Do Hummingbird feeders have to hang
While a typical Hummingbird feeder is made to hang it doesn't have to be, as its usually made with a wide flat bottom which can be sat on a flat level surface.
Hummingbirds will happily sip on nectar out of Hummingbird feeder, that isn't suspended at all. Hummingbird feeder that isn't hanging though must remain accessible, and more importantly, visible if its ever going to be found. Benefits of a NO hanging feeder is stability, shelter, and less spillages.
When a Hummingbird feeder is replenished with nectar you will find you would normally stand it upright, in order to funnel the water in through the top.
While this applies to top-fill Hummingbird feeders only, at least we know what we should expect to feature on our particular Hummingbird feeder, which will hopefully have a flat bottom.
Flat base of a Hummingbird feeder will mean we can stand it upright, thus we can place our feeder anywhere around the yard that will allow a nectar-filled feeder to be put on.
Hummingbird feeders do well to attract Hummers and other wild birds, because its normally suspended along side or near other bird feeders on a pole. To be found then, we must still do our best to keep it visible and accessible.
On the plus side, to sit a Hummingbird feeder on an elevated surface will provide a way to avoid Hummingbird feeders being next to other types of bird feeders.
In addition, a Hummingbird feeder would be stabilized on a surface and thus we can be sure less nectar will spill, while being a more stable platform for feeding Hummers.
Downside is your Hummingbird feeder will now probably be within reach of common bird feeder pests like cats, insects, squirrels and raccoon's.
If that applies to you, then the Hummingbird feeder must be hung to avoid it being raided by nuisance animals on the ground. Of course, an hanging Hummingbird feeder will be prone to swinging and spinning, but not so if it isn't suspended.
Additional cost of a bird feeder pole or hanger to mount on a porch or deck railing can be avoided, by utilizing what would be a secure place to sit a Hummingbird feeders.
Feeders don't have to hang
Hummingbirds do not only respond well to Hummingbird feeders hung up on a pole or clear open branch, but have no objections to a feeder sat on an accessible surface.
It can feel surreal at first as someone who is probably used to suspending a Hummingbird feeder, along with others. In this case there's no harm in situating a nectar-filled feeder in an area of the yard that doesn't rely on suspension.
Where you sit a Hummingbird feeder matters a lot mind because much like hanging a Hummingbird feeder, it must not only remain accessible, it must be visible.
And there's nothing like a low down place to sit a Hummingbird feeder that could potentially camouflage the feeder, which isn't possible when it was hung.
Go ahead and position a Hummingbird feeder on a flat surface in the yard if you like, with an option to re-position the feeder if you feel there's no interest.
Possible locations to place a Hummingbird feeder would be on patio table, along with the railing of a patio or porch. If you don't have the skills or know how to screw in a hook to hang a Hummingbird feeder on a deck or porch soffit, then sit the feeder down.
Encourage Hummers close to your house has drawbacks which involves changing the location of feeders until its obviously found.
Flat base balances on surface
If you wish to not hang your Hummingbird feeder but to sit it on a surface - and preferably a high surface that is - then check out the base of the feeder, as you'd need it to be flat bottomed in order to keep it balanced on a corresponding surface.
Surface must be flat but a little ruggedness is fine, providing its not on an angle which can result in nectar leaking unless its kept upright.
With many different types of Hummingbird feeders having some kind of flat base, this will come in useful for not hanging the feeder. Although it has to be said, the wider the base is the safer it will be to stand up elsewhere.
And let's face it, its easier to place a Hummingbird feeder on a deck railing than it is to find out how to hang a Hummingbird feeder on a deck.
Where I would suggest you sit a Hummingbird feeder that isn't suspended would still be in a sunlit location.
And if you can be sure you can attract Hummers to an out of the way location, then balance it on a wall, hang or sit it off a fence post, sit on railings belonging to decks, porches and balconies - along with sitting the Hummingbird feeder on patio furniture.
Solid mounted feeder alternative
You know what, a Hummingbird feeder not only has to be hung or sit on an elevated surface, it can be mounted if that something that would suite your needs.
Proof Hummingbird feeders don't have to hang is how they can be mounted to a window.
Hummingbirds in any location can be encouraged to come to a window Hummingbird feeder; while more Hummingbirds won't be needed when attracting them to a device that is sitting on an elevated surface, under cover or out in the open.
Similarly, there's such a thing as a pole mounted Hummingbird feeder which is essentially a Hummingbird feeder mounted on top of a pole that is impaled in the ground.
If an Hummingbird feeder isn't hanging than its basically sitting or mounted elsewhere.
As a result the Hummingbird feeder can feel like a stabilized platform which can benefit birds in turbulent winds.
One more thing, let's not forget Hummingbirds can be attracted to a handheld Hummingbird feeder, which is all you need to know, as any nectar-filled feeder would do well to attract Hummingbirds, and Orioles, to its unique location.
Safer if high off ground
Now that I have established Hummingbird feeders do not have to hang at all, because they can be sat on a surface, mounted to a window or sit on a pole with a lot of success, but only if there's an abundance of Hummers in your local area.
One rule to follow when it comes to hanging or positioning a Hummingbird feeder, is it must still be elevated off the ground.
Let's not forget ants are attracted to Hummingbird feeders of which, a feeder sitting on an elevated surface is open season. Although I would add sitting the nectar-filled feeder in a tray of water can keep ants off all together.
Other than ants though are squirrels and raccoon's, who will have full reign over a sitting Hummingbird feeder, where we would normally protect the feeder if it was hung.
And that is what you must do if you are in a squirrel or raccoon area - including coyotes, bears and dear, would be to hang a Hummingbird feeder high off the ground to keep it out of reach of pests and predators arriving in the yard.
To summarize
It can seem so simple when you have a nice and secure location in your yard to sit a Hummingbird feeder, but you may feel the feeder must always be suspended.
Well, let me first tell you a Hummingbird feeder while made to be hung, it will probably be made with a nice flat bottom which can be sat on an equally flat and level surface.
When it comes to the location you wish to sit a Hummingbird feeder on, it mustn't be within reach of common backyard pests, including pets. Rely on an elevated surface only because then we can keep an eye on proceedings.
Hummingbirds only place they are likely to ignore is a Hummingbird feeder sat directly on the ground, so do avoid that.
Suitable places to situate a Hummingbird feeder that isn't suspended, would include a deck, porch or balcony railing, garden furniture, a wall, fence post and possibly a shed or garage roof - if the Hummingbird feeder is near to the edge to assist hovering birds.
Very much like hanging a Hummingbird feeder, you would still want to position a feeder in the sun, or any visible yet open location that will be found by Hummers.
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