One of my brothers just put up a Hummingbird feeder. Honey Bees heard the dinner bell ring and have lined up for the buffet, maybe 15 or so of them, and while he doesn't want to harm them, they are driving off the Hummingbirds. Also, his dogs are getting excited by the bees and trying to bite them, and he doesn't want to end up with a vet bill for a dog stung in the mouth.

Any ideas on how to drive off/ lure away the Honey Bees without harming them?

Bad design or leaking feeder perhaps? The bees should not be able to reach the nectar. We have never had a bee problem.

I have also read that the color of the bee guard CAN make SOME difference but don't remember if yellow or white ones are more attractive to bees.

Murder Hornets?

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:
Murder Hornets?

Fire! Fire! Fire!

He he he

A timed water sprinkler will do the trick. Honey bees hate water droplets, not so hummingbirds. They delight in it.

Hummingbirds are aggressive. We have feeders out back and get the hummmingbirds year round. They'll sit in trees nearby waiting their turn, and will drive off bigger birds, too. I wouldn't worry about the bees.

We have the same feeders and noticed the sugar water dripping out of them after about a week.
So we are cleaning them more often and also switching to a differently designed feeder.

Good input and observations, so thank you all.

Even if the hummingbirds do get their turn at the feeder that doesn't help out with the dogs biting at the bees, so still hoping for a solution to drive off or lure away the bees.

When we used to plant Hummingbird gardens the birds, butterflies, and bees would all show up, but there were enough fragrant nectar producing plants and feeders that there were plenty of opportunities for the whole crew to feed at the same time without any pushing and shoving.

quote:

Originally posted by sns3guppy:
Hummingbirds are aggressive. We have feeders out back and get the hummmingbirds year round. They'll sit in trees nearby waiting their turn, and will drive off bigger birds, too. I wouldn't worry about the bees.

I've watched hummingbirds aggressively feeding as well, even driving other hummingbirds away from a feeding station, which is why I was surprised when he told me about the bees driving them off.

Best guess, I'm thinking that the feeder is so new that the local hummingbirds haven't developed a territorial "back off jack, or else" attitude yet.

the gravity feeders (like in the o.p. will always leak) get hot and cold.

they bubble at night when it gets chilly and then force water out during the day when the juice heats up.

tray feeders don't drip , until an Oriole lands on them and tips the whole feeder.

thee people in mesa had a similar problem.

a month later they took 20 pounds of honey combs out of a fellas shed.

We had bees initially, and get ants that find the feeders from time to time. The bees quit coming after a while.

A common mistake people make with the feeders is using the commercial hummingbird food, and also using red dye. Neither is necessary.

Refined white sugar put into hot water at a 4:1 ratio works well. Let it cool, and change it every few days, if it's not all consumed, as algae, bacteria, or fungus can grow in the feeder.

We get a lot of other birds, too. We get a steady stream of woodpeckers, many of which are too large and too heavy to sit on the feeder, and hang upside down and crane their necks to feed. They've managed to open the feeder slots a little and a variety of other birds visit, too.

quote:

Originally posted by sns3guppy:
We get a lot of other birds, too. We get a steady stream of woodpeckers, many of which are too large and too heavy to sit on the feeder, and hang upside down and crane their necks to feed. They've managed to open the feeder slots a little and a variety of other birds visit, too.

'Uh, Houston...we have a problem.'

That is interesting, because I've only seen Hummingbirds feed at these feeders...and attracting woodpeckers is going to be a problem because there are already plenty in the area and my Dad's nearby house looks like a wooden pin cushion now...actually, it looks like someone started blasting the house with buckshot, and my brother has already fought a battle with a pecker who poked a hole in his eaves. Cool as they are to watch, brother is not a fan of woodpeckers.

...hmm, this may not turn out so much to be a feeder as bait.

When I first read this thread this afternoon, I mentioned to my wife that ours aren't out. Next thing I knew she was mixing up some batter and pouring it in the feeder. Guess I passed out or what ever, but I looked out and there was one of my little buddies, feeding. Only one that I saw. Guess its game on now for summer.

I have a different style feeder but put a little vegetable oil on your finger and put a light coat on the feeder ports. Keeps yellow jackets out also. My problem this year is Orioles, can't keep them out of the feeder, they drain it in a day.

quote:

My problem this year is Orioles,

Easy,
Need three more feeders,
The Oriole's love the feeders that they can tip to one side,get juice,

The glass bottle type don't seem to tip as easily