What has worked for me, is to move the feeder for a few days. The bees aren't very bright, and can't find it. The hummers have no problem finding it. After a few days, move it back. The bees should have given up. I have also put petroleum jelly around the feeder ports. Good luck, and send some of those hummers my way!!

Petroleum jelly is not safe to use around hummer. I use bee traps that have nectar in the base. the bees go in and can't come out.

Penny

Can you plant out some plants that the bees like such as hysop or mountain mint that would attract the bees and get them away from the feeders??? I also have bee traps, but hate to use them as the bees are good polinators. What I hate are the darn wasps that seem to like me and the feeders!

glo

I have more problems with the yellow jackets than I do the bees. The bees stick with the flowers more. They love jacob's ladder.

Penny

I've been fighting the bees for several years now. I finally just gave up and decided I would only fill the feeders once a day...the hummers seem to still get their fair share. I have moved the feeders, [Texas bees are smart...they usually find it before I can get back in the house], put euculyptus oil on cotton balls and wedged them under the bottom, vicks salve on the cotton balls, vegetable oil around the outside [DO NOT TOUCH THE YELLOW PART THAT WILL GET ON THE BIRDS BILL] of the flowers but nothing seems to deter them for long. The county agent says it is a loosing battle because the sugar water is what bee keepers feed in 50 gallon drums. I tried the bottles to catch them but could not STAND to see all the dead bees....they are good things!...just not at my hummer feeders. I have the perky pet feeders where the water is at the top and this year I am trying the type that have the water at the bottom. I can not get them to hang level and the water goes to one side so am placing them on a shelf or plant stand. The bees can stick on the perky pet until they suck them dry but they can't reach the fluid in this type. I got them at Lowes and they also have them at Wildbird stores and on the internet...maybe those are better than mine...they are certainly higher priced. I have some pictures from last year if you will e-mail me...I have forgotten how to post on here. They are certainly better than our PRECIOUS Fire Ants...the bees have never stung me unless one got under my blouse and I mashed it...can't say that for the ants!!! Bottom line, just enjoy the bees too! Mary

another suggestion I received from a bander was to put a shallow bowl of sugar water with a higher sugar content (2:1) in a location far away from the feeders. They will find the bowl and be less active at the feeders.

Penny

Gee, I was hoping that I would see answers here about which feeders are best at preventing bees from getting at the sugar water.

It seems to me that hummingbirds have much longer beaks and tounges and should be able to reach nectar in some feeders that bees wouldn't be able to get to.