What a fantastic morning it would be to see these tiny hummingbirds hovering on your balcony!! So, now are you thinking of installing a feeder on your balcony? Well, before you do so, let us know whether it’s a good idea or not to place the feeder on your balcony.
Do hummingbirds visit the feeders installed on the balcony?
Yes, hummingbirds will come to your balcony if you have a delicious treat for them. No matter on which floor of the building you live, if they notice the feeder set up, they would definitely give it a visit.
The best time to attract these tiny creatures is during their migration. If they have migrated to your region from a different place, then after finalizing their territory, they immediately go in search of food. If your feeder attracts them, you can see them having their meal on your balcony every day. Also, you will notice some of these hungry birds randomly coming and eating from your feeder while traveling from one place to another.
So, the feeder’s height doesn’t matter to the hummingbirds, but the feeder should be visible to attract them.
Can you place a hummingbird feeder on a balcony? Is it safe?
The hummingbird feeders can be placed on the balcony, considering the birds’ safety. So, if you plan to put the feeder on the balcony, ensure that no electrical wires are hanging in that location. Also, avoid placing the feeders near the air conditioner compressors, as the hot air from it can affect the birds’ health.
If the feeders are kept in a safe location, and you provide the tinny hummers good food, they will definitely visit your feeder daily.
Here are some tips for placing the hummingbird feeder on the balcony.
- Choose a location where there are no sharp objects or wire cables nearby.
- Use the small feeders until you attract a few hummers to your balcony.
- Use feeders that can be stuck/fitted tightly to the windows.
- Bring feeders that are brightly coloured and look more attractive.
- You can keep some flowering plants on the balcony, as seeing the plants, the birds will feel safe and close to nature.
- You can also tie any bright-coloured ribbon to the balcony, as this is also one of the effective ways to avoid collision with the window.
- Provide a water bath to the birds to attract them, or else you can play the sound of running water on your speaker.
What are the different types of feeders that are specifically designed for balconies?
Various feeders are available to attract different birds as per the location, so here are the different types of feeders that can be installed on the balcony to attract these tiny hummers.
Hanging Hummingbird Feeders
We usually think that by living on the top floors we lose the opportunity of attracting different birds to our balcony. But this is not true. If you make your balcony look attractive by growing colorful flowers or hanging an attractive feeder, then you can easily attract different birds.
The best type of feeder suitable for an apartment is the hanging feeder. They are mainly used to attract smaller birds, and it is the best choice if you want to attract tiny hummers. You can buy a durable plastic one as it lasts for a long time and is waterproof. You can also easily clean and refill it by opening the bottom lid.
Hummingbird feeders with railing clamp
If you want to attract the hummingbirds to your balcony in no time, then these balcony railing feeders are a perfect choice. These feeders are designed in such a way that they can easily fit into any balconies having horizontal railings. It has a clamp mechanism that helps to hold the feeders in place and prevents them from shifting even if the bird sits and eats from it.
One of the main benefits of these feeders is that they are cost-effective, even if you buy them from a good brand. They are durable and come with 2 trays, one for putting the seeds or grains or suet and the other for water.
Hummingbird feeders with suction holders
It is the standard feeder that is mainly preferred by most feeder owners who want to attract tiny hummers to their balconies. These feeders are usually stuck to the windows and can be easily cleaned and refilled with the fresh hummingbird’s favorite treat.
You can clean this feeder with a damp cloth and fill the yummy treat for hummer daily. Also, one of the main benefits of using this feeder is that you can enjoy the view of the tiny hummingbirds eating from the feeder.
Hummingbird Feeders That Are Suitable For Balconies
There are different types of feeders available for the balconies. So to help you select the suitable one for your apartment/house, we have come up with a few balcony feeders. Let us know more about them.
1. Aspects HummZinger HighView Hanging Hummingbird Feeder
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003XL7WZO/
This feeder is designed in dish shape and made from polycarbonate as it is known to resist temperature. It is red in color as hummingbirds always get attracted to bright colors, thus increasing the chances of visiting your feeder.
Also, it has multiple feeding ports through which the hummingbirds will sip the delicious nectar. One advantage of this feeder is that it is easy to clean due to its dish structure; therefore, the nectar can stay fresh and doesn’t spoil too quickly.
Pros
- It has a built-in ant moat.
- Easy to clean and maintain.
- Leak-proof
- Has high view perch
- Made from unbreakable polycarbonate
Cons
- The hanging hook is a bit small in size.
2. First Nature Hummingbird Feeder
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005XOZKC6/
This feeder has a cylindrical jar that holds the nectar it in. This nectar slowly drains down through the ports when the tiny hummingbirds start drinking it. It has a round perch on which the birds can comfortably feed or relax after a long tiring journey. The cylindrical jar and the base of the feeder in which the nectar gets collected are easy to clean. Ensure you wash it with warm soapy water and never put it in the dishwasher for cleaning.
