s

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Is the feeder dishwasher safe?
    • Yes, but one of the nice features of the Allura is that there’s not much to clean. The little feed pods are the only things that touch the food, so they are the only thing you need to clean.  The feeder itself doesn’t need cleaning (except maybe at the end of each season).  If you want to put the feed pods in the dishwasher, they will be fine, although we suggest you keep them on the top shelf of the dishwasher.
  2. The pods look a little small. How many hummingbirds can the Allura pods feed?
    • The feed pods each hold about 1 liquid ounce, so the feeder holds a total of 3 ounces. This can feed about 20 hummingbirds for 3 days.  It is not likely that you are seeing this many birds, but it’s comforting to know the feeder won’t run dry, even on days when lots of hummers come to visit.
  3. How often do I need to replace the food in the feeder?
    • About once a week in the spring and fall, when it’s cooler. In the heat of the summer, you may need to replace the food more, around twice a week.  Keep an eye on the feeder, and you’ll find out quickly what works best for your area. 
  4. How often do I need to refill the ant moat in the top of the feeder?
    • The ant moat needs to be filled with water at the same frequency of your feed pods, but it can run dry sooner depending on the humidity and heat in your area. Keep an eye on the ant moat, since the ants will invade the feeder if it runs dry. 
  5. Do I have to clean the feeder at all?
    • The feeder should never touch the hummingbird food, so it really won’t get dirty. You will need to clean the feed pods every couple days or so when you refill the food, but that’s about it.  That said, anything sitting outside for months will get some grime and dust collecting on it.  We clean our feeders at the end of each season. 
    • A suggestion to help keep the feeder clean is to not fill the feed pods up to the top. We suggest you fill them a little more than half way.  It helps to keep the liquid food from sloshing out during heavy winds.  If the liquid food sloshes out, it can cause the feeder to get a little dirty.
  6. What is the best way to clean the feed pods?
    • Take each feed pod out of the feeder and dump out the old nectar. Use a damp paper towel to wipe out the inside of the feed pod... or just use your fingertip and some water to wipe out the pods.  That’s it.  Replace the feed pods back in the feeder and refill with the squeeze bottle.
  7. How do I make the food in the feeder?
    • A standard that many use is the 4-to-1 ratio. We suggest 2 cups of water and a half cup of white sugar.  Boil this mixture for a couple minutes (to kill off any germs) and then let it cool.  This amount fits nicely in the squeeze bottle that comes with your feeder.   A little extra sugar will help attract more birds.  Remember to avoid sugar substitutes and honey, which can be deadly to the hummers.