Feeder For Orioles and Hummingbirds.

[Thrifty Bee]

DH said he saw a yellow bird trying to feed from my hummingbird feeder this morning. I’d say it was an oriole. I would like to provide nectar for orioles also but I have limited space available for feeders. If it’s possible I would like to use one feeder for both the hummies and the orioles. So I would like suggestions on a feeder that would accommodate both.

If I could find a way I would be willing to enlarge the holes on the hummingbird feeder. That would be the more frugal thing to do but I’m unsure if the perches are big enough for orioles. It’s a plain round red First Nature feeder that was until this year sold at Wal-Mart for around $4.00.

If anyone has had any success modifying that feeder or using a different feeder please let me know.

[coupondad101]

If you enlarge the holes you only going to invite more bugs,,Bigger bugs to get inside. unless you use some cooking oil around the wire or string the you hang it from..but bees will be your problem

[Rene S]

I don't think hummingbirds and orioles eat the same nectar. Orioles like oranges; cut in half and stick on a nail. They also love grape jelly. I think you can buy oriole feeders, or my dad knew someone who made one with a hopper for the jelly.

I don't think I'd put jelly in a hummingbird feeder. It probably wouldn't come out easily, plus it would be difficult to clean.

[Thrifty Bee]

Orioles do drink nectar but do not require as high a sugar concentrate as hummingbirds. They are satisfied with a ratio of 1 part sugar/6 parts water but will also drink hummingbird nectar made with 1 part sugar/4 parts water.

You can buy oriole nectar feeders, they are made in the same design as hummingbird feeders but with larger feeding holes, larger perches, and are colored orange instead of red. I thought it possibly simpler to just use one feeder if the orioles were willing because of my limited space. Modifying the hummingbird feeder I already have would be the more frugal approach. I'm not concerned that making the feeding holes larger would cause problems because oriole feeders obviously have larger holes. I just wondered if the orioles would have a hard time perching because I cannot modify the perches, and orioles cannot hover while feeding like hummingbirds do.

I am aware that orioles like oranges and grape jelly as well as other fruits. I may at some point provide a feeder with such things if I am able to work out my space issues. But I thought making the nectar that is already there for the hummingbirds available to them as well should be my first step.

[kwhile0599]

DH said he saw a yellow bird trying to feed from my hummingbird feeder this morning. I’d say it was an oriole. I would like to provide nectar for orioles also but I have limited space available for feeders. If it’s possible I would like to use one feeder for both the hummies and the orioles. So I would like suggestions on a feeder that would accommodate both.

If I could find a way I would be willing to enlarge the holes on the hummingbird feeder. That would be the more frugal thing to do but I’m unsure if the perches are big enough for orioles. It’s a plain round red First Nature feeder that was until this year sold at Wal-Mart for around $4.00.

If anyone has had any success modifying that feeder or using a different feeder please let me know.

Here the Goldfinches & the Chickadee's pull the lil yellow flower hole covers off of my hummingbird feeders to drink!!! So I leave 2 of the holes open for the birds & 2 of the holes covered with the lil yellow flower covers for the hummers & all the birds are happy!! (The squirrels are too coz now they can stand on my deck rail & just tilt the feeder back & drink out of it like a water fountain! At least they're not knockin' it to the ground & breaking it for 1 little swig like they used to!!)

Maybe that'd work for you too!!

[Thrifty Bee]

Here the Goldfinches & the Chickadee's pull the lil yellow flower hole covers off of my hummingbird feeders to drink!!! So I leave 2 of the holes open for the birds & 2 of the holes covered with the lil yellow flower covers for the hummers & all the birds are happy!! (The squirrels are too coz now they can stand on my deck rail & just tilt the feeder back & drink out of it like a water fountain! At least they're not knockin' it to the ground & breaking it for 1 little swig like they used to!!)

Maybe that'd work for you too!!

That is so funny. I imagine that's a messy pain but amusing to see. There aren't any squirrels close by and the only things that ever try to get to the nectar other than the one oriole is ants and an occasional bee.

