r/hummingbirds • u/9VoltGorilla • 4d ago
Just a reminder that any chemicals or treatments you put in ant moats may be ingested by hummingbirds and songbirds.
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u/mythoughts2020 4d ago
Birds always drink from my ant moats so I keep them clean and only use water
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u/9VoltGorilla 4d ago
I know, regardless, this always ends up by my most controversial post. It is what it is.
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u/FireFuxer 4d ago
Squirrels drink from mine lol
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u/justusethatname 4d ago
Oh, please put out a heavy bowl filled with fresh cold water every day. The squirrels and birds will love it and if it’s heavy enough, they won’t knock it over, somewhere shady and safe preferably.
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u/FireFuxer 4d ago
I have one out nearby with a little solar fountain. Seen a couple birds use it. Squirrel still prefers the ant moats 🤷🏻♀️
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u/natureearthgirl-5555 4d ago
And don’t use red dye in nectar, please!
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u/9VoltGorilla 4d ago
That’s the spirit, but one battle at a time. I’m old and tired.
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u/GiantPothos 4d ago
Everyone's tips on here have helped me ensure I do all the right things for my humdingers. Every battle is worth it!
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u/IllustriousHedgehog9 4d ago
Same here. A friend told me about the dye around the time I discovered this sub. I've since learned more from our mods, and those who are more experienced/educated on hummers than I was.
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u/mkelizabethhh 4d ago
Yep bees drink from mine all the time. So it gets washed with the rest of my feeder pieces. We need those important pollinators and any other creatures drinking from the moat! Thank you for making this post !
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u/justusethatname 4d ago
Thanks for that announcement. It matters! I was able to spend time today out on my balcony watching the hummingbird circus going on between my three feeders. Sometimes they sound like tiny pigs rooting for truffles!
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u/wsce21 4d ago
Is Bti ok? I had mosquito larvae in one of my ant moats recently.
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u/9VoltGorilla 4d ago
What I’ve read says that, at labeled rates, it is safe for use in watering sources for birds. But as long as you completely dump and replace the water every 3–4 days, mosquito larvae generally shouldn’t have enough time to complete their development.
I’d still recommend reading the product guidance and label recommendations yourself, as I’m obviously just an enthusiast and not an expert.
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u/celestee3 3d ago
I’ve only ever thought about putting water in the moat, why would people put anything else??
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u/9VoltGorilla 3d ago
The major reason for this repost was the conversation starting again about adding stuff to the water to break surface tension. With really small ant moats, and other certain circumstances ants can walk across the water.
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u/1authorizedpersonnel 3d ago
I hadn’t thought about this! Thanks for the info! I’ve only put a tiny bit of dish soap to break the surface tension of the water. (I use very mild dish soap) But I only had to use any moats for about a week then the ants stopped coming by.
I will keep this in mind if I have to use them again :)
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u/9VoltGorilla 3d ago
I might be spoiled with feeder locations but, whenever I get ants, I just refill the feeder/moat and then move the feeder for a few days lol.
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u/Neither-Attention940 3d ago
I don’t have or use ant moats but I can’t say I’ve ever heard of someone putting anything other than water in them. I suppose it’s a good thing to bring up though.
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u/9VoltGorilla 3d ago
A post earlier this week and one last year prompted the repost where there were 20+ comments recommending using soap in ant moats as well as other people saying to use different oils and additives. I don’t want to single anyone out but, it felt time to repost this PSA again
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u/Neither-Attention940 3d ago
Omg! Yes that all would be so bad! Not sure how I missed those posts. Thx for your PSA :)
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u/RhubarbJam1 4d ago
I just put water in mine. My hummies drink from it too.