[FeistyRdHd]

We are leaving on vacation Wednesday morning, and we will be gone for a week. I assumed our neighbor who is feeding the dogs would also refill the hummingbird feeder. Our birds go through 4 cups a day. For reasons unknown to me, he is not willing to do this. We do not have other neighbors or friends near here, as we live in the country.

We have probably 10-12 hummingbirds, maybe more. We do have a huge mimosa tree, a butterfly bush in bloom and petunias. I am so worried now that our hummers will all die while we are gone.

PLEASE, give me only reasonable suggestions or, if realistic, assurance that the flowers we have will keep them going. Questions about or comments about the neighbor will not be helpful and will put me more into a TIZZY.

Lydia

[stalker]

could you not set up some sort of drip feeder, only a top of the head suggestion as i dont know what you are using at the moment

[KCFoggin]

First off, they won't die. They will move on if they exhaust their feeding sources.

I don't know what the lay of the land is as far as migration times for you but hopefully, once you are back and can keep the feeders full again, you should see the return of some of your hummers.

[Tammie]

Hi Lydia,

Like KC says, they will not die... they'll just move on to a new area to feed.

The only idea I have is to keep 2 or 3 filled feeders in the fridge and see if your neighbour will just hang a new one out each day instead of having to fill them?

Otherwise, it sounds to me like they'll do fine with the flowers in your yard. They also eat small insects so believe me, they won't starve while you're gone, honest!

Originally Posted by FeistyRdHd

We are leaving on vacation Wednesday morning, and we will be gone for a week. I assumed our neighbor who is feeding the dogs would also refill the hummingbird feeder. Our birds go through 4 cups a day. For reasons unknown to me, he is not willing to do this. We do not have other neighbors or friends near here, as we live in the country.

We have probably 10-12 hummingbirds, maybe more. We do have a huge mimosa tree, a butterfly bush in bloom and petunias. I am so worried now that our hummers will all die while we are gone.

PLEASE, give me only reasonable suggestions or, if realistic, assurance that the flowers we have will keep them going. Questions about or comments about the neighbor will not be helpful and will put me more into a TIZZY.

Lydia

[Katy Penland]

Echoing what Tammie and KC have assured, the birds will just move on and more than likely come right back as soon as they see feeders up again. This happened to us when we were evacuated a little over 2 weeks due to a wildfire in our area, and the hummers (as well as every other species around! ) came back within a couple days of our return when they saw full feeders again.

LOL, I have to drive across town twice a day to clean a friend's cat litter box and to feed the kitty while he's gone because his next door neighbor will do everything else BUT that! People are so funny sometimes.

[KCFoggin]

Just a thought. Do you belong to a local audubon or birding club? I've never known a birder to turn down a helping hand when something like this arises.

[humminbird]

This is the ideal example of why a good hummingbird garden is much preferable to a feeder. These birds will not die, as KC, Tammie and others have said they will move on if they get hungry, finding other sources of food nearby.
You might try finding some of the huge feeder reservoirs (I know several brands are now making 32 ounce feeders and some even 1 gallon feeders), but you are going to need a sturdy mount for this much weight. Make sure the solution is WELL shaded because it will spoil with the summer temperatures.

Mark
Bastrop, TX

[FeistyRdHd]

Whew! Thank you all so much. You have put my mind greatly at ease!!

Now, I can leave without spending my time away worried. My husband thinks I am crazy enough for renting a van, so I can take 3 of the dogs...imagine my telling him we were going to have to rent a little netted tent for the hummers to come along, too

Lydia

[FeistyRdHd]

Hello all,

We ended up buying 4 more feeders and filling them all before we left. We got back from MI yesterday afternoon and all feeders were empty. We got rid of the extras, and I filled our 2 regular feeders. It seems today as if all of our regular hummers are still here:)

Lydia

[Tammie]

Okay, so you can relax now!

Originally Posted by FeistyRdHd

Hello all,

We ended up buying 4 more feeders and filling them all before we left. We got back from MI yesterday afternoon and all feeders were empty. We got rid of the extras, and I filled our 2 regular feeders. It seems today as if all of our regular hummers are still here:)

Lydia

[Rubythroat]

LOL, reading this has put MY mind at ease that I'm in with the right crowd of "loonies"!

Jenn

Originally Posted by FeistyRdHd

Whew! Thank you all so much. You have put my mind greatly at ease!!

Now, I can leave without spending my time away worried. My husband thinks I am crazy enough for renting a van, so I can take 3 of the dogs...imagine my telling him we were going to have to rent a little netted tent for the hummers to come along, too

Lydia