Dr. JB's Hummingbird Feeder Review

In March 2006, the manufacturer sent me an early example of this new feeder for my opinion, and requested suggestions for improvement. When the package arrived, I was surprised by its heft. This feeder is not fragile. It disassembles easily into three large pieces for cleaning, and there are no crannies where mold can grow unseen. It's advertised as dishwasher safe, and I don't doubt it, though mine hasn't needed more than a rinse in hot water with the foam dishmop and port brush I use on my other feeders.

At 16 ounces, it's really larger than I need at my home, where I don't fill my 8-ounce HummZinger Minis more than halfway before late August, but I hung it in several locations to see how the birds would accept it. Hummers approached and used it without hesitation, and no bird has seemed confused or had any trouble feeding. As I write this in early September, one young male is kept quite busy defending it--a good sign of a feeder's popularity.

I would expect any hummingbird to recognize this device as a feeder, since visually it combines elements of both the HummZinger and several Perky-Pet models. The perch-to-port geometry is very good for Ruby-throated and other small hummingbirds. I don't get larger hummers, so I can't say how the jumbo species will fare.

The base has a structure molded around each port to hold an insect repellent gel that's still under development. In my opinion, such a chemical repellent is unnecessary, even if it's safe around birds. The port openings are about one inch above the syrup level, so bees and wasps can't steal a meal; in fact, I've never seen a bee around my Dr. JB's. I use a standard moat to keep ants away.

Dr. JB's sent me an assortment of flowers, in yellow, red, purple, and blue. In a brief experiment, my hummers showed no preference at all. The supplied yellow ones are fine, and since bees can't reach the syrup, the yellow has the advantage of familiarity, with no downside.

After a summer of use, my only suggestion would be to make the feeding holes slightly conical instead of cylindrical, since the plastic flowers extend fairly deeply into the base, and conical ports theoretically offer a wider range of approach angles to birds of different sizes.

The manufacturer's website is full of useful and interesting details, including photos and instructions. I'm impressed with the company's commitment to responsible bird feeding, and they're not getting their sample feeder back! Considering the quality of design, materials, and workmanship, the Dr. JB's feeder is well worth its price. Highly recommended.

Dr. JB's Hummingbird Feeder
Price: $19.49

Dr. JB's Hummingbird Products, LLC
P.O. Box 11837
Charlotte, NC 28220-1837
1-888-833-4270
cservice@drjbs.com
http://www.drjbs.com


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Dr. JB's Hummingbird Feeder		In March 2006, the manufacturer sent me an early example of this new feeder for my opinion, and requested suggestions for improvement. When the package arrived, I was surprised by its heft. This feeder is not fragile. It disassembles easily into three large pieces for cleaning, and there are no crannies where mold can grow unseen. It's advertised as dishwasher safe, and I don't doubt it, though mine hasn't needed more than a rinse in hot water with the foam dishmop and port brush I use on my other feeders. At 16 ounces, it's really larger than I need at my home, where I don't fill my 8-ounce HummZinger Minis more than halfway before late August, but I hung it in several locations to see how the birds would accept it. Hummers approached and used it without hesitation, and no bird has seemed confused or had any trouble feeding. As I write this in early September, one young male is kept quite busy defending it--a good sign of a feeder's popularity. I would expect any hummingbird to recognize this device as a feeder, since visually it combines elements of both the HummZinger and several Perky-Pet models. The perch-to-port geometry is very good for Ruby-throated and other small hummingbirds. I don't get larger hummers, so I can't say how the jumbo species will fare. The base has a structure molded around each port to hold an insect repellent gel that's still under development. In my opinion, such a chemical repellent is unnecessary, even if it's safe around birds. The port openings are about one inch above the syrup level, so bees and wasps can't steal a meal; in fact, I've never seen a bee around my Dr. JB's. I use a standard moat to keep ants away. Dr. JB's sent me an assortment of flowers, in yellow, red, purple, and blue. In a brief experiment, my hummers showed no preference at all. The supplied yellow ones are fine, and since bees can't reach the syrup, the yellow has the advantage of familiarity, with no downside. After a summer of use, my only suggestion would be to make the feeding holes slightly conical instead of cylindrical, since the plastic flowers extend fairly deeply into the base, and conical ports theoretically offer a wider range of approach angles to birds of different sizes. The manufacturer's website is full of useful and interesting details, including photos and instructions. I'm impressed with the company's commitment to responsible bird feeding, and they're not getting their sample feeder back! Considering the quality of design, materials, and workmanship, the Dr. JB's feeder is well worth its price. Highly recommended. Dr. JB's Hummingbird Feeder Price: $19.49 Dr. JB's Hummingbird Products, LLC P.O. Box 11837 Charlotte, NC 28220-1837 1-888-833-4270 cservice@drjbs.com http://www.drjbs.com