Perfectly clear instructions that are clean and easy to understand!

and good re-purposing for a great way to keep the ants away from the feeder.

Thanks! they really are easy to make.

I've never used an ant guard or mote on my hummingbird feeders, but I will be making these now.

I've been buying and using these (red) for years. The songbirds love to drink out of the ant moats! It's like personal watering holes for them!

You can also put petroleum jelly on the string of the feeder to discourage ants. Ants don't like the sticky stuff.

I tried that and something called tangle foot - I tried everything I could think of until I came up with the water barrier .. the problem with petroleum jelly is that it melts in the heat and makes an icky mess. I also saw a most amazing thing last year - the ants were so desperate to get to the feeders that some literally made a bridge across the water with their bodies and let other ones crawl over them! I've only seen that happen once.

Thank you for this tip. I have been fighting those darn ants for years. First thing tomorrow will be to make several of these jewels.

Frustration is the true mother of invention Great idea...cheap, easy and you can drink the wine while making them

Thanks!

Great Idea!!

Xeramtheum said:I tried that and something called tangle foot - I tried everything I could think of until I came up with the water barrier .. the problem with petroleum jelly is that it melts in the heat and makes an icky mess. I also saw a most amazing thing last year - the ants were so desperate to get to the feeders that some literally made a bridge across the water with their bodies and let other ones crawl over them! I've only seen that happen once.

You are right! The petroleum jelly does get icky. I guess I learned to deal with it. I might have to ask DH to create one for me, I'm scared of drills.

You know I've seen where ants would crawl over other ants when they are in the water too! I thought those ants were just trying to save themselves while letting the ants underneath them drown.

I have to add my thanks for this tip! We have had a terrible problem with ants this year and have had them (heh heh, THEM!) infest several of our feeders. I can't believe how well these moats work! And how easy they are to make! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

Thanks! Since I've been using mine, not one ant has infested a feeder.

I actually managed to make one using a hot glue gun and a plastic champagne cork!

Whatever works! I'm wanting to get a hot glue gun .. any recommendations?

I just bought a cheapie one and it's worked fine for well over 10 years. It doesn't even have a brand name on it; just says "Made in Taiwan."

I'm late to the party, but thank you very much!

You're welcome!

For the record, the one I made with the hot glue gun and the plastic cork has held up very well and we're still using it. DH is very pleased and impressed, too! He sends his thanks as well.

Awesome! Mine are still going after 3 years now!