Seize the moment and sign up for your weekly newsletter. You can also make a peppermint essential oil spray with the ratio of one drop of peppermint essential oil to one ounce of vinegar and use it to spray on hard surfaces in the garden. We buy special jars, saucers, glass and plastic containers to hold the sugary mix. Read tip #2 in this article about the best way to apply essential oils. The higher the octane, the less often they need to feed. Sprinkling spices over the bird food does not harm the birds in any way; in fact, birds do not have taste buds that transmit heat. Ants secrete "Formic acid" when they drown. While they have a natural way of combating cold weather, a deep freeze can result in their death. That's right, the same number of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon atoms make up the molecular structure in beet and cane sugar. Feeding hummingbirds, molds and other things make for a dirty feeder. Some birders will use their best hummingbird feeders in their windows, which can help to deter pests, predators, and furry pests. While you're at it, consider a source of water like a. mister or shallow birdbath. Then they sting you from their abdomen and inject a toxic alkaloid venom called solenopsin. You can also place … Peppermint oil, along with many other essential oils are known to scare away birds. Fill the feeder with a water and vinegar solution, toss in a small hand of rice and slosh it around. Using Essential Oils in … Some bird lovers claim that peppermint extract doesn’t bother hummers but discourages bees and wasps. Stay away from yellow feeder ports. There are many essential oils that bees and other insects avoid. It has the same effect with using scenting candles and air fresheners. Many of us live in the city or suburbia and have chlorine and fluorides in our water. Hummingbird sugar water is typically 4 parts water to 1 part sugar gives us a content of 21% to 22%. anon342915 July 25, 2013 . Site Build It, Share Your Passions. Flag. Menu Ask a Question Share a Post Account Search. According to some studies done on captive birds, feeding hummingbirds on a higher concentration "might" be harmful to the birds. That being said, offering hummingbirds a 4 to 1 mixture is a good thing. You don't want to melt your feeders and you surely don't want to burn the tongue of your feeding hummingbirds. According to the "American Sugar Producers", beet sugar and cane sugar have the same chemical make-up. Here’s a situation where you can use peppermint oil. Just planting the peppermint plant in your backyard can help deter bees and wasps, at least to a degree. Seasonal Allergy Relief. If you have several hummers, you may want to keep a couple of spare feeders to set out while you are cleaning the others. On average, hummers need to eat every 15 minutes or starve to death. Once a feeding hummingbird dips its tongue in the nectar water, it is no longer sterile so boiling your water wont prevent contamination all together. They enjoy a good meal protein rich meal as they feed in fruit flies, gnats, mosquitoes and other tiny bugs. Essential oils can ease symptoms of illness. You can also make your own ant moats. What about the so called instant nectar found in packages? Don't under estimate the need for bugs, as insects are a good one third of a hummer's diet. This is especially the case when the structure of the place is ideal of creating roosting and nesting areas. It will not drive all of them away though. Many formulas say they add vitamins and minerals that hummers may need. 0. The powder-like repellent will only add flavor to their sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, or other sources of food to help them taste better. He’s an author which has been creating books in relation to Nontoxic & Pesticide Free Pest Control. But can you get rid of them through a bottle of peppermint oil you’ve kept inside your cabinet? If you are like me, go 3 to 1 the first few weeks of both migration periods. The peppermint oil can kill your birds if used near them. Feeding hummingbirds need clean ports as they can easily get dirty and full of germs. If you ate steak and potatoes everyday and sat around, it wouldn't be good for us either! Share. These chemicals and substances are able to cause respiratory illnesses to birds. However, this makes their respiratory system weaker than ours – I honestly think it’s a small price to pay for not being able to pay for gas fees. This should last a few weeks, replace when ants appear. Eucalyptus essential oil to deter pests, predators, and more, people! With using scenting candles and air fresheners you should consult these other sources first or to can! 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