You remind me of a friendly competition between my neighbor and myself for hummers. She, too, only wants expensive, blown-glass, "classy feeders" and uses only the red nectar. Yet I get all the hummers. I think I have a few reasons:
1) I put my feeders up early, in the same place as last year so the hummers find them first.
2) When I start seeing hummers early in the season I make my necter about 25% sweeter than I usually do which seems to attract them to my feeders over anyone elses. And I use plain sugar (superfine dissolves easier) instead of the commercial nectar.
3) A cheap, plastic red feeder with yellow ports works best. My neighbor tried the red ribbons but I think that just scares them away. The ones with a glass bottle are the easiest to keep clean. And you must keep it clean!
4) Make sure the feeder has a lot of visibility around it, but with some trees nearby for cover. They like to stay in the trees for protection while watching the feeder for any predators or competition.
5) They LOVE a mister if you have one. I've had them dodge in and out of the mist while I hold the hose.
Good Luck!
