Hummingbird feeder leakage means lots of nectar waste as well as inviting unwanted insects like ants and bees. You will notice a dramatic decrease in hummingbird presence in your yard. To avoid such issues, you need to fix the leakage issue. In the below section, we will discuss more in-depth why leaking occurs and how you stop it.
Common problems with leaking hummingbird feeders?
You will notice several issues with leaking hummingbird feeders. Few are mentioned below:
Waste: Leakage means nectar or sugar waters are dropping in the ground, which the hummingbirds cannot consume. That means you need to refill the feeders more frequently, even if it will not satisfy the hummingbirds.
Invite unwanted guests: Ants and Bees have an extra attraction on hummingbird’s nectar. Sometimes, you will find it hard to keep them away from the feeder without any leakage.
The leaking nectar provides an odor smell that easily attracts many unwanted creatures like ants, bees, rats, raccoons, squirrels, and even deer can also raid the feeder. So, you will introduce yourself with a new issue.
Stains: If you place your the feeder on patio or deck, the nectar drips into those places, which creates stubborn stains. You will find it hard to remove. Also, if your hummingbird is located in the yard, the nectar drips can damage the grass or plants beneath the feeder. Also, cause an unattractive blemish in your backyard due to the ruin of the soil chemistry.
Stickiness: Sugar water easily sticks while it is drying. So, when sugar water leaks from the feeder, it can easily get into the hummingbird’s feathers and creates flight difficulties for them.
Why Does My Hummingbird Feeder Keep Leaking?
You will notice the leakage issues for several reasons. Here are a few things which is the cause of leakage:
Hot weather: If you are located the bird feeder under direct sunlight, it will make the nectar warm as well as the above space of the feeder. The air tries to get out from the feeder, which creates a leakage. This type of issue is most common on bottle-style hummingbird feeders.
Also, sometimes the sudden weather change creates pressure on the feeder, which creates leakage issues as most hummingbird feeders are made with glass or plastic.
Assemble issue: If you disassemble the hummingbird feeder for refilling or cleaning purposes after noticing the leakage issue, it means you do not assemble the feeder properly. So, you need to assemble the feeder properly. However, you might damage the feeder and create a leakage issue through the cleaning process.
Unwanted guest: Nectar or sugar water does not make the only favorite among the hummingbirds. It also attracts woodpeckers and bats to hummingbird feeders. Sometimes they create damage to feeders while trying to get access. Even sometimes, feeders need to face a raid of deer or even bears which can easily create leakage issues.
How do I stop my hummingbird feeder from leaking?
Leakage issues are so common with hummingbird feeders. If your hummingbird feeder has tended to leak, then you can follow the below steps to reduce the issue:
Maintain the nectar amount: You need to always look at the nectar levels, and most of the time, you can reduce the problem by following it.
When you fill the feeder, a vacuum creates in the feeder, which helps to seal and operate properly. When the levels drop, the vacuum is compromised, and you will notice the leakage. So, you need always to keep the feeder full to ensure a more secure seal but not overflowing.
Change the feeder style: You will notice the leakage issue in the bottle-style feeder. On the other, Saucer or dish-style feeders have less tendency to leak as the nectar is held below the feeding ports. So, you can get a good quality saucer-style hummingbird feeder to completely remove the issue.
Locate the feeder in the Shade area: You already know that placing the feeder under sunlight can warm the nectar and also cause leakage feeder. So, you need to place the feeder in a shady area to keep the nectar fresh and leakage-free. Also, you need to keep the feeder away from the windy area. Otherwise, it will blow the feeder and create a mess.
Properly assemble the feeder: Make sure a good seal is formed between the feeder base and ports and the bottle reservoir to reduce the issue. Most of the time, many people do not assemble their feeders properly after refilling and cleaning. So, to minimize the issue, you always need to seal all the parts properly.
Find out damages: Always closely lookout at the feeder when you are cleaning it or refilling it. If you notice any damage on the feeder part, repair it or contact the seller for claim replacement.
Keep unwanted guests away: If unwanted guest like woodpeckers or bats visits your feeders, you can remove the perch as they like to sip nectar perching. It will not disappoint the hummingbirds as they like to sip nectar on flight and rarely sit on a perch.
Reinforce the Seal: To make the feeder more secure, you can place the plumber’s tape over the threads where it screws together. It will solve the issue of any existing leaks. The tape can also be wrapped around the joints for a more robust seal.
You can check out the below guides to learn how to fix the leakage hummingbird feeder:
Final Words
Leakage issue is a serious issue if you feed hummingbirds in your yard. It can create lots of obstacles in your hummingbird watching. But, I hope our today’s guide helps you to know more about it and some easy ways to get rid of the issue.
