What do you put in an ant moat
What to put in ant moats is anything it takes to stop ants in their tracks; that is providing it remains safe for hummingbirds or other birds to come into contact with.
What to put in an ant moat can be plain tap water only, by filling the ant moat as high as it can go or to where you've been instructed. Filling an ant moat up high can insure the water doesn't evaporate so quickly. You can go one better by using a bit of nectar to coerce ants into the water, or use a sticky Vaseline.
Fill up an hummingbird feeder ant moat as far as it can go, or follow strict rules as set out by the manufacturer.
What you must remember is a low water level ant moat will quickly see the water dry up in hot or humid conditions, thus to fill it up as far as it can go will spare you more time.
How does an ant moat work on a hummingbird feeder is to be sure ants climb into the moat and get stuck in their tracks. Without water in the moat, ants can proceed onto the body of the hummingbird feeder, to then disturb the hummers as they try to feed.
I will say the best ant moats for hummingbird feeders are the deep ones, so it can be filled up with as much water as you can possibly use.
You must only use water as instructed by the manufacturer then you can proceed to try other ant prevention methods.
Among them will be to fill the ant moat not with plain water, but correctly made nectar to attract ants to this ant moat; rather than ants feeling the need to go any further to access the hummingbird feeder below.
Correct nectar measurements must be added in case hummers or other birds feel the need to feed out of the sugary water in the ant moat.
What else you can use to put in a simple ant moat is to drop a dollop of Vaseline in it, or spread in on the entire inner moat to be sure ants get stuck in it. Thicker the Vaseline layer, the better chance ants won't be able to pass over it.
Ants will descend on an ant moat while ending up in the middle. What you must be sure they can't do is swim across to the outside to then climb down to the feeder.
Fill with water only
What you use to fill up an ant moat is with the simple use of tap water. Water is there to prevent ants swimming out to the outer rim to then access the hummingbird feeder.
How high you fill the ant moat won't really have much say though it helps to fill to any water line or the recommended level as indicated by the manufacturer.
Shallow depth of water is perfectly acceptable, except you know what happens when its hot, humid conditions right? Of course the water is going to quickly deteriorate in summer or in hotter States - thus to fill to the top will be sure the water lasts long.
Not an issue of course as its helps to continue to replenish the ant moat of water to be sure it doesn't dry up regardless.
Where you hang a hummingbird feeder or how you install the ant moat will likely remain in a shaded spot; you will be given some breathing space rather then attending the ant moat around the clock.
With that, winter or colder months will see the water level in the ant moat remain as it was, only there's a risk of the ant moat freezing over.
Ants are not as frequent in such cold conditions thus is less of an issue, though to be sure you'd need to replace the frosted over ant moat water before its fully ices over.
Coerce ants into sugar water
How to use an ant moat on a hummingbird feeder is simply to fill it up with tap water and let it sit there as a barrier between the ants and the nectar they are trying to get at.
It certainly is possible for ants to actually access the hummingbird feeder with methods out of your hands. As it happens its far beyond the ants ability to cross an ant moat as its made near impossible - the issue is with the wind or ants dropping onto the feeder.
What can occasionally happen is ants can drop - not on purpose I might add - off a tree branch or bracket above, landing on to the hummingbird feeder where they will proceed on to the nectar port wells.
Similarly, ants can be blown onto the body of a hummingbird feeder which is the result of them being light as a feather.
To add a bit more prevention measures in place you can instead make up the ants own little nectar filed ant moat.
Ants will then be seen to climb down, up and around to get inside this ant moat, while forgetting there's anymore homemade nectar to be had.
Ants will then become stuck in this ant moat filled with sugary water, and therefore the issue of ants around the hummingbird feeder goes away.
I could say use as much sugar water as you like to coerce more ants into the moat; to be safe hummingbirds and other birds may perch to feed out of this open top ant moat, thus can become ill or be killed if they ingest too much sugary water.
Vaseline is an option
I would set yourself up to only use tap water for now to be sure its only plain water that is needed with no issues of ants getting to the nectar still.
And while sugar water can be sure ants are attracted to the ant moat, to trap them in their tracks - there is one more thing you can use.
Rather than use plain water or homemade nectar, you can use Vaseline in the ant moat which can be seen to keep ants off the hummingbird feeder - as they are guaranteed to get stuck crossing it.
Not the cheapest of options I must say but the use of Vaseline can be beneficial in many ways.
Example of that is, this thick gooey cream is guaranteed the ants will get stuck. Second of all, the Vaseline can be seen to last longer then a low water depth ant moat, as it tends to dry up over a longer period.
Perfect then as the Vaseline can be sure you don't have to attend the hummingbird feeder as often.
Now this isn't a guarantee for anyone as it happens, but if the plain tap water or sugary water option fails you - then proceed with Vaseline or similar, yet cheaper creams.
Maintain ant moat
Why ants are swarming your hummingbird feeder is probably because they can sense the nectar on the outside of the hummingbird feeder.
Cleaning a hummingbird feeder as often as you can will prevent ants being attracted to your feeder. Which is good advice for anyone considering, or currently using a ant moat to hang an hummingbird feeder.
Ant moats in turn can become quite messy thus you mustn't forget to clean your ant moat, along with the hummingbird feeder body and parts.
Maintain the ant moat by cleaning it out any ants that have been trapped while replacing the water with new.
If using homemade nectar then be sure to clean this up as often as you can as in some ways, the sugary water can end up on the outside.
Use of Vaseline cannot stay in an ant moat for eternity, thus to clean out this greasy Vaseline - and to clean the ant moat with soapy water - will keep it all tidy as you continue to add more Vaseline.
Your highly rated hummingbird feeder can be prone to mold, staining or ants becoming stuck in part well - just as a cheaper option feeder will - thus you'd need to continue to keep the feeder maintained so it always appears as good as new.
Summary
What do you put in an ant moat that hangs above a hummingbird feeder or surrounds a disc shape feeder, is always the use of plain tap water.
Nothing else is needed for most of you though additional defenses may be needed for any one who continues to get ants on their hummingbird feeder.
What can happen is ants can accidentally drop or be blown onto an hummingbird feeder in their quest to descend from above. Then wallop... a single gust of wind or a slip on a slippery area will see ants access the nectar by chance.
Fill the hummingbird feeder ant moat with water then we can take it from there.
What you can do next is to be sure ants are in fact attracted to the ant moat by filling it up with what they want in the first place.
Fill the ant moat with properly made homemade nectar to draw ants into the trap, while using the correct homemade nectar measurements just in case hummingbirds or other birds want to feed off it.
To coerce ants into the sugary water mix can be sure they never want to go beyond this trap.
Similarly, Vaseline can be used instead of water as a sort of thick, greasy gunk that ants are sure to get trapped in. To use Vaseline isn't cheap but this stuff can sure last well if kept in the shade - whereas water can evaporate quickly in summertime.
In the meantime keep the hummingbird feeder and therefore the ant moat clean as a whistle - to prevent ants being attract to the feeder in the first place.
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