Since my daughter was a toddler, we’ve been hooked on watching hummingbirds. We used to see them now and again in our yard, but it always felt like a special occasion—until we installed the First Nature Hummingbird Feeder and put it to the test. Keep reading to find out if the super-simple (and super-affordable!) bird feeder was able to attract the lovely winged creatures.
Design: Smart simplicity
The design of the First Nature Hummingbird Feeder is simple, but it gets the job done. It’s made in the USA and boasts an attractive, bright candy red base (the color is known to draw in lots of hungry birds) and an S hook for hanging. The base pieces don’t just fit together—they also twist shut with little latches, which makes it much more secure. Additionally, it’s constructed with a sealing ring between the pieces to prevent nectar leakage. There’s a ring on which birds can perch, as well as 10 well-spaced feeding ports shaped like little red flowers, which are molded from the same red plastic as the base. The plastic construction