You should change the nectar every couple of days or it will ferment.

Rebecca,

I live in the same area as you (Clear Lake). I guess you could keep it up year round if you don't mind changing the nectar every few days. I took mine down after spring (I only saw ONE HB all spring, boooo!) But put it back up Saturday evening as I saw one feeding on my zinnias. He hasn't come back to find the feeder but it's a matter of time. I believe we have them year round, they are just more obvious in the fall (from my experience). But if they've found your feeder and are using it, go ahead and leave it year round!

Good luck,

Roxy.

I live about 185 miles SW of Houston, but I am a former Houstonian for 20+ years.

Down here I only hang out my feeders during the spring migration and then again during the fall migration and give them a 4:1 mixture. But if I have a few that overwinter, then I give them a 3:1 mixture. During the summer, I have more than enough plants to keep the little guys happy so I don't have any feeders out. I figure the natural nectar makes them happy little bird!

And during the fall migration, roughly from late August until early to mid November, I go through anywhere from 40 to 50 pounds of sugar a year. In the spring, they move on much faster, so I don't use as much sugar.

And as has been stated above, you need to clean/change them often. During the heat of the summer they need to be changed at least every other day. And it's best to hang them out of direct sun. If a fungus builds in the feeders, it can cause for a chronic respiratory infection in the birds. So if you can't keep the feeders very clean, it is better to not even hang them.

Good hummingbirding!

Linda
Rockport Hummer Home
Rockport, TX Zone 9a

I dont live in your area but I will say this. As a rule you should change your nectar every 3 or 4 days but in extreme heat every 2 days. If you have 95degrees or higher on a consistent basis change it every 2 days just to be safe. If the nectar becomes soured or insects get in , they wont touch it , they would starve first. I know its pretty warm down there year round so you can leave your feeders out year round, when it gets cooler thou you dont have to change the feeder as often. Our hummers start their migration soon and are usually gone by mid sept. boo-hoo. Always hate too see them leave, but always have hope I might see a rufous as they seem to like the cold, they stay the summer in Alaska but have been documented in Indy

hummersteve

Although I lived in Houston for 20+ years, I was raised in Indiana. I'm a 5th generation Hoosier, Benton County, 100 miles NW of Indy. My parents, 3 brothers, and lots of aunts and uncles still live in Indiana. I lived in Indy back in the 60's for a short while.

Anyway, I have a new yellow lab puppy that I named "Indy".

What is considered "normal" summer heat down here is considered "extreme" summer heat up home. My parents won't visit us during the summer because it is too hot and humid for them.

Let us know when the HB start pumping up at your feeders, because we start seeing them a few weeks later down here. I can't wait!!