Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I looked up reviews for this product after I bought one, tried to fill it, and gasped at the sight of sugar water leaked all over my kitchen counters. At first glance, one might think this feeder was designed very poorly.
In reality, the proper way of using this product probably needs a bit more instruction than the little scrap of paper it came with. There are several reasons why other reviewers encountered excessive leaking.
Problem 1: You might not have all the pieces screwed on tight enough. The red base is made of a top and bottom, which screw apart. If these aren't screwed together all the way, then a vacuum can't form. Same with screwing the clear nectar holder onto the red base, or screwing the lid on top of the clear part. Creating a vacuum is essential to proper liquid dispensing.
Problem 2: You might not have pushed the clear part DOWN into the red base, which is its "closed" position. If these two pieces are screwed together, but you have the clear part pulled UP, then it's open, and as soon as you try to put nectar in it, the liquid will stream out of each of the four flowers like a pretty little fountain. You must have the clear part pushed down before filling.
Problem 3: You might not have put the lid on right away after filling. This is what I did. I'd made a sugar water concoction out of hot water and sugar, and thought it would be best to let it cool before putting the lid on. I left the feeder filled, with the lid off, and came back an hour later to find my kitchen deluged (and sticky!). It's imperative to put the lid back on top as soon as you fill the feeder with nectar, in order to create a proper vacuum, which helps regulate the amount of liquid dispensed.
After learning this the hard way, I first cooled my nectar in the fridge before filling the feeder, then tried it again, putting the lid on tightly right after filling the feeder, and then popping the clear part back "UP" to allow the liquid to flow to the flowers. No spilling! No fountains! Perfect vacuum created, no silicone sealer necessary.
I only give this product 4 stars, instead of 5, because using it is not intuitive, and also because one of the yellow flowers broke during shipping. I'm currently trying to contact the company that makes Perky Pet to see if they'll send me a replacement.
Edit: Well, the company wasn't able to help me fix just the yellow flower part, so they are actually sending me a replacement unit, free of charge. This is above and beyond my expectations. I think that their customer service levels alone deserve them an additional star. Thank you, Woodstream!
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Perky-Pet 122TF Top-Fill Push-Pull Hummingbird Feeder, AsterThis top-fill hummingbird feeder features Perky Pet's new Push-Pull technology for effortless refilling--just push, pour, then pull-and-lock. It features an easy to fill wide mouth top and an advanced "sports bottle" like function to facilitate replenishing the nectar. The four feeding ports appear as yellow aster flowers, creating a sweet, inviting look.
With fewer parts, cleaning the Aster feeder is so simple, too. The clear plastic reservoir makes it easy to monitor nectar levels in this 12-ounce hummingbird feeder.
Use Perky-Pet instant high energy nectar, for best results. This specially blended hummingbird feeder nectar is easy to use, requires no boiling and stays fresh longer. This hummingbird feeder may be cleaned with the Perky-Pet cleaning mop. Remember to clean your feeder at least twice a week, more often in very warm climates or seasons.
Preparing Your Hummingbird Feeder
Check to make sure the base compartments are securely tightened
Push container into base to close ports to prevent leakage
Unscrew to cap to fill with nectar
Screw cap back on securely to form an airtight seal.
Keep the feeder in the closed position until you get to the spot where you want to hang it.
To open nectar reservoir--hold base with one hand and pull up on the container with the other to open ports for feeding.
Your feeder is now ready.
Hanging a Hummingbird Feeder Hummingbird feeders should be hung out of direct sunlight, since the sun can spoil the nectar, as well as away from windy areas and out of reach of cats. You may also want to place the hummingbird feeder in and around trumpeting flowers. This will help attract more birds to your hummingbird feeder.
Hang your bird feeder away from trees, bushes, fences or buildings. If you must hang the bird feeder on a tree, keep it at least six feet from the trunk or the tree limbs.
Hummingbirds will find your nectar feeder, although there are some steps you can take to help the tiny birds find it sooner. Tying a red ribbon on the feeder wire or pole will help them locate it. Some enthusiasts prefer to use red nectar, although hummingbirds will also find the clear nectar in hummingbird feeders. Other attraction methods include planting flowers that attract hummingbirds adjacent to the feeder area and placing a birdbath in your yard near the feeder.
Bird Feeder Care Keeping your bird feeder clean and full of fresh nectar is very important to the health of visiting birds. It is recommended that you clean your seed bird feeder every two weeks and your hummingbird feeder every week. Clean your bird feeder more often in warmer weather.
A mild soap and water solution can be used; however, if the bird feeder needs additional cleaning, you can use diluted vinegar. Be sure to rinse completely. It is not recommended that you put any bird feeder into your dishwasher for cleaning.
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