Perky Pet® Top Fill Hummingbird Feeders - A Hummingbird Feeder That is Hummingbird Fast!

[jay733]

How long does your perky pet nectar last outside and in the fridge?

[perkypet]

@jay733 The nectar should be used immediately. Because it depends on way too many variables at the manufacturing end and it will vary widely from lot to lot. To be safe, we suggest keeping it no longer than 2 weeks.

[gail2247]

I want to know how you clean out the bottom . I know with my other perkypet feeders they get pretty dirty in the bottom and around the flowers no matter how often you change nectar. So are these 1 piece and don't come apart??

[perkypet]

@gail2247 The new Top Fill feeders are very easy to take apart. The bottom easily unscrews so that you can clean the interior of the base. The flowers are also able to be popped off for cleaning.

[L0v3brittany]

I just bought this feeder, and It's spilling everywhere! wtf?

[perkypet]

Here are a few things to review before filling the feeder:

1. Check to make sure the base compartments are securely tightened

2. Push container into base to close ports to prevent leakage

3. Unscrew to cap to fill with nectar

4. Screw cap back on securely to form an airtight seal.

[MartySJCA]

What's up with the red coloring in the nectar? It is not necessary and may be harmful to hummingbirds. Why include something that is not needed? All that is needed is 1 part granulated sugar to 4 parts tap water.

[perkypet]

@MartySJCA Perky-Pet® offers both clear and red nectar for the consumer to use in their hummingbird feeders. You can certainly make your own nectar but make sure you boil the water prior to mixing in the sugar.

[SongbirdHaven]

@perkypet Why add red dye that may be harmful to hummingbirds? Most experts agree that red dye is not needed and should be avoided. As for boiling water prior to adding sugar the experts are divided. For me I just leave a bowl of tap water on my counter overnight. The Chlorine will have evaporated out in a few hours. In any case, be sure the nectar is at room temperature before filling your feeder.

[perkypet]

Thank you for your concerns. Since we are in the hummingbird business it would be foolish for us to do anything detrimental to their health. We do our best to track the rumors down to see if there is any basis in fact. I am happy to report that each time we've found no conclusive evidence of harmful effects of coloring and each case has found absolutely no evidence at all. PerkyPet uses dry USDA approved dyes and discourages the addition of untested red dyes by our customers to color nectar.

[SongbirdHaven]

@perkypet If you, Perky Pet, are really so concerned about the health of hummingbirds you would yield to the side of caution and discontinue using red dye until conclusive scientific evidence shows it does not harm hummingbirds.

[SongbirdHaven]

@perkypet The USDA approved dyes are for human consumption, NOT avian. Why is it that most hummingbird websites, avian experts and others like the Cornell Lab of Ornithology all state that hummingbird nectar does not need red dye and suggests that red dye might be harmful to hummingbirds?

[SongbirdHaven]

@perkypet Given that fact that expert like the Cornell Lab of Ornithology state that red dye might be harmful to hummingbirds and should not be included in the making of hummingbird nectar, why does Perky Pet insist on using it? Given red dye does not enhance the dietary requirement of hummingbirds and that it may be harmful, why does Perky Pet insist on including it in its premix formulation and ready to use products?

[Kennedale01]

@SongbirdHaven 'Peterson Field Guides: Hummingbirds of North America' book warns against red dyes, stating that "Adding dye to the solution is both unnatural and unnecessary. Flower nectar is colorless, and the red color of the feeder is enough to attract the birds' attention. Field tests have shown that hummingbirds generally prefer plain sugar water over dyed solutions..."

[MartySJCA]

@perkypet USDA is for human consumption and not avain. Hummingbird experts agree that red dye should never be used. Nature's nectar is clear. Perky Pet adds the red dye to attract the uneducated public. Shame on Perky Pet for continuing to add red dye to it's formula. Hummingbird nectar is nothing more than 4 parts water (tap) to 1 part sugar. This formula is close to that of nature's.

[Kennedale01]

@perkypet I recently bought your red nectar concentrate at Home Depot, but have no plans on using any more of it (only used it once) after reading about the potential effects of red dye. It is interesting that you use the same copy-and-paste rebuttal to any inquiries into your use of the red dye....especially interesting that it STILL contains the error stating that the USDA approves food dyes. It is not the entity charged with approving food dyes....try again.

[fg2hummingbirds]

No, you don't need to boil the water. Sugar dissolves faster in warm water, but a couple of minutes in the microwave works fine. Just don't use hot tap water, which may have picked up unsafe concentrations of lead from the plumbing.

The secret behind "instant nectar" products is ultrafine sugar, which you can buy in grocery stores under the name "baker's sugar." It doesn't contain any dyes, preservatives, or other potentially harmful additives and is much cheaper than Perky Pet's "nectar."

[kaitebeth59]

Wow.