How do you keep Bees away from Humming Bird feeders?

Question

The Bees are running the humming birds away from the feeders.

Answer 1

Please don't use pesticides.

It was recently discovered that bees and wasps are attracted to the color yellow. Since many hummingbird feeders have yellow plastic "flowers" or other parts, try removing such parts or painting them red before hanging your feeder in the spring - once bees learn where food is, they fly right back to the hive to tell all their friends, so avoiding their attention up front works best.

You can buy a feeder with bee guards. However, those tend to be the drippiest feeders available (Perky-Pet "Four Flowers," etc.), and once they start dripping the bee guards are useless, since puddles form in the flowers outside of the bee guards, an easy meal for insects.

The only sure defense against bees and wasps is to absolutely deny them access to the syrup. In June 1997 I replaced my Perky-Pet 210-P with a HummZinger, which is inherently wasp-proof because the syrup level is too low for insects to reach, but easily in range of the shortest hummingbird tongue. I also bought a Perky-Pet Oasis feeder, a copy of the HummZinger with several design flaws, but just as effective against bees. Rubbermaid makes an inexpensive basin-type feeder that can be hung or suction-cupped to a window. Basin feeders are also available from Opus and other companies, and all are effective in denying food to bees and wasps. All are also easy to clean.

If you choose not to try a new feeder and wasps persist, first try moving the feeder, even just a few feet; insects are not very smart, and will assume the food source is gone forever. They may never find it in its new location, while the hummers will barely notice that it was moved. If that doesn't work, take the feeder down for a day, or until you stop seeing wasps looking for it. You'll see hummers looking for it, too, but they won't give up nearly as soon as the wasps. Also, reducing the sugar concentration to 1 part sugar in 5 parts water will make it less attractive to insects, but probably won't make the hummingbirds lose interest.

Answer 2

I'm pretty sure the answer is that they're aren't any no-fail solutions to this annoying problem. Some people claim success by smearing a very thin layer of Vaseline or cooking oil around the feeder openings. I've read some people use Vicks Vapor Rub the same way. Studies have shown that bees and wasps are attracted to the color yellow. Well many hummingbird feeders have yellow feeding portals! I recently read that some people paint (w non-toxic hobby paint) the yellow "flowers" on their feeders red. There are feeder styles that claim to prevent bee problems. I'll be switching to a couple of those next summer, listed a source below. I've always just moved my feeders and it helps, some years better than others. I keep the water/sugar ratio 4:1 or slightly less. Bees are attracted to more sugary solutions but the hummers are content with a milder mix. It is after all, just a supplement for them & not their main source of nutrition. A Google search will bring up many interesting ways/suggestions from people trying to deal with this problem. =: \

Answer 3

Poison is a bad idea; it will poison the birds too.
You can buy a bee guard to put on the nectar tube; the hummingbird can reach through it but insects can't.

Answer 4

that seems kinda weird. bees go for pollen not necter. but i guess you can use raid or something to spray the humming bird feeder. better yet spray your whole garden with pesticides

Answer 5

well at my house bee use to come because of my fountain so i guess ,get rid of the water

Answer 6

Good luck, they like sweets.

Answer 7

it is natrue no water and no sugars