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hueyjazz
Member
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# Posted: 13 Jul 2015 11:52
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So for a couple of years now I've hung a cheapie plastic feeder that came with about a gallon of solution. It work decent enough as the hummingbird kept coming back.
I've have them drop down on my plate while eating pancakes with real syrup.
I love them and they are a nice attribute to the camp
Recently we upgraded to a nice glass and copper unit I got from Amazon. I charged this feeder with the store bought solution but it was empty needing refill. Since I was out of food to charge this one I went on the web as to how to make the solution. Very simple
4 cups boiled water to 1 cup cane sugar exactly. Mix until all is in solution and let cool.
I put this in the new feeder and now the birds ignore the old feeder. there's even more birds now and I've seen them fight for ports.
Success
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pizzadude
Member
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# Posted: 13 Jul 2015 13:04
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Here's something most people don't know...hummingbirds are really made of sponge.
A good[flock] of hummers can knock out a full feeder faster than I can down a 6 pack of Schmidt.
It's amazing what those little guys can absorb
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creeky
Member
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# Posted: 13 Jul 2015 13:38
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nice. cane sugar would have some decent minerals et al. sorry. but. sweet.
my hummingbird feeder just went into bloom.
ps-this dang patch has taken over my entire flower garden. but. to have that thrum of wings go 'round the garden. worth it.
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Bevis
Member
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# Posted: 13 Jul 2015 18:09
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Quoting: pizzadude ...down a 6 pack of Schmidt
You're the first person I see that has admitted to drinking that...LOL
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hueyjazz
Member
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# Posted: 13 Jul 2015 18:15 - Edited by: hueyjazz
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Ha
Crack me up. When I read that I was pretty much thinking the same thing Bevis. I hold Schmidt is the same regard as that generic beer they once sold. Well actually the generic was a little higher in class.
Pizzadude
Not meaning to offend but....
yuck
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Smawgunner
Member
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# Posted: 13 Jul 2015 18:40
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I would try upping the sugar content. And don't add any dye. Be sure to change it every 4 days or so so it doesn't mold. HTH
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pizzadude
Member
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# Posted: 13 Jul 2015 22:13
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Ha I get crap for my Schmidt all the time
Even I didn't think I'd ever acquire a taste for the brand, but I did.... and I love my Schmidt
Sorry for grossing anyone out haha
And sorry op for getting off topic
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nicalisa
Member
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# Posted: 13 Jul 2015 22:28 - Edited by: nicalisa
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Creeky, what kind of flower is that? We have a ton of humming birds but don't want to put out a feeder as we won't be there year round to maintain it....flowers though would be great!
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rmak
Member
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# Posted: 13 Jul 2015 23:58
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Quoting: pizzadude ...hummingbirds are really made of sponge.
I believe it's just metabolism. They do seem a bit flighty and high strung. They just need to kick back and mellow out a little. You hummingbirds gotta chill out! Give it a rest. Stop and smell the roses.
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creeky
Member
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# Posted: 14 Jul 2015 07:20
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it's bee balm nicalisa.
two years ago that was five little strands I planted in the garden along with 10 other flowers and some veg. today only three of the other flowers remain. I had to move most of them. because. as you can see. bee balm likes to spread.
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old greybeard
Member
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# Posted: 14 Jul 2015 07:36
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Beebalm is a great native plant.
We use 4 cups of water to 1 cup of sugar in our 4 feeders, they are really tearing it up this year. They do seem to prefer homemade over store bought.
And they don't need the food coloring or chemicals in the store bought.
We don't bother to boil the water, the sugar dissolves with some serious stirring.
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 22 Aug 2015 21:58
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Make sure you clean your humming bird feeder well with dish soap and hot water once or twice a year. Rinse well. Mine stopped showing up and I could not figure why. I replaced the solution. Still no shows. Then I washed the feeder in hot water and dish soap, rinsed well, added new solution. Back they came. Smawgunner above rec on 4 day change also helps. But when they stop coming for days and weeks, your feeder has become "unnatural" and "unfresh".
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beachman
Member
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# Posted: 23 Aug 2015 09:51
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Cleaning is very important as bacteria can grow in those things. We use 3 parts hot water to one part white granular sugar. In eastern Canada, the birds are getting ready (juiced up) to make the incredibly long trip to South America. They seem to be drinking less in the last few days.
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drb777
Member
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# Posted: 23 Aug 2015 10:14
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Here in NE Oklahoma, mid-August to mid-September is feeding-frenzy days in prep for the long migration. My 5 feeders need about a gallon every 3 days to keep them satisfied.
Our hummer season is from mid-April to the end of September. 6 years of dedicated feeding has resulted in healthy return and a breeding population we enjoy watching.
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Pookie129
Member
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# Posted: 23 Aug 2015 20:34
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Quoting: creeky this dang patch has taken over my entire flower garden. but. to have that thrum of wings go 'round the garden. worth it. hummingbirdfeeder.j.jpg
is the bergamot(sp)?
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Pookie129
Member
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# Posted: 23 Aug 2015 20:38
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Sorry I see that someone already asked and you replied. Now I am not sure which I have, bee balm nicalisa or bergamot as they both look similar.....
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creeky
Member
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2015 16:08
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there are many kinds of bee balm apparently. also called Mondarda and Bergamot.
oddly. bee balm is two words unless yer describing the type. so green beebalm. or stanley's beebalm. but bee balm if referring to the generic plant.
it has a lot of herbal uses. it contains an antiseptic and was commonly used for mouthwash. and the flowers were made into tea "oswego tea" (probably familar to you northern yankees).
I wish I had known this earlier I would have harvested some flowers.
okay. i'm done work for the week and i'm sitting around on a cool cloudy day with little else to do 
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