F.A.Q. HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS

Have Questions?

OUR ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT DO I DO IF MY BOTTLE TIPS ARE DRIPPING?

A.) Make sure that you do not OVERFILL the bottles. Fill them up about 3/4 of the way. Next, tilt them slightly UPWARDS so that the nectar line falls below the hole.

B) Your bottle tips may wear out over time, and need replacing. For your convenience, we offer REPLACEMENT TIPS here.

Sometimes a combination of 1) overfilling the bottles, 2) making your nectar too thick, and 3) leaving them in direct sunlight for most of the day, without any hummingbird activity, will cause them to drip.

HOW DO I CLEAN MY BOTTLES?

Click here for a PDF of tips on how to swap out and refill your bottles!

To clean and sterilize your bottles, you can rinse them with water and run them in your dishwasher. You can purchase bottle scrubbers from Amazon here,* to help clean the inside of your bottles. For longer lasting rubber stoppers, we don’t recommend cleaning them in the dishwasher. Use a scrub brush with warm water and soap.

*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We get commissions for purchases made through links on this page.

WHAT DO I DO IF MY FEEDER IS BENT OUT OF SHAPE?

Because copper is a pliable metal, it can be bent out of shape if mishandled – in transit, or if you are too rough with it. You can re-bend your feeder back into shape, by hand, with a firm grasp. Use pliers if necessary. The bottle holders can be adjusted to your liking by hand!

HOW DO I KEEP MY SILK FLOWERS FROM FADING?

You can spray your silk flowers with a protective clear coat, found here* on Amazon, in order to keep them from fading or mildewing.

Find a well-ventilated area (outside). Lay your flowers on cardboard or a paper plate. Coat the flowers, on all sides, in several light coats, giving a few minutes of dry-time between coats.

***After application, your flowers will become more hardened, from the protective coat. This is normal.***

*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We get commissions for purchases made through links on this page.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO POUR NECTAR INTO MY BOTTLES?

Whatever works best for you! Once your nectar has cooled to room temperature, you can dip the bottles into the pot of nectar, cap them, and rinse them off in clean water. Or, you can line up the bottles on a waterproof surface and use a measuring cup or small pitcher with a spout to pour the nectar into bottles.

Our favorite method is to fill up an empty (and clean) mason jar with a nectar dispenser – like the one here  – with your nectar, and store it in your fridge. When you are ready to fill your bottles, hold your bottle up to the nozzle of the nectar dispenser, and pump until your bottle is filled!

CAN I REPLACE THE FLOWERS ON MY FEEDER?

Yes! We sell attachable SMALL flowers (for window feeders) here, and attachable LARGE flowers (for spiral feeders) here.

Alternatively, you can buy the same replacement flowers at your local Hobby Lobby. Simply purchase a bouquet of silk flowers of your preferred color; pluck the flowers off the stems; twist and pull off old flowers on your feeder; twist and push new flowers onto your feeder.

HOW DO I KEEP ANTS OFF MY FEEDER?

If you have a HANGING FEEDER (spiral or basket hanger), add an ant moat between your feeder and the chain you hang the feeder from. You can find many different models for an affordable price on Amazon here.

If you have a WINDOW FEEDER, you can find an all-natural and bird-safe, ant repellent at Lowes here.* Just apply a thin barrier with the gel all the way around the small head of the suction cup (the place where the suction cup joins the thicker wire), being CAREFUL to avoid getting the gel on the copper, as it will cause the copper to rapidly patina/tarnish. Be sure to apply to both ends, for both suction cups! If you have an aluminum feeder, you can apply the gel around the thicker wire itself, near the suction sup – the gel won’t tarnish the aluminum. Each application should last for several months – the manufacturer claims it will last for an entire season, but it will probably take a few applications per season. 

HOW DO I KEEP BEES/WASPS OFF MY FEEDER?

If you have trouble with bees/wasps invading your feeder, you can do the following:

A) Fill your bottles up 3/4 full

B) Tilt your bottles slightly upwards, so that the nectar falls below the holes in your tips.

