How close can Hummingbird feeders be
Reasons that can include a too close position for two or more hummingbird feeders can effect hummingbirds behavior is a concern, of which let's take a look at your options.
Hummingbird feeders can be approximately 1 foot apart, which will keep them at a safe distance for multiple reasons. First you don't want to restrict access to close too together perches or port wells on feeders, whereas distance is needed to deter a bully. Wind can be an issue with feeders crashing against each other.
When thinking about how close can a hummingbird feeder be to a second, third or even a fourth feeder, don't be concerned about the feeders themselves.
It is possible to bring two or three hummingbird feeders up to a foot apart on a three or four bracket bird feeder pole; of which there may be no issues developing early on or in the near future as it happens.
What can go wrong is a nuisance bully hummingbird really, who will insist on defending a whole feeder for themselves, while in the process the bully will stop others feeding.
Only choice if that happens is to situate both hummingbird feeders well apart; not just on opposite ends of the pole mind you, you'd need a completely new location with a brand new bird feeder pole to stop a single bullies antics.
Otherwise to hang an additional hummingbird feeder under the roof overhang like the soffit or guttering can be an effective alternative.
Off topic just a moment, while baring in mind two hummingbird feeders hung beside each other will make it hard to defend feeders against squirrels, thus to keep them more than 1 foot apart may be on the cards if you do have a squirrel issue.
Last but not least, there's the possibility of hummingbird feeders that are too close can lead to them knocking against each other.
Hummingbird feeders that are made in durable plastic are tough enough to take it, whereas that can't be said for made in glass hummingbird feeders.
And just imagine if you were utilizing a hummingbird feeder with an ant moat, well two feeders knocking against each other will only lead to the ant moat water spilling with every bump and knock.
Minimum 1 foot distance
How far apart a hummingbird feeder should be is approximately 2 feet to guarantee a safe and secure environment for your hummingbirds.
Hummingbird feeders can get closer if due to lack of space, or if hummingbirds aren't causing a nuisance among themselves - like a bully hummer running off others due to it wanting the feeder to probably 'himself,' though occasional females can be dominant.
With that you can be assured a 1 foot distance between each hummingbird feeder is the way to go, and should be the minimum distance.
One feet minimum only mind you whereas the hummingbird feeders can be much farther apart.
When keeping to a minimum 1 feet distance, you can be sure hummingbird feeders aren't too close together which can lead to issues on windy days.
Minimum 1 feet distance will also allow hummingbirds to utilize all perches along with all well ports made available to them.
Think about it for a minute, perches with their adjacent port feeding wells surround most types of hummingbird feeders, thus to push hanging feeders too close together will block off half of the feeder - leading to a line forming if your yard is busy with hummers.
Rely on bird feeder pole setting
When relying on your useful bird feeding station or Shepherd's hook pole to hang feeders, you only have to rely on the spacing of the brackets.
As I've recommended a minimum 1 foot distance between hummingbird feeders, its on these bird feeder poles a 1 feet distance will be allowed. I have therefore taken my suggestion of a foot only based on a tried and tested formula.
Up to a 1 and a half or 2 foot space can be achieved on a bird feeder pole with multiple brackets in use, if only hanging two hummingbird feeders on opposite sides of the pole. Why you could do that sooner or later to is to stop hummingbirds fighting over the feeder.
And with no use of a bird feeder pole, I would still recommend separating hummingbird feeders up to a 1 foot apart.
I would maintain a close grouping of hummingbird feeders first thing, then as your feeder collection potentially grows - can you begin to make space for each and everyone.
How many hummingbird feeders you'd probably need at any one time is just the two feeders hanging together.
Remember hummingbird feeders don't necessary need to be hung, and they don't have to be hanging together at all. In fact you can position a feeder on an outdoor table if possible, with the original feeder still hanging up on the pole.