The ants aren't a constant problem and I use ant guards when they are. Bees require a higher sugar concentrate so I'm careful to not go above the 4:1 ratio when making nectar. Sometimes they get curious about the nectar but are seldom satisfied with it unless they are extremely desperate.

My feeder doesn't have anything in or on the holes to remove. The area around the holes aren't even colored. When I first bought my feeder I tried gluing fake yellow flowers at each hole but when I washed the feeder in hot water it loosened the glue and they came off. I was going to try paint or permanent marker next but the hummies didn't seem to need it; they're able to find the feeding holes just fine the way they are.

[kwhile0599]

That is so funny. I imagine that's a messy pain but amusing to see. There aren't any squirrels close by and the only things that ever try to get to the nectar other than the one oriole is ants and an occasional bee.

The ants aren't a constant problem and I use ant guards when they are. Bees require a higher sugar concentrate so I'm careful to not go above the 4:1 ratio when making nectar. Sometimes they get curious about the nectar but are seldom satisfied with it unless they are extremely desperate.

My feeder doesn't have anything in or on the holes to remove. The area around the holes aren't even colored. When I first bought my feeder I tried gluing fake yellow flowers at each hole but when I washed the feeder in hot water it loosened the glue and they came off. I was going to try paint or permanent marker next but the hummies didn't seem to need it; they're able to find the feeding holes just fine the way they are.

It's a hoot watching the squirrels stand on their back legs & use their little hands to hold the feeder out & let it pour in their tiny mouths!! Shockingly it's a not a mess - they never miss their mouth!!

I use the ant guard too! It's a lifesaver! Bees don't come around mine - guessing coz I have things out there that they like better.

Hummers will find feeders no matter what!! I have an emergency pull cord with a red handle inside my garage that will open the garage door if the power goes out.......and if I leave my garage open - the hummers attack it constantly!!! They're the only critter I welcome in my garage - birds can't grasp how to fly out once they've flown in, oh the lizards & this weekend a snake!! Which I keep telling myself has slithered out!!!

I was able to find hummingbird feeders for a buck at the dollar tree - stocked up - coz of all the casualties each year - hoping to find more again this year!!

[Thrifty Bee]

It's a hoot watching the squirrels stand on their back legs & use their little hands to hold the feeder out & let it pour in their tiny mouths!! Shockingly it's a not a mess - they never miss their mouth!!

I use the ant guard too! It's a lifesaver! Bees don't come around mine - guessing coz I have things out there that they like better.

Hummers will find feeders no matter what!! I have an emergency pull cord with a red handle inside my garage that will open the garage door if the power goes out.......and if I leave my garage open - the hummers attack it constantly!!! They're the only critter I welcome in my garage - birds can't grasp how to fly out once they've flown in, oh the lizards & this weekend a snake!! Which I keep telling myself has slithered out!!!

I was able to find hummingbird feeders for a buck at the dollar tree - stocked up - coz of all the casualties each year - hoping to find more again this year!!

The feeders I found at Dollar Tree were very narrow. I like the container part to be wide with a wide mouth so I can fit a handled glass/bottle scrubber in it to clean it. I also try to avoid square or other shaped feeders with corners that would be harder to clean than round.

I wish we had squirrels, I would feed them if we did especially in the winter. But I live in an apartment complex and the only trees close by are small wild cherry tress. They look big enough for squirrels but there aren't any in them.

[kwhile0599]

The feeders I found at Dollar Tree were very narrow. I like the container part to be wide with a wide mouth so I can fit a handled glass/bottle scrubber in it to clean it. I also try to avoid square or other shaped feeders with corners that would be harder to clean than round.

I wish we had squirrels, I would feed them if we did especially in the winter. But I live in an apartment complex and the only trees close by are small wild cherry tress. They look big enough for squirrels but there aren't any in them.

I'm with ya!! They're not fun to wash at all!! I'll put rice into 'em with the water & shake 'em like crazy to get the funky out of the corners!

With all of the apples & acorns down from the hurricane - it's a squirrel festival in my yard!! I'm sure they'd love to visit Indiana!!