This should put a barrier of space between the bees/wasps and the nectar. Your hummingbirds will still be able to drink the bottles dry – their tongues are twice the size of their beaks!

You can also try re-locating your feeder to the other side of your home. Sometimes, that will throw the bees/wasps off the scent.

HOW DO I SHINE MY FEEDER, AFTER IT PATINAS/TARNISHES?

Since your feeder is made of 100% pure copper, it will oxidize over time, acquiring a patina. This does NOT compromise the integrity of the feeder in any way – it is merely an outer layer of mild rust.

Here is a safe, all-natural and easy way to shine your feeder:

Mix 1 cup white vinegar with 1 TBSP table salt in a glass cup or bowl; stir until salt dissolves.

Pour vinegar solution into a clean, empty spray bottle (preferably glass).

Take the bottles out of the feeder that needs to be clean; remove any flowers as well (if your feeder includes them). Take the feeder and spray bottle outside, and spray the feeder thoroughly over a concrete or rock surface that can be easily rinsed. Watch your feeder magically regain its shine!

Last and VERY important step: rinse the feeder immediately and thoroughly in cool, running water. Hang to dry. You can towel dry also.

***Works best with feeders that have gained a patina over several months, vs. a year or more. The longer you wait to shine, the harder to remove the oxide layer. The more frequently you shine, the more your copper will hold its shine. We recommend shining every few months, at least.***

HOW DO I ATTRACT HUMMINGBIRDS TO MY FEEDER?

Your hummingbirds may not be coming to your feeder for various reasons, including seasonal migration (your hummers may have gone south for the winter), location of your feeder (hummers like partial sun/shade; too much hot, direct sunlight is a deterrent; too much cold, dark shade is a deterrent as well), the presence of other feeders (hummers are creatures of habit – like us! If they are used to your older feeder, they may not visit your new one; try temporarily removing the old, in order to acquaint them with the new), and the presence of insects – like ants or bees.

Make sure your environment is a inviting as possible to hummers: they are drawn to bright colors; add potted plants; research (Google search) which flowers your species of hummingbird enjoys, for your particular region of the United States; trees and foliage are important to hummers, as they need a place to nest! For more information on creating a hummer-haven or fun hummer facts, check out this article here from austinrealestate.com!

Finally, you can temporarily hang a ribbon, or attach flowers to your feeder, to add a little more color and help draw your hummers in! We sell attachable SMALL flowers (for window feeders) here, and attachable LARGE flowers (for spiral feeders) here.

WHAT SHIPPING METHODS ARE AVAILABLE?

We ship with USPS. This means everything is mailed with either First Class 3-4 day shipping, or Priority 2-3 day shipping.

We can UPGRADE your shipping to UPS (instead of USPS), if you send us an email. We will then, based on your address, give you a quote. You will have to pay for it either via Apple Pay or PayPal.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET MY PACKAGE?

Our current processing/handling time is 1-2 days. As soon as your order ships, you will receive an email with tracking information so you can know when to expect your package. We strive to exceed expectations whenever possible, but during peak season (early Spring and Christmas), we may not be quite as speedy awesome, so there may be minor delays in handling/shipping times.

DO YOU SHIP INTERNATIONALLY?

We ship anywhere in the United States and Canada. We will ship to Mexico and other Latin American and South American countries, but special arrangements are required. Please contact us if you are in one of these countries, and we will be happy to assist!

HOW CAN I RETURN A PRODUCT?

WE GLADLY ACCEPT RETURNS

Contact us within: 3 days of delivery

Ship items back within: 7 days of delivery

RETURN PROCESS

Within this timeframe, we will provide a return shipping label – no charge – for you to then (a) attach to your original box, with the item(s) inside, and (b) drop off at your local USPS office.

CONDITIONS OF RETURN

If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value. We retain the right to deny a refund, if a return is not in its original condition – unless a return is found to have a manufacturing defect.

WHO SHOULD I CONTACT IF I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

Contact us here and we will try to respond within 24 hours (except on weekends or holidays):