As a reminder, hummingbirds won't feed by other birds thus all this and more must be achieved by singling out the hummingbird feeder; by keeping it well away from bird feeders designed to hold peanuts, suet, seeds and the like.
Space out if bully arrives
How close can hummingbird feeders be is a minimum of 1 foot with an option to push feeders apart even more, but never closer for safety reasons.
I will warn you in due course you may receive the arrival of what can be described as a bully hummingbird taking all of the feeder to itself. I should say himself as its usually the males who become dominate around feeders.
Now how you would stop this bully dominating the feeder, is to either space out two feeders farther apart - as he won't defend both feeders - or better still, one feeder must be re-located elsewhere in the yard.
Never attempt to scare or discourage this single bully with his presence forever on the feeder, as it would only lead to you scaring off hummingbirds all together.
If you're forced to unhook one hummingbird feeder off the pole where up to two or more feeders are hung, rest assured there is options available to you.
How high a hummingbird feeder must hang isn't as important, it just has to be accessible to you. With that, I would consider utilizing the area under the roof overhang to hang a feeder, if your yard lacks objects to hang bird feeders.
Quick solution is to hang one hummingbird feeder under the soffit or why not make full use of guttering by hanging a hummingbird feeder on the end of the gutter - which so happens to be strongest section.
Aim for these kinds of hanging areas only if a bully arrives to disturb the peace - yet an additional bird feeder pole can be located out of view of the original pole - to at least keep it out of sight of one or multiple bullies.
Avoid bumps or bruises
What really attracts hummingbird to your yard is in fact hummingbird feeders themselves, which would benefit you if these feeders can be kept closed together.
Hummers will briefly land in your yard while they look out for nectar-filled flowers on their every day journey, and with that they could spot feeding grounds by flying over.
With that in mind a group of distinctive red in color hummingbird feeders - of which hummingbirds recognize as a food source - will come down to investigate if discovered any time during the day.
You can keep hummingbird feeders well apart for sure even though to keep them up to a foot apart is better spotted in the air.
And herein lies the problem, keeping hanging feeders in particularly too close together can lead to damaging the feeders, with a possible chance of harming hummingbirds in the process.
Hummingbird feeders can swing and sway in the wind in just a little breeze, thus some distance like a foot apart can provide a safety gap. However unaware hummers do risk getting in the way, leading to them getting hit by a near by feeder.
Hummingbird feeders can usually hold it well together if continuously knocked against each other, whereas the hummingbirds themselves must avoid getting crushed.
You must space out feeders then with the hummers safety in mind. How close can feeders be will depend on avoiding smashing feeders, which always risks hurting hummingbirds in the process.
Summary
How close can hummingbird feeders really get is approximately one foot only, for reasons that keeps the feeding hummers at a safe distance.
Minimum one foot only because a hummingbird feeder will feature perches alongside port wells all around the feeder. To position feeders too close together, will block off half of each feeder as hummers avoid feeding with their backs to the other feeder.
Hummingbirds are unlikely to hover or perch between two feeders thus the one foot gap will at least be more encouraging without making them fearful.
I have taken my suggested one foot distance because this is how far apart the brackets are on a multi-bracket bird feeding station pole.
And if only two hummingbird feeders are hung off this pole on opposite sides, then you could get an additional 6-9 inches of extra space.
Why that matters is because sooner or later a bully hummingbird will turn up, thus will scare away all hummingbirds who dare to land on his feeder. You'd need to think about spacing to provide an additional feeder that will cancel out the bullies behavior.
Not only will a potential bully be an issue but you'd want to utilize all available port wells in a super busy backyard, thus you don't want to block off access to port wells or its corresponding perches between two feeders.
Hummingbird feeders do benefit being positioned together as it creates a wider feeding area that can be spotted when hummingbirds briefly pass overhead, or when they land.
Unfortunately, with all that there is the possibility of too close together hummingbird feeders bashing against one another; its vitally important then the distance you choose can avoid such mishaps, especially as hummers aren't aware of the dangers.
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