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Well, its the middle of June and still no sign of the hummers. Today I changed the feeders to sugar water.(4-1) and none ever came to try them out. Only ants, bees and butterflies are enjoying the food. Like I said before, on the day of changing, a female would come and leave. But not today. I sat and watched all day. Nothing!

 Should I be boiling the water and let it cool or fridge it before putting it out? I didn't. I just mixed the water and sugar. Stirred real good and put it out.

I just don't know what else to do anymore...

Hi Mint5jf,

Yes, I would definitely boil the water and allow it to cool at least down to ambient temperature before putting it out.  Boiling doesn't prevent fermenting but it does delay it, and that's particularly important if you're changing the feeders infrequently.  I bring my water to a boil, put the sugar in and stir until it's disolved, then set the timer to let the solution boil for 2 minutes.  Some people say you need to check to be sure you still have 4 C water after boiling, before adding the sugar, due to evaporation. But I don't worry about such precision. 

I change my feeders every other day, and only put enough nectar in to last that long.  I notice that even on such a short rotation, the feeder that gets the heat of the afternoon sun begins to smell sour.  It's possible that your hummingbirds are only coming right after you change the nectar because that's when it's freshest, and once they sense it starting to degrade they avoid it and look for a different food source. Ants, bees and what-not add comntaminants as I'm sure you are aware, that start bacteria and mold to grow in the solution.  So I use a mild bleach solution every time I change my feeders, and just make sure to rinse several times before refilling.

 Good luck!

 

Thanks very much! I will try your advice. Today, I changed one feeder and a female came twice. It hasn't been too hot here this past week in central Indiana but the sun does hit some of my feeders for a few hours and I guess they are heating up. I think I might relocate the ones that get hit by the sun with no shading. It does seem that she is interested only with the fresh food. I also realized that I bought an unopened can of nector from last year. I just opened it in April. I wonder if it could be bad as well. I am not ready to give up although my frustrations are getting to me...

Thanks for the advice.

Wow! I thought I was doing something wrong... the past three years the hummers have increased each year - I have the blessing of loads of trumpet vine and perrenials to attract them. I have put out feeders each year to supplement the natural food sources and this year I even put them out fairly early -one hummer female a month or so ago and NONE since! I don't think it is my feeders, and evenif it was there are none at the garden or across the street at other neighbors feeders or flowers. What a shame - is anyone else in the Kansas area seeing more hummers by now? I guess the wierd weather patterns are keeping them away from here, but I am still hoping maybe next month?

We seem to have about the same number of hummers as last year.  I am in New York. 

Could the lack of hummers be from all the extra rain?  Where are the people located that have less hummers?  If you are all in the same area or swath of the country(midwest?) maybe it has something to do with the excessive rain.

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I've only had two females that come to the feeder daily with an occasional third.  The first male showed up Wednesday and promptly took over.  I can remember more activity in the past here in MS.

I usually boil my sugar water but sometimes if I'm out of that, I mix up just enough for the day and put it in the feeder without boiling.  My feeder gets afternoon sun and I change it every 2-3 days.  The hummers here (all 3 of them) don't seem to care.

I have 3 feeders and have been getting two male ruby-throated hummers daily. I also have  a lot of flowers that they like. I was reading something on the absence of hummers yesterday. They may not be coming because:

1. The area has many flowers which the are more interested in

2. They are breeding

4. the feeders aren't clean ( it seems as though you are keeping them clean, though)

5. you need more color in your gardens

 You could try adding plants , like honey suckle, hostas, columbine, red wave petunias, salvia, or bee balm, near your feeders.

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New Additions to Life List: semipalmated plover, prairie warbler, belted kingfisher, ruddy turnstone

It does seem that as much of rain we have been getting here in central IN, that could be a part of it. I have tried a new nectar brand from Petsmart and the one female didn't even come to visit at all.

I have tried boiling my own sugar and water and that hasn't helped either. I have cleaned my feeders with a small scrub brush for baby bottles and cleaned them to no end. I don't think there is anything else to do other then try spottedowl's advice as to put up plants and such for a natural feed environment. I do know they are around. But they are just not wanting store bought nectar or home-made feeders. I have even moved the feeders out of direct sunlight.

 I guess I am left to buy a fake Hummingbird(s) and put them around my yard so that I can pretend that they are real and just have a smile when I look out my windows. J/K!!

I''ve noticed that hummers like to perch on clotheslines and in shrubs/bushes. You could move your feeder near one. Don't worry too much; last year  no hummers visited my feeder until late July. At that point I would have up to four at a time.

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New Additions to Life List: semipalmated plover, prairie warbler, belted kingfisher, ruddy turnstone

Maybe someone nearby has provided a better environment.  I just started feeding hummers about a year ago.  I have 2 large feeders.  My friend down the road also has a feeder and has been feeding the hummers for several years.  She has not seen any hummers yet this year.  She lives in a trailer park.  I live in an area with lots of trees, flowers, flowering shrubs and the like.  I don't know that anything is that different than it was before, but adding the feeders with the better environment might have taken them away.  I hope not, but maybe after the babies are grown, they will spread out more. 

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spottedowl:

I''ve noticed that hummers like to perch on clotheslines and in shrubs/bushes. You could move your feeder near one. Don't worry too much; last year  no hummers visited my feeder until late July. At that point I would have up to four at a time.

 

Thats funny cause one of my feeders actually hangs on a line that runs from my house to my garage just like a clothesline. They would drink, then sit on the line for a few minutes fluffing their feathers and then visit the feeder again.

roundywaves:

Maybe someone nearby has provided a better environment.  I just started feeding hummers about a year ago.  I have 2 large feeders.  My friend down the road also has a feeder and has been feeding the hummers for several years.  She has not seen any hummers yet this year.  She lives in a trailer park.  I live in an area with lots of trees, flowers, flowering shrubs and the like.  I don't know that anything is that different than it was before, but adding the feeders with the better environment might have taken them away.  I hope not, but maybe after the babies are grown, they will spread out more. 

 

You are probably right. I will have to go out and inspect my neighborhood to see who has the best environment. J/K. I know last year, some neighbors had wild flowers and plants that they use for them and thats pretty much all they needed to keep them around. I am thinking about making a garden in my far back property to attrack all kinds of critters. I guess a habitat would be nice. And yes, I hope when the babies are grown, they will come to my feeders soon.