# Hummingbird feeder and yellow jackets **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 11, 2010, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-feeder-and-yellow-jackets/546263 "2010-07-11T00:39:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-feeder-and-yellow-jackets/546263/1 "2010-07-11T00:39:52Z")
Upon opening them to refill, I discovered a dozen yellow jackets. The hummingbirds seem annoyed by them. Has anyone discovered a way to keep the little so in sos out? ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-feeder-and-yellow-jackets/546263/2 "2010-07-11T00:53:21Z")
You might need a different model, one that doesn’t have any access for the wasps (they can’t get through those little holes in the middle of the flower, which should be the only access to the liquid when the feeder is assembled). The wasps must represent a danger to the hummingbirds, since I notice the birds giving them a wide berth (or else having one “pull” the wasp while the others drink). On mine, at least, the wasps were after the liquid dried on the outside of the feeder that was spilled there when I refilled them. Once I started being careful not to spill any liquid (or, where that’s impossible, wiping it off), the wasps stopped coming and the hummingbirds returned. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-feeder-and-yellow-jackets/546263/3 "2010-07-11T01:02:29Z")
These are very inexpensive feeders. Perhaps the holes are too big, providing not only entrance but spillage. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-feeder-and-yellow-jackets/546263/4 "2010-07-11T01:29:41Z")
I have multiple hummingbird feeders. I use the kinds that have a bowl rather than the ones that drip down. > **[birds-n-garden.com - birds n garden Resources and Information.](http://www.birds-n-garden.com/hummingbird_feeders22.html)** > > birds-n-garden.com is your first and best source for all of the information you’re looking for. From general topics to more of what you would expect to find here, birds-n-garden.com has it all. We hope you find what you are searching for! After you fill it up, give the outside a good rinse with water. Careful not to spill any when you hang it back up. ---
**Author:** ![Oooh\_Snap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ea666f/32.png) [@Oooh\_Snap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oooh_Snap)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-feeder-and-yellow-jackets/546263/5 "2010-07-11T01:45:31Z")
I have this same problem. I asked a lady at a local nature store and she said to rub petroleum jelly around each of the holes as yellow jackets don’t like it, but it doesn’t scare hummingbirds away. So far, it has worked for me. I hope it works for you too! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-feeder-and-yellow-jackets/546263/6 "2010-07-11T14:06:30Z")
I use [this type](http://www.birds-n-garden.com/hummingbird_feeders24.html). The bee guards aren’t perfect but do a decent enough job. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-feeder-and-yellow-jackets/546263/7 "2010-07-11T14:35:31Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > I have multiple hummingbird feeders. I use the kinds that have a bowl rather than the ones that drip down. > > [birds-n-garden.com - birds n garden Resources and Information.](http://www.birds-n-garden.com/hummingbird_feeders22.html) > > After you fill it up, give the outside a good rinse with water. Careful not to spill any when you hang it back up. [This is the kind that I have,](http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=hummingbird+feeder&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=6850225742091043204&ei=AtY5TLayI4WBlAfVue3SBw&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=image&resnum=3&ved=0CDwQ8gIwAg#) very similar to **FloatyGimpy’s** , and they work very well at keeping out wasps and such. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-feeder-and-yellow-jackets/546263/8 "2010-07-11T15:05:23Z")
> [@Fritz](#): > > [This is the kind that I have,](http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=hummingbird+feeder&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=6850225742091043204&ei=AtY5TLayI4WBlAfVue3SBw&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=image&resnum=3&ved=0CDwQ8gIwAg#) very similar to **FloatyGimpy’s** , How often to you have to refill these that do not have a bottle? ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-feeder-and-yellow-jackets/546263/9 "2010-07-11T17:01:39Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > How often to you have to refill these that do not have a bottle? If you are using boiled sugar water, about once a week, but not necessarily because the feeder is empty. If the inside of the feeder or the liquid starts to look scummy, I’ll change for fresh then. I don’t want to make the birds sick. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hummingbird-feeder-and-yellow-jackets/546263/10 "2010-07-11T18:42:12Z")
I only fill mine about half way and change it every 2 or 3 days depending on the heat. It’s been in the 90’s here the last while so I’m changing them every other day. The mold tends to grow quite quickly in the heat.