Things I Love

[Darth Cruel]

The cats go nuts? The hummingbirds go nuts on those feeders! I have one and they fight over it, lol.

Oh hell yes! Hummingbirds are notorious for fighting over the feeders. My wife has enough out for the 5 that frequent hers, though. So the hummingbird-on-hummingbird conflict is kept to a minimum.

 

[DarthBakura]

Yep, things are vicious. I bet they would attack humans if they weren't so scared.

 

[Darth Cruel]

Yep, things are vicious. I bet they would attack humans if they weren't so scared.

My wife's mother told my kids that the hummingbirds would eventually get used to them if they held the feeder and even eventually land on their fingers.

I didn't believe it until my daughter was hangng up a feeder and one of the hummingbirds came and landed on it while she still had it in her hand. That thing had no fear.

 

[DarthBakura]

Lol, awesome. The ones here flutter about, but never get close.

 

[The Ween]

What do you guys use in your hummingbird feeders. Some say that red stuff you buy at the stores isn't good for them.

 

[DarthBakura]

Yeah, I don't use that stuff. I use sugar water. Granted, it has to be boiled and cooled first. The feeder is merely an attractant to get them to feed on insects. So having the right balance of plants and natural habitats, such as bushes and shrubs, allows them to get more nutrients.

 

[Darth Cruel]

I just use 1 part sugar disolved into 4 parts water. I have heard that the food coloring is what is bad for them.

 

[DarthBakura]

I just use 1 part sugar disolved into 4 parts water. I have heard that the food coloring is what is bad for them.

Does the color even help attract them? Or is that merely for human benefit, so that it makes it appear like you aren't just buying sugar water?

 

[Lejuan]

That the Olympics is over for another 4 years.

 

[Voorhees27]

That the Olympics is over for another 4 years.

You beat me to it.

 

[Darth Cruel]

Does the color even help attract them? Or is that merely for human benefit, so that it makes it appear like you aren't just buying sugar water?

From what I understand, the color has zero benefit.

 

[DarthBakura]

So, basically it's just an aesthetic selling point.

 

[DarthBakura]

Yeah, the feeder I have is red all over, lol.

 

[devilof76]

Is it really that hard to figure out if food coloring is harmful to hummingbirds? Are they dropping like flies? How long has the dye been used?

 

[The Ween]

Is it really that hard to figure out if food coloring is harmful to hummingbirds? Are they dropping like flies? How long has the dye been used?

The red food has been sold in stores as long as I can remember. I know that people who are really into birds as a hobby say it isn't good for them. How it affects them I don't know. Maybe it affects their eggs or something. Don't really know.

 

[devilof76]

...the world may never know...

 

[The Ween]

...the world may never know...

Nope.

I'm betting they get addicted to it.......like crack!

 

[DarthBakura]

Uh oh! Watch out, could be something else...

 

[The Ween]

OMG.......ZOMBIE HUMMINGBIRDS!!!!!!!

 

[devilof76]

I'm buying stock in red food coloring first thing tomorrow morning.