Please note, if you use the Vaporub, it doesn't go on the feeder.  It
goes on the hanger, about a foot above the feeder and creates a barrier
that the ants won't walk thru.

If anyone thinks this would be harmful for any reason, please let me
know! 

-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Sarah Anderson
Sent: Friday, August 19, 2005 1:29 PM
To: 
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Will ants keep hummers away?

 
 
In a message dated 8/19/2005 10:15:52 AM Eastern Standard Time,
 writes:

read  somewhere that rubbing Vicks Vaporub around the hanging part of
the  hummingbird feeder would keep ants out.  

I tried it, and to my  total surprise, it works!





I'm under the impression (from what I've read) that you aren't  supposed
to treat hummingbird feeders with anything that might be harmful to the
birds.  
I've even heard that you shouldn't run the feeders through a  dishwasher
because of the soap residue that remains.  There is a  really simple,
effective and 
beneficial way to deal with the ant problem:   get an "ant moat".  It's
a 
thing that hangs between the hanger hook and the  feeder.  You fill it
with water and the ants won't cross it.  Your  feeder remains ant-free
(unless it's close enough to something the ants can jump  from), the
water is non-toxic, plus I've seen other birds actually drinking out  of
(or getting bugs that are attracted to) the moat!  I had a terrible ant
problem earlier this summer, the ant moat has solved it  completely.
 
Sarah
Cabin John, MD
BirdNerd3 at  a*o*l*c*o*m
www.pbase.com/sarahbee