Pros
- Easy to clean and maintain
- It has ten feeding ports
- Wide mouth, so it becomes easy to fill the nectar
- Leak-proof
Cons
- Sometimes it leaks
- Plastic is not sturdy
3. Aspects Jewel Box Window Hummingbird Feeder
https://www.amazon.com/Aspects-407-Window-Hummingbird-8-Ounce/dp/B003E5X9GK/
As the name suggests, this feeder is designed similarly to the jewelry box. It has a suction cup, so you can attach this feeder directly to the window and don’t have to drill a hook or purchase a clamp for hanging it. Also, it comes with a detachable ant moat, so you can remove it if you don’t need it. One of the best things about this feeder is that you just have to open the red lid in a similar way you open any box and pour the nectar into it.
Pros
- Easy to clean & fill
- Easy installation
- Detachable ant moat
- Raised flowers prevent rainwater from entering the ports.
Con
- It has only two suction cups.
4. Grateful Gnome Hummingbird Feeder
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0194GFZW8/
It is the most attractive feeder designed for attracting tiny hummingbirds. It is handmade by glass artisans and colored considering the hummingbird’s color preferences. It is sturdy and durable, so you can use it for a long time. It also has a rubber seal to prevent the nectar from leaking. And one of the best things about this feeder is that you can even gift it to your friends or family, as it looks so attractive and classy.
Pros
- It looks attractive
- It is made from sturdy glass
- It doesn’t leak due to the rubber seal
- High perch view
Cons
- Bit expensive as compared to other feeders
5. Nature Anywhere Hummingbird Feeder
https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Anywhere-Hummingbird-Interchangeable-Hummingbirds/dp/B08HY8F4F9/
This is another window-mounted hummingbird feeder that can attract hummingbirds to your balcony.
It is transparent, so you can easily enjoy watching the tiny hummingbirds having nectar from your feeder. It has a cylindrical container in which you need to add the sweet nectar, and then it slowly drips in the base container through which the hummers suck the nectar. It has three suction cups that have a holder to hold the feeder. And for cleaning it, you have to only remove the feeder and not the entire suction feeder holder.
Pros
- It is durable and hence can last for a long time.
- Easy to clean and refill
- It is leak-proof
- Strong suction cups
Con
- It doesn’t have an ant moat.
What factors to consider when choosing the balcony hummingbird feeder?
Buying a hummingbird feeder is an investment to attract tiny hummers to your balcony. So, while buying the hummingbird feeder, here are some factors you can consider.
- Perching area
While buying the feeder, make sure it has perches so the birds can rest on it while having the sweet nectar.
- Build Quality
This is another essential factor to consider as if the quality of plastic or glass used for making the feeder is good, then the feeders can last for a long time.
- Ant Moat
Ant can make way to the feeder even if you live on the top floor of an apartment. And if more ants have attacked the feeder, the hummers prefer to stay away from it. Therefore buying a feeder with an ant moat will be an advantage for attracting the tiny birds.
- Red colour
Hummingbirds are primarily attracted to red colours as they tend to appear bright and therefore assume that it has a lot of fresh nectar. Therefore always be sure to add a red colour feeder if you are curious about attracting these tiny birds to your balcony.
- Cleaning
Lastly, always buy a feeder that is easy to clean. The feeders need to be cleaned frequently before refilling them with sweet nectar. The nectar can spoil quickly and form mold as if they are dirty.
What additional precautions do you need to take while hanging the feeders on your apartment balcony?
Along with taking regular precautions while hanging the feeder, like nectar quality, keeping the pets away, feeder location, etc., there are some other precautions that you need to consider while hanging the feeder on the balcony. Let us have a look at these.
- Check your property lease.
Some HOAs and leases forbid the use of bird feeders in the properties, as various creatures are attracted to the property along with birds. Therefore, before purchasing the feeder, make sure that you check the lease properly. Because if it’s forbidden and you still install the feeder by mistake, you might have to pay the penalty. And if you install the feeder in your own house, then you don’t have to worry about anything.
- Always give a thought or consider your neighbours.
Make sure that you consider your neighbours who are living beside you or beneath you. Ensure that they are not disturbed by the humming sound made by the birds. Ensure they are fine if you put the feeders up, as the hummers might hover near the feeders and the window.
Conclusion
Watching the tiny hummingbirds feeding from your feeder is one of the most amazing experiences. But when you live in an apartment, installing the feeder is a bit challenging due to the lease restrictions and neighbors. Thus, ensure that you take proper precautions while hanging the feeders; if rest, everything is good to go. I hope this article has given you all the information needed for hanging the feeder in the balcony.
