Hummingbirds are delightful little birds that add beauty and wonder to any environment. Their tiny size and incredible flying skills make them a joy to watch. Many people put up hummingbird feeders in their yards or gardens to attract these special birds. However, attracting hummingbirds also means attracting ants. Ants love the sweet nectar in hummingbird feeders and will invade them given the chance. This can frighten away hummingbirds and prevent them from feeding. An AntGuard is a simple device that allows hummingbirds to access a feeder while keeping ants out. Making an effective AntGuard is easy with some basic materials and tools.
What is an AntGuard?
An AntGuard is a protective barrier that surrounds a hummingbird feeder. It prevents crawling insects like ants from reaching the nectar reservoir or feeding ports. At the same time, it allows hummingbirds to fly in unimpeded to drink and feed. AntGuards are typically cylindrical or cone-shaped attachments that fit below the feeder. They utilize slippery materials and traps to stop ants in their tracks without harming them. When installed properly, AntGuards keep feeders pest-free and safe for hummingbirds.
Why Use an AntGuard?
There are several benefits to using an AntGuard on a hummingbird feeder:
- Keeps ants out – Ants can quickly find and overwhelm feeders once they detect sugary nectar inside. An AntGuard forms a protective moat that ants cannot cross.
- Allows easy hummingbird access – Hummingbirds can freely fly into feeders protected by an AntGuard. Their tiny size allows them to easily pass over the ant barriers.
- Prevents ant nests – Ants like to nest near food sources. An AntGuard stops them from building nests on or near the feeder.
- Protects nectar purity – Ants can contaminate nectar with dirt, bacteria, and mold. An AntGuard keeps the nectar clean and safe for hummingbirds.
- Saves cleaning time – Ant invaded feeders require frequent deep cleaning. An AntGuard reduces this maintenance burden.
Using an AntGuard allows you to deter ants humanely and enjoy watching hummingbirds feed. The birds will appreciate a clean food source free of pesky ants too.
Choosing an AntGuard Design
There are a few main types of AntGuard designs to choose from:
Moat Style
Moat style AntGuards suspend the feeder over a water-filled reservoir. Ants cannot swim and will not cross the water boundary. Hummingbirds simply fly over to the feeder.
Cage Style
Cage style AntGuards fully enclose the feeder in a mesh cage. The openings between the wires are large enough for hummingbirds but too small for ants to squeeze through.
Trap Style
Trap style AntGuards use strategic overhangs, slippery coatings, and sticky gels to prevent ants from climbing up to the feeder. The traps discourage ants but do not harm them.
The moat and cage styles provide the best protection. However, the trap style is usually easiest to construct at home. We will go over how to build your own trap style AntGuard in the next section.
Making a Trap Style AntGuard
Constructing a trap style AntGuard requires a few simple materials and basic DIY skills. Here is an overview of how to make one:
Gather Materials
You will need:
- An empty plastic bottle (soda or water bottle)
- Scissors
- Duct tape or waterproof packing tape
- Petroleum jelly (Vaseline)
- Cooking oil spray
- Aluminum foil
Optional materials:
- String or fishing line
- Eye hooks or nails
Cut the Bottle
Cut the empty plastic bottle 2-3 inches from the bottom. You want the cut portion to be tall enough to attach securely to the hummingbird feeder. Discard the upper section or save it for another project.
Make the Overhang
Use scissors to cut tabs every 1/2 inch around the cut edge of the bottle bottom. Fold the tabs up at a 45 degree angle to create an overhang. Apply duct tape as needed to hold the tabs in place. The overhang will help deter ants from crawling up and into the bottle.
Coat the Interior
Lightly coat the interior surface of the bottle bottom with petroleum jelly. This makes the surface too slippery for ants to grasp. Next, spray or brush cooking oil onto the interior. The oil will further hinder ant climbing efforts.
Attach the Feeder
Place a few small balls of aluminum foil into the bottle bottom. These will prevent ants from standing safely inside. Place your hummingbird feeder into the opening of the prepared bottle bottom, pressing gently to wedge it in place. The foil balls allow space for the feeder but deter ants.
Optionally, you can hang the AntGuard from string by attaching eye hooks or nails to the bottle bottom and hanging it upside down. Otherwise, simply place the feeder right side up on a porch, post, or hanger.
Your trap style AntGuard is now complete! The overhang, slippery surface, and unstable footing will combine to keep ants away from your hummingbird feeder. Be sure to reapply the petroleum jelly and oil regularly for continued effectiveness. Enjoy watching hummingbirds feed safely!
Advanced AntGuard Designs
The simple homemade trap style AntGuard works well for excluding ants at ground level. You can also construct more advanced versions to protect elevated or hanging feeders from all ant routes. Here are two upgraded AntGuard options:
PVC Pipe AntGuard
This design uses PVC pipe to create a protective cylinder around a hanging feeder:
Materials:
- 6″ PVC pipe 2-3 feet long
- PVC end caps
- PVC cement
- Eye hooks or nails
- String or fishing line
- Petroleum jelly
- Cooking oil spray
Instructions:
- Cement an end cap on one end of the PVC pipe.
- Drill small holes in a line down the length of the pipe to attach hanging lines.
- Optionally, cut slits partway down the pipe to allow hummingbird access.
- Coat the interior with petroleum jelly and cooking oil.
- Insert feeder into the open end of the pipe.
- Add end cap to seal feeder inside.
- Hang using eye hooks and string through drilled holes.
This design protects the feeder from ants crawling down hanging lines or the support structure.
Tubular Feeder Guard
Use lengths of plastic or metal tubing to exclude ants on tubular feeders:
Materials:
- Transparent acrylic, plexiglass or polycarbonate tubing
- Metal tubing such as copper or aluminum
- Petroleum jelly
- Cooking oil spray
Instructions:
- Select tubing with interior diameter sized to the exterior diameter of feeder.
- Cut tubing into 8-12 inch lengths.
- Coat interior of tubes with petroleum jelly and cooking oil.
- Slide tubes over feeder, spacing them at intervals along the length.
- Allow space for hummingbird feeding access.
The tubing can cover hanging wires, making the feeder inaccessible to ants walking along the wires.
Conclusion
Installing an AntGuard is an easy and rewarding way to get more enjoyment from your hummingbird feeder. The simple trap style design can be made at home using basic materials. PVC pipe guards and tube guards provide added ant protection for hanging feeders. While ants can be a nuisance, deterring them with an AntGuard allows you to appreciate hummingbirds safely. Watching these tiny, colorful birds hover and feed is a magical experience that an AntGuard can help you fully enjoy.