinctively know it will kill them and will resist touching it. It won't hurt the birds but they may not like it if you get it on their feed.

[@lorihavener2647]

@@CaptainWingnut I was going to try putting the oil actually on the underside of the feeder because it's a platform type with little glass cups. Thanks for the help!