How to Keep Bees Away from Hummingbird Feeders

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Hummingbird feeders are great at attracting hummingbirds, but they also attract insects like bees. While bees are great pollinators to have in your yard, they aren’t great feeding companions, as they often fight hummingbirds for spots at the feeders.

In this article, we've detailed how you can get rid of the bees near your feeder and stop them from coming back.

1

Tighten all the feeder parts so they don’t leak.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Experts note that the best way to keep bees away is to make sure your feeder stays tidy, so take a second to tighten all the feeding ports and the dish at the bottom. If anything is leaky, repair the feeder. [1]
    2. Advertisement
2

Empty your feeders for 3 to 4 days.

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you notice bees flocking to your hummingbird feeder, take it down and empty it out. Keep it down for at least 3 days, then put it back up when the bees have relocated to a new spot. Hopefully, the bees will find somewhere else to feed during this time, so your hummingbirds can come feed in peace. [2]
    • This method works best when there are lots of flowering plants for the bees to go get nectar from. However, if the flowering plants are all dying back for the winter, they may find your feeder again.
3

Relocate the feeder to confuse the bees.

PDF download Download Article
  1. If the bees have found your hummingbird feeder, take it down and move it 1 to 2 ft (0.30 to 0.61 m) away. Insects usually only visit convenient sources of food, so they won’t spend a ton of time looking for the feeder after they realize it’s gone. [3]
    • Don’t worry—moving your hummingbird feeder won’t confuse the hummingbirds, especially if it’s not far away from its original spot.
    2. Advertisement
4

Clean the feeders with soap and water.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Wet a sponge and lather up some dish soap, then gently sponge the feeding ports and the small dish. Rinse the feeder with lots of clean water, then fill it back up and hang it again. [4]
    • Leaky hummingbird feeders attract bees more than anything else, because it’s easy to sip the sweet sugar water off the side of the feeder.
5

Hang your feeders in non-windy areas.

PDF download Download Article
  1. These leaks can attract bees, so it’s best to stop them before they happen. If you notice that your feeder is moving and shaking in the wind, relocate it to a covered area so it won’t move around as much. [5]
    • Consider putting your feeder under a covered area, like your patio.
    2. Advertisement
6

Attach a bee guard to the feeder.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Bee guards look like small, circular grates that fit onto the feeding ports of the feeder. Snap these grates onto each of the ports to discourage bees while still letting your favorite birds have a sip. [6]
    • You can find bee guards at most garden supply stores.
    • If you deal with ants in your hummingbird feeder, consider buying an ant moat, too.
7

Give the bees their own feeder.

PDF download Download Article
  1. [7] Bees like a stronger, sweeter solution than hummingbirds, so make up a 2:1 ratio solution of water to sugar. Place the solution in a shallow dish, then set it near the hummingbird feeder. When the bees notice the “better” feeding option, they’ll flock to the bowl and not the feeder. [8]
    • To move the bees further away from the feeder, set your shallow dish near the feeder and move it away incrementally day by day. Eventually, you can have your bee feeder across the yard from your hummingbird feeder.
    2. Advertisement
8

Use a red feeder, not a yellow one.

PDF download Download Article
  1. If your hummingbird feeder is yellow, consider painting it red with non-toxic paint. Hummingbirds love the color red, but bees couldn’t care less about it. If you have any yellow accents on your feeder, you can paint them red using a non-toxic paint. [9]
    • You should also try to avoid adding any yellow accessories to your hummingbird feeder, like bee or ant traps.
9

Dilute the mixture in your feeder.

PDF download Download Article
  1. The hummingbirds won’t like this solution quite as much, but the bees will like it even less. Bees prefer more sugar in their water, so they might just leave to find another source. Once the bees are gone, you can switch back to your old hummingbird solution. [10]
    • The ideal mixture for hummingbirds is 4 parts water mixed with 1 part sugar, with no added red dye.
    • If you’re using premixed hummingbird solution, try diluting it with water.
    2. Advertisement
10

Keep your yard clean.

PDF download Download Article
  1. The more yummy things you have in your yard, the more likely bees will flock to it. Be sure to cover your garbage cans with tight lids, and take old food inside to throw it away. [11] Cover up your soda and tea if you’re outside, since bees are attracted to sugar water. [12]
    • Cleaning up food right away is a great way to deter most pests, not just bees.
11

Avoid putting oils or creams on your hummingbird feeder.

PDF download Download Article
  1. You might see some sites that recommend adding oils, Vicks Vapor Rub, Pam Cooking Spray, Duct Tape, Off, Skin-so-soft, or Vaseline to your hummingbird feeder. While these will deter bees slightly, the products can also get stuck in hummingbirds’ wings, making it hard for them to take off. In general, keep your hummingbird feeder clean to avoid harming the birds that feed from it. [13]
    • Hummingbirds tend to bump into their feeders often, which is why products tend to rub off on their feathers.
    2. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Deter Squirrels from Bird Feeders
      How to
      Tree Pulley Bird Feeders
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.audubon.org/news/how-keep-your-hummingbird-feeder-free-pests
      2. ↑ https://extension.oregonstate.edu/ask-expert/featured/how-can-i-keep-bees-away-my-hummingbird-feeder
      3. ↑ https://journeynorth.org/tm/humm/bees_at_feeder.html
      4. ↑ https://journeynorth.org/tm/humm/bees_at_feeder.html
      5. ↑ https://www.audubon.org/news/how-keep-your-hummingbird-feeder-free-pests
      6. ↑ https://worldofhummingbirds.com/uninvitedbees.html
      7. ↑ Steve Downs. Live Bee Removal Specialist. Expert Interview. 23 February 2020.
      8. ↑ https://journeynorth.org/tm/humm/bees_at_feeder.html
      9. ↑ https://journeynorth.org/tm/humm/bees_at_feeder.html
      1. ↑ https://worldofhummingbirds.com/uninvitedbees.html
      2. ↑ Steve Downs. Live Bee Removal Specialist. Expert Interview. 23 February 2020.
      3. ↑ https://journeynorth.org/tm/humm/bees_at_feeder.html
      4. ↑ https://worldofhummingbirds.com/uninvitedbees.html

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 42,358 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Dottie A.

        Aug 13, 2023

        "The solutions were very helpful. I am going to try them and will post my successes."
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement