Bees VS Hummingbirds
 

Do any of you have a fool-proof way to attract more hummingbirds than bees to your hummingbird feeder????

get the type with bee guards, basically a cage over the opening so the hummers' long tongues can get the nectar but the bees can't.

This shows a feeder with the guards, they are the yellow part.
http://www.birdsandblooms.com/wp-con...er-350x426.jpg

Here are a few sites that might help or give you ideas:

https://www.thespruce.com/keeping-be...feeders-386570
http://www.birdsandblooms.com/birdin...gbird-feeders/
https://www.perkypet.com/articles/bees-at-feeders
https://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11973966.tip.html
http://www.worldofhummingbirds.com/uninvitedbees.php

I put a little vegetable oil on mine, seems to discourage them.

Bee guards...Perky Pet has them for their feeders, but if you have a different brand, they might not work. We had wasps that were partial to the feeder earlier this year. At first, the hummers avoided the feeder until the wasp(s) left. Later in the season, the hummers would sit and drink opposite the wasps. Buying a hanging basket with flowers that hummers love helped so they now have a choice and the wasps have gone elsewhere.

I have a bee catcher next to my feeder. Just put some of the sugar water in it and they fly in to get it and can't get out. It has stopped them from going to the feeder.

Thank you for your responses........I've looked up all of your links and have learned LOTS. I also took a dry cloth to my feeder and made sure there were no drips on the bottom nor the sides. The bees still show up but don't stay long....rather, the hummers stay longer without the distraction of the bees. So much more enjoyable to watch. Again, THANK YOU.

Bees were a problem but, the baby woodpeckers were a bigger problem. Being they weigh more they tip the feeders and the juice runs out.

At night the raccoons would pull the feeders down. I no longer feed any birds because of the wild life. So sad, I enjoy them.

I had a feeder as the one shown by birds and blooms last year. Somehow little baby flies got into it by the dozens...of course they frown, but the hummingbirds wouldn't go anywhere near it until I cleaned it out each time. Has to be a better way!!

I quit feeding my orioles and hummers this summer because of bees. Our good neighbors have bee hives and had brought in new bees...I had hundreds of them in the feeders. Rather than "kill" the neighbors bees, I let nature feed the hummers this year. Will try something different next year, so thanks for the information!

Do Hummingbird Feeders Attract Bees? Yes, because when the bees find a food source, they get in, the hummingbird likely won't eat there and it will look for another food source. This is why we have to keep bees away from hummingbird feeding places. Some ways to keep bees away from hummingbird feeding places are: Using a red feeder for hummingbird food will attract more hummingbirds while discouraging bees. Use a dish-shaped hummingbird feeder for the hummingbird's long beak. Or use nectar protection tips, preventing bees and other sweet-loving insects from accessing the nectar.

I love my humming birds. I don't seem to have a problem with wasp or bees but do have a problem with ants and squirrels. Very frustrating from time to time. I have hung the humming bird feeders on thin metal hangers that are higher to dissuade the squirrels but the ants are another problem all together. What a mess.

I hang my hummer feeders in my rose of Sharon bushes with no problem with bees. You have to keep water in the little black cup on the feeder to keep ants out.

FYI-ants dislike cinnamon. Sprinkle some in their pathway.

We feed hundreds of hummingbirds every summer (up to 2 gallons of syrup per day) and also raise honey bees. Please don't kill the honey bees. Beekeepers are trying to get the population back as they are so important to our environment. I am southwest Missouri and we so enjoy our hummers in the summer but really haven't tried that hard to discourage the bees as it's not a continual problem.