Tools and Materials

Tools

Materials

Sponge
Soft towel
Bee guard
Vinegar
Essential oil
Lavender plant (or any other plant with pollinating flowers)

How to Keep Bees Away from Hummingbird Feeders: DIY Hacks and Tips

Bees can be deterred from the bird feeder using simple accessories or DIY solutions. Follow these steps to prevent bees from swarming your hummingbird feeder.

Caution

Do not swat at the wasps and bees because they can sting when disturbed. Seek immediate medical attention if you are stung.

Access your hummingbird feeder and check it thoroughly for any leaks or drips. Take down the feeder and empty its contents. Fill it with water and, once again, observe if any liquid is seeping through the edges or other areas. If you notice any cracks, it would be best to get a new hummingbird feeder.

Tip

Purchase a hummingbird feeder with pre-installed nectar guards to prevent bees from accessing the food.

Once the hummingbird feeder has dried, insert a bee guard in all the feeding ports. Make sure you are using a bee guard that is compatible with your feeder model. Check that the bee guards fit snugly in all the ports.

Good to Know

Bee guards are designed to easily allow a hummingbird’s long beak inside the feeding ports. However, it may take some time for the hummingbirds to figure out how to access the nectar through the bee guards.

If unwanted insects are still swarming your bird feeder, prepare a diluted vinegar solution. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts of vinegar and water. Spray this solution all over the hummingbird feeder. The smell of vinegar will deter the bees and help prevent them from coming near the bird feeder. Diluted vinegar solution is completely safe to use and will not have any effect on the hummingbirds.

Caution

Wear safety gloves and safety glasses when spraying the diluted vinegar solution.

Using essential oils is one of the best ways to keep bees away from hummingbird feeders. Peppermint, eucalyptus and tea tree oil are proven to repel bees. Fill a spray bottle with water. Add a few drops of any of these essential oils to a bottle. Shake the bottle and then spray this diluted solution on the hummingbird feeder.

Caution

Wear safety glasses when spraying the diluted essential oil solution.

Creating a pollinator garden might take some time, but it is one of the best ways to keep bees away from hummingbird feeders. The colorful, nectar-rich flowers in this garden will help to distract the bees from visiting the hummingbird feeder. You can grow plants like lavender, sunflowers or daisies. Ensure that the hummingbird feeder is situated at least 10 feet away from the pollinator garden.

Caution

A pollinator garden might not be ideal if anyone around is allergic to pollen.

Related Tags:

Outdoor Living