3 Hummingbird Feeder Mistakes That Could Be Driving Birds Away

And how to fix them.

Joe Regan

Putting up a bird feeder is a great way to attract hummingbirds to your yard. Feeding the tiny birds can be entertaining and rewarding—hummingbirds use the sugar water for energy to hunt for their primary food sources. Keep your feeders in good shape, and avoid these three common hummingbird feeder problems that bird experts say to avoid.

“Hummingbird nectar is sugar water, and feeders are most often hung in the summer, when it’s hot out. This makes a hummingbird feeder the perfect breeding ground for mold and bacteria,” says Maria Kincaid, an ornithologist at FeatherSnap, a company that manufactures bird feeders. And similar to humans, birds can also get sick if they consume mold, she says. “If left untreated, not only will mold potentially make birds sick, but they’ll also stop coming to the feeder,” Kincaid explains.

Regular cleaning is the best way to prevent mold. Kincaid recommends giving everything a good scrub every one to two days when it’s hot and every three to four days when it’s cooler. It’s also time to clean your feeder when the food has become cloudy or discolored, she advises. “I clean my hummingbird feeders in hot water with a small amount of dish soap, using a bottle brush and straw cleaner that is only for my feeders,” she explains. It’s particularly important to clean the nectar ports, which are a hot spot for mold growth, according to Kincaid. “Once I’ve scrubbed my feeders, I make sure they’re rinsed well and allow them to air dry completely before refilling. Every time I clean them, I’ll use a vinegar rinse of two parts water and one part vinegar (which helps kill bacteria), again rinsing well with clear water afterwards and allowing it to dry,” Kincaid says.

Bird food can ferment, and it happens when the sugar is converted into alcohol by bacteria, explains Kincaid. “It is harmful to the birds and will deter them from returning once your food has fermented.” The best way to prevent fermentation is to replace your food regularly and to keep your feeders clean. “Because it is so important to make sure you’re cleaning feeders and replacing the nectar often, it’s my personal preference to only half fill my feeders, unless it’s a busier time of year like spring or fall migration, when you get more birds on a feeder at once,” Kincaid says.

When choosing food sources, opt for normal granulated sugar, advises Holly Grant, project assistant at the Cornell Bird Lab. “Raw, organic, or cane sugar can sometimes have additives that may be harmful to the birds,” Grant says. Additionally, honey can foster bacterial and fungal growth, which can also cause fermentation.

Bird food can attract ants and bees, which can be a real nuisance. “They’re not necessarily bad for the birds, but can contribute to soiling the water,” Grant says. Although hummingbirds do eat ants, they are not a preferred food source, Kincaid explains. "An ant infestation may lead hummingbirds to seek sustenance elsewhere," she says.

If your feeder has an ant moat, fill it with water to discourage ants from entering. At the same time, you’ll also help small birds stay hydrated, Grant advises. “If crawling insects are a problem, try a dab of petroleum jelly on the hanging wire, making sure a bird’s feathers will not brush against it,” Grant says.