Hummingbirds are beautiful, delicate creatures that bring joy to backyard birdwatchers. However, keeping ants away from hummingbird feeders can be a frustrating challenge. Ants are attracted to the sweet nectar in hummingbird feeders and will quickly swarm the feeders, preventing hummingbirds from accessing the food source.
Using chemical ant repellents around hummingbird feeders is not recommended, as the toxins can be harmful to the hummingbirds and other wildlife. Thankfully, there are several natural options to help repel ants from hummingbird feeders safely and effectively.
Why Ants Are Attracted to Hummingbird Feeders
Ants have an extremely strong sense of smell and are opportunistic foragers. They can detect sugar sources from long distances. The sweet liquid nectar in hummingbird feeders contains sucrose, which is essentially table sugar. This makes hummingbird feeders a direct target for nearby ants looking for an easy meal.
In addition, ants are social insects that communicate with each other using pheromone trails. When scout ants discover a food source, they leave a pheromone trail on the ground leading back to the nest. This recruitment pheromone attracts other worker ants to follow the trail to the feeder and take advantage of the rich energy source.
Some common ant species attracted to hummingbird feeders include:
- Red imported fire ants
- Argentine ants
- Odorous house ants
- Carpenter ants
- Pavement ants
- Sugar ants
These species can quickly overwhelm hummingbird feeders with hundreds or thousands of workers. The ants will farm tiny insects like aphids that are attracted to the sugar water and accumulate at the feeder ports. The ants protect the aphids from predators in exchange for consuming the honeydew secreted by the aphids.
Dangers of Ants at Hummingbird Feeders
It’s important to control ants at hummingbird feeders for several reasons:
- Ants can deter hummingbirds from feeding. The birds are intimidated by the presence of ants crawling on their food source.
- Ants will cause the nectar to spoil more quickly by contaminating it with formic acid.
- Aphids farmed by the ants excrete sticky honeydew that can clog up feeder ports.
- Ants biting hummingbirds can potentially injure their tongues, eyes, or open sores on their skin.
- Some ant species like fire ants deliver a painful, venomous sting that could seriously harm hummingbirds.
- Hummingbirds infected with diseases spread by ants may transmit those diseases to other birds at crowded feeders.
By taking steps to control ants, you protect the health of hummingbirds and ensure they have full access to the supplemental food source.
5 Natural Ant Repellents for Hummingbird Feeders
Here are 5 of the safest and most effective natural ant deterrents for keeping ants away from hummingbird feeders:
1. Vegetable Oil
Coating hummingbird feeder hanging wires and poles with plain old vegetable oil (or petroleum jelly) provides an effective barrier against climbing ants. The oil is slippery and causes ants to lose their grip and fall when they attempt to scale the surfaces. Reapply vegetable oil every 2-3 days to maintain efficacy.
2. Chili Pepper
Ants have an aversion to capsaicin, the spicy compound found in chili peppers. Work chili powder or pepper flakes into the hanging wire or pole above the feeder. You can also add a few drops of hot chili oil directly into the nectar. The hummingbirds are not bothered by mild spiciness, but the ants will steer clear of the feeder.
3. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is another natural ant repellent. Sprinkle ground cinnamon or whole cinnamon sticks around the pole and hummingbird feeder. The strong aroma confuses the ants’ scent trail and provides a deterrent. Add a teaspoon of cinnamon powder to the nectar as well.
4. Cream of Tartar
The compound potassium bitartrate, also known as cream of tartar, disrupts the bodily functions of ants when ingested. Add 1/8 teaspoon of cream of tartar per cup of nectar. The cream of tartar gives the nectar a slightly bitter taste that repels the ants but does not affect the hummingbirds.
5. Peppermint Oil
The strong smell of pure peppermint oil overwhelms ants’ scent receptors. Soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and secure them around feeder poles. You can also mix a few drops of peppermint essential oil into the nectar solution. Reapply the peppermint every few days since the scent fades over time.
Tips for Using Natural Ant Repellents Effectively
Follow these tips to get the most benefit from natural ant deterrents at your hummingbird feeder:
- Start early before ants have established trails to the feeder. It’s much easier to deter them proactively than remove them once they have populated the feeder.
- Apply repellents both on ant climbing surfaces and mixed into the nectar to create multiple barriers.
- Reapply natural ant deterrents frequently, as they tend to wash away with rain and irrigation.
- Use hot water to wash away any existing ant trails leading to feeders before applying repellents.
- Blend different repellents together, like chili oil with peppermint, to create a more potent deterrent effect.
- Plant native flowers around or under feeders, as the flowers attract small pollinators that compete with aphids.
- Do not use actual ant poisons or insecticides, as these can leach into the nectar and harm hummingbirds.
With regular reapplication of natural ant barriers, you can successfully redirect ants away from feeders and resolve issues with ants overrunning and dominating the nectar supply.
Alternative Solutions Beyond Just Repellents
In addition to external ant deterrents, certain hummingbird feeder designs and strategies help decrease ant accessibility:
- Suspension: Hanging feeders at least 5-6 feet off the ground prevents ants from reaching the nectar.
- Moats: Placing feeders out on a water moat blocks ground-based ants.
- Slippery poles: Metal poles or poles coated with lubricants make it harder for ants to climb up.
- Tanglefoot: Sticky barrier pastes like Tanglefoot gum up ants and stop them climbing poles.
- Smaller capacity: Smaller nectar volumes of around 5 oz minimize waste if ants contamination does occur.
- Port protection: Built-in snap-on ant guards physically block ants from entering feeder ports.
- Nectar replacement: Frequently changing the nectar removes any ants currently inhabiting the feeder.
A combination of good feeder placement, design, and active deterrents helps create a robust, multilayer defense system against ants. Keep ants under control and hummingbirds happily fed with smart repellent strategies.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Natural Ant Repellents
While natural ant deterrents are generally safe, there are a few mistakes and pitfalls to avoid:
- Do not use chemical pesticide sprays or granules — these can poison hummingbirds.
- Avoid applying excessively strong chili pepper or cinnamon — very high amounts can irritate hummingbirds.
- Do not allow repellents to degrade nectar quality over time.
- Reapply deterrents before they completely wear off.
- Do not allow liquid vegetable oil to run down and coat the feeder ports.
- Wash off Tanglefoot residue each season before reapplying.
- Never use motor oil or other petroleum-based oils near hummingbird feeders.
With some care and moderation, natural ant repellents can work very well. Also, regularly clean and disinfect feeders to prevent growth of mold and bacteria that could sicken hummingbirds.
The 5 Best Natural Ant Repellents for Hummingbird Feeders
If you want to banish ants from your hummingbird feeders safely and naturally, focus on using these top 5 deterrents:
- Vegetable oil – slick barrier on climbing surfaces
- Chili pepper – repelling spiciness
- Cinnamon – aromatic confusion for ants
- Cream of tartar – disrupts digestive system
- Peppermint oil – overwhelming scent
Research shows these 5 non-toxic, all-natural ingredients are powerfully effective at chasing ants away from hummingbird feeders. With routine reapplication, you can harness the ant-repelling properties of these simple kitchen cabinet staples and enjoy watching hummingbirds feast without fear of ants.
Natural Ant Repellents Are the Safest Option
Rather than using risky chemical poisons, stick with natural ant deterrents that gently persuade ants to avoid hummingbird feeders without causing harm. Natural repellents applied correctly allow hummingbirds to access the nectar safely while minimizing impacts on other species and the broader ecosystem.
Welcome hummingbirds to feed without worries by making ant-repelling best practices part of your regular feeding and maintenance routine. The hummingbirds will thank you with their dazzling aerial displays.
Conclusion
Keeping ants away from hummingbird feeders is important for protecting hummingbird health and safety. Thankfully, there are many highly effective natural ant repellents to choose from like oils, spices, cream of tartar and peppermint. By applying slippery barriers, scent repellents, and deterrents mixed into the nectar, ant pests can successfully be prevented from invading feeders without any use of toxic chemicals.
Pair natural repellents with smart feeder placement and maintenance, and you can enjoy watching hummingbirds feed while ants are kept safely at bay. With a bit of diligence, it is possible to reclaim your hummingbird feeders and provide birds with the insect-free dining experience they deserve.
