My hummingbird feeder is dirty, now what?
Posted by Diane Conklin
With the temperatures rising and the hummingbirds busy, the feeders have to be cleaned and refilled on a regular basis.
Every time you refill the feeder or at least once a week you should flush it well with hot water and scrub with a brush or a handy little mop specifically made for bird feeders. During this process you should inspect the feeder for mold and look for any cracks in the plastic that would allow the nectar to drip out.
If you find any mold at all you should soak the feeder for at least an hour in a bucket filled with 1 gallon of water and 1/4 cup bleach or white vinegar. Next scrub well with a feeder brush or mop. Rinse well with running water and refill.
Another option would be to use a commercially prepared product that is specifically made for cleaning hummingbird and oriole feeders. One of these products is made by IPS Carefree Enzymes. They are a Wisconsin based company that manufactures enzymes that are environmentally friendly and 100% safe for all pets, livestock and wildlife.
If your birds are not consuming your nectar before it sours try filling the feeder only half full next time. Another good fact to know is if your nectar is cloudy that means it's soured and needs to be replaced.
If you follow these simple cleaning tips you should have plenty of little hummers using your feeders on a regular basis!