❄️ Winter Hummingbird Care: Heaters and Insulation

If you live in the Pacific Northwest (Anna’s Hummingbirds) or have a late straggler in the East, a frozen feeder is a disaster. Hummingbirds rely on that sugar to survive freezing nights. If they wake up to a block of ice, they can starve in hours.

Here is how to keep the liquid flowing when the temp drops.

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💡 The Solution: Feeder Heaters

This is a game-changer. It’s a small, 7-watt heater that attaches to the bottom of your feeder.

• Safety: It keeps the nectar at a safe ~50°F. It won’t boil it.
• The Best One: Hummer Hearth Heater. It uses a simple incandescent bulb to gently warm the glass.

🧣 The DIY Fix: Wool Socks & Hand Warmers

No electricity? No problem.

1. Hand Warmers: Rubber-band a chemical hand warmer (HotHands) to the bottom of the feeder. It lasts 6-8 hours.
2. Insulation: Wrap the bottle in a wool sock or bubble wrap. It slows down freezing.

🏚️ The “Night Shift” Rule

If you don’t have a heater:

1. Bring it in: Take the feeder inside at dusk.
2. Set an Alarm: You MUST put it back out before dawn (civil twilight). Hummingbirds wake up hungry and cold. If the feeder isn’t there, they waste precious energy looking for it.

Keep them warm!