I think they will use it. If you saw them on the vine, then they will find the feeder.

I live in Texas too and I was in NH in August and my friends hummers seemed much more "tame" than the one I have coming. It didn't matter who was on the front porch they came anyway and would get so close to you. Nothing bothered them, people or the dog, it didn't matter

My little bird is more skittish, but I'm enjoying him anyway. He comes when the dogs are outside.

I put small feeders in my flower beds and one of them is about 2-3 feet outside one of my dog's exercise pens and the hummers don't even seem to notice that the dogs are there.
spiderwoman

I have a big old black lab that is in and out all day. My hummers have gotten used to him and will even hover above him on occasion to check him out to see if he is a threat. The funniest thing is that they seem to like to come to the feeders hanging from the eves on the front porch when my DH is out there playing the guitar. They even hover below the feeder and look in at him while he is playing. We have more activity at those feeders when he is playing than at any of the other feeders (guess they like music) They even come to the feeders when I am mowing the grass under a couple of the feeders so I agree with Michelle and spiderwoman.

Penny

Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it.

I haven't seen the hummer come back yet, but I may be missing him...he must be in stealth mode. :)

I think if I had put the feeder out earlier...maybe next year.

I do see lots at work, they fly into the building and get hurt. I've designated myself the hummer rescue (which usually just entails putting them in a safe place until they can get their wits again.)

Anyway, thanks I appreciate the input.

OH MY GOODNESS I CAN BARELY CONTAIN MYSELF!!!

I came home from work early today and as I was watering the plants on the back porch, I SPOTTED MY FIRST HUMMER!!

They DO use it!!! He came back twice. Oh man, this is awesome.

WAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

(ok, now I feel wierd for getting so excited...LOL!)

Oh, and do they usually feed at 12:30 in the afternoon?

I did manage to snap a picture, but it's not very clear. I've circled him/her so you can see it.

It took my breath away to see this little guy, made my day actually!

That is so awesome! Woo hoo for you and your little friend. I know the feeling!!!! Enjoy him while you can.

I put my feeder out in May just before the Trumpet Vine starts to bloom and next year I will start the sprinkler at the same time. :)

Roxy77

When those little birds get feeding, nothing stops them. Right now I have 11 feeders out, and I'm refilling them once to twice a day, and before long it will get to where I'll refill three times a day with 24 feeders out.

As long as I don't slam the door, they will come right up to me as I hang the feeders. I've even had them brush my ear with their wings when I'm hanging the feeders. They get so excited.

And if this is the first year you have had a feeder up, it might take some time for them to really start coming around. I've read that they tend to return to the same spots on their migration.

Here in Rockport we have the annual Hummer/Bird Celebration which is next week. You just would be so surprised to see literally thousands of hummers down here. And believe me, give them a minute, and they will be back at the feeders regardless of who or what is around including dogs.

Thanks for sharing in my joy you guys.

I've seen him twice today, I guess he was in stealth mode, just waiting to see if I was friend or foe.

:)

Roxy77 mentioned "they will come right up to me as I hang the feeders".

I now have 4 feeders along 3 sides of my house in Huntsville. Fortunately there is an open place inside my house where I can see them all at the same time, making it easy to count the hummers present at once. When I recently found the 4th feeder in a "safe place" out in my garage and took it outside to see where I could hang it, a hummer immediately came up to me and especially it, looking to feed right there, right now. I had to high-tail it back into the house to avoid hummer disappointment, go back out to hang the new hook and the chain, fill the feeder, and then hang it. The hummers were there in seconds.

Also they buzz around me when I fill the existing feeders. They simply cannot wait! Hovering Eager Puppy Dogs!

My suggestion to the original post is to put feeders in several places where you can see them and simply wait and watch to see if the hummers use them. In this "tankup time", my experience is that hummers will find all the available feeders and spend much of their time defending them - even though there might be sufficient feeders and feeding stations that everyone could eat as the same time - but that "drink and let drink" cooperation is simply not in their genes this time of year. But it's extremely entertaining this time of year.

Jim

Jim, thanks for your input. I already have three of them fighting over the one I put out...I will put out another this weekend.

I agree, extremely entertaining!!!

One more question.

The FAQ says that if you have more than one they should be out of sight of eachother. But that means I have to have one where I can't see it...which defeats the purpose.

If I have two close together, will one guard them both...making it pointless? Or will two different birds use each one?

This sounds like a dumb question...hehe.