How to keep ants out of hummingbird feeders: 9 Practical Tips

You’re not alone if you’ve ever seen ants marching to the sweet nectar for those tiny birds. In this post, I will share 9 simple and effective tips for preventing ants from reaching into your hummingbird feeders.

Whether you are a novice or a seasoned feeder, these simple solutions will keep your feeder ant-free. You will not have more ants to clean up and wasted nectar to refill. Learn these proven ways to make sure your hummingbirds can get to their nectar without any trouble!

Why Ants are Attracted To Hummingbird Feeders?

The same sweet nectar that attracts hummingbirds^[1] also attracts ants to the feeders. Ants love sugary solutions as an irresistible food source as they provide them enough energy to keep them going to survive in the colony. Ants are great at finding food sources and if you have a hummingbird feeder they can find it very quickly.

After a few ants find the nectar they lay scent trails so that other ants can come too. If ants make the feeder a hotspot, birds will not feed or nectar can become contaminated. The first thing to prevent them is to know what attracts them to the feeder.

How to Keep Ants Out of Hummingbird Feeders?

Creating physical barriers, use of ant stoppers, and using deterrents that don’t harm the birds are the ways to keep ants away from your feeder. Keeping your feeder clean and free of sticky residue is one of the easiest solutions as spilled nectar attracts the ants. Wipe down the feeder regularly so ants can’t find their way to nectar.

The second effective method is to move the feeder to a less accessible spot. By hanging it in an open area away from trees, bushes, or walls, ants don’t find a direct path. These simple changes can be combined with other techniques like water barriers or ant moats to keep your feeder ant-free.

Hang Your Hummingbird Feeders With Fishing Line thread

To keep ants out of your feeder, simply hang it on a slippery thread. Ants can’t grip materials like fishing lines or nylon thread as these are smooth enough, so prevent them from climbing to the feeder. It’s easy, cheap, and highly effective.

The smooth surface of the fishing line makes it nearly impossible for ants to grip and climb up to the feeder. This simple and inexpensive solution works well as it creates a barrier that ants can’t easily cross.

Just ensure that the fishing line is strong enough to hold the feeder and withstand outdoor elements. This method will also prevent other crawling insects from reaching the nectar of your feeder, making it a safe and inviting place for hummingbirds.

Do Not Use Yellow Colors with Feeder

While it might seem like a small thing, the color of your hummingbird feeder is a big deterrent to pests. Yellow accent feeders attract not only ants but also bees and wasps. They are attracted to the bright color associated with flowers.

If you don’t want this problem, get feeders that are all red or have no yellow parts. That simple change to cut back unwanted visitors at your feeder and gives hummingbird attachment chance to enjoy their nectar without interruption.

Get An ant moat for hummingbird feeder

If you find ants on hummingbird feeder then the most effective ways to keep ants off of your is to install an ant moat. These small water-filled barriers prevent ants from reaching the nectar because they can’t swim or cross the water. Ant moat for hummingbird feeder are easy to attach above your feeder and are a low-maintenance way to control ants.

Bee guards are another helpful tool to keep ants and bees out of your hive. It blocks the feeding ports so the insects can’t get to the nectar but the hummingbirds can feed freely. By using these tools, your ant free hummingbird feeder will be an insect-free zone.

Clean Feeder Regularly

To prevent attracting ants, it’s important to clean your hummingbird feeder. Ants can easily identify a sticky mess from nectar that has spilled over the edges or dripped on the feeder. Regular cleaning of the feeder will prevent those last bits of nectar that might attract ants.

Wet your feeder with warm water or a mild soap solution and you’re done. Make sure to clean the feeding ports as completely as possible so nectar does not dry up and leave sticky spots in the spots. Regular cleaning not only keeps ants away but also prevents the nectar from spoiling. Thus, nectar stays fresh and safe for the hummingbirds.

Hang dIY Hummingbird Feeders at any Suitable Location

If you have DIY hummingbird feeders and you hang these at the right place, you won’t have ants and other pests in your hummingbird feeder. Don’t hang it near tree branches, walls, or other structures that allow ants easy access. Instead, choose an open area that’s harder to get to for crawling insects.

Placing your feeder in a more secluded area will prevent ants from discovering a straight path to the nectar. You can also hang the feeder in a breezy area where ants or other insects will not try to climb to it. You may use diy mason jar hummingbird feeder to put ants away.

Use Cinnamon or Try Mint Leaves sprinkle.

If you are trying to find natural, non-toxic ways to keep ants away from your feeder, try cinnamon or mint leaves. The strong scent of both is disliked by ants and it makes them great deterrents. You just have to sprinkle a little cinnamon around the base of your feeder or a few mint leaves around the hanging spot.

These natural remedies will not harm the birds and are a refreshing alternative to chemical repellents. Plus, they are cheap, easy to find, and a convenient addition to your ant-proofing strategy.

Change Place of Feeder if required

Ants always return to a food source they find. If you move your hummingbird feeder every few days, the ants won’t know where the nectar is and won’t find it. Therefore by this simple action, you can break the ants’ scent trails and demote the routine.

You don’t have to move it very far, a few feet in a different direction is enough to confuse the ants. Regularly changing the feeder is an inexpensive and effective method of keeping ants away from finding a regular path to the sweet nectar.

Repair Leaks of Bird Feeder

Leaky feeders are a major source of attraction for the ants. Even the smallest drip invites ants to feast on spilled nectar. So it’s important to use hummingbird feeder that doesn’t leak and regularly check your for any leaks or cracks and repair them as soon as possible.

Most leaks are easy to fix with a little maintenance, such as tightening the parts or replacing a worn-out seal. Keeping your feeder in good condition and preventing leaks can drastically reduce the chances of ants locating the nectar.

Hang above the water

Hanging your hummingbird feeder over water is one of the best ways to keep ants away from your feeder. Ants can’t swim or cross water so placing your feeder over a pond, birdbath, or even a large container of water will create a natural barrier.

This method is effective as it physically shuts the ants out of the feeder without using chemicals or traps. You don’t have to have a water feature in your yard to make a similar effect; simply put a small tray of water under the feeder. There are many unique hummingbird feeder hanger ideas available.

All you have to do is ensure the feeder is hung securely and the water barrier is still in place. This will not only keep ants away but can also give a serene look to your garden and your hummingbird feeder will be a more appealing spot for the birds and nature lovers.