A New Way to Discover the Wonders of Birding
In extreme temperatures, you can add ice or hot water to the bottom of the feeder. Nectar is added to the top dish.
When temperatures reach 85 degrees F /30 C or hotter, you can add ice to the MAX line. This will keep the nectar cool for longer in order to prevent the nectar from spoiling, becoming infected or from burning the hummingbirds' tongues. Check and replace the nectar every 1-3 days, depending on the outside temperature.
The insulation will help delay the nectar from freezing. Nectar starts to freeze at 28 F. When temperatures get below 28 degrees F during the day, you can add warm tap water to the MAX line . Bring the feeder in at night so that it can warm up. If the temperature is staying below 28 F every day, replace the warm water each morning. Do not put hot nectar into the nectar dish. Only fill the nectar dish with room temperature nectar.
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The nectar dish holds 8 ounces of nectar (sugar water) and it sits on top of a ledge inside of the insulated container. The hummingbirds will be able to reach and drink from the top of the nectar dish. There might be a small amount of extra nectar at the bottom of the dish that they cannot reach. This was designed so that there is a larger volume of nectar in order to help maintain its temperature inside the feeder.
You should only add hot water to the feeder when the temperature outside during the day is less than 28F. Hot tap water reaches 120F and it can safely be added underneath the nectar dish without overheating the nectar. The MAX line is 1/4 inch below the bottom of the nectar dish. During testing of the feeder, the nectar temperature reached 90 F after 30 minutes in 32 degrees and dropped to 80 F after 60 minutes and continued cooling slowly.
According to research, hummingbirds metabolism may speed up when they drink from nectar over 100F so it is important to keep the nectar under 100.
If used properly, the nectar will never go over 100F when set outside in 28F or less.
Hummingbirds are able to drink nectar down to freezing temperatures. Only add ice if the outside temperature is 85F or higher. Sugar water that is exposed to high temperatures has been found to become infected faster than sugar water at cooler temperatures. Fungal infections can be deadly for hummingbirds.
The stainless steel is powder coated with a weather resistant paint. The lid with the feeding holes and perches is plastic. The hummingbirds perch themselves on top of the plastic. There are no exposed metal parts.
There is a built in hanger in the lid of the feeder. A chain is not included at this time. The feeder can be hung on a chain or wire or simply placed on a railing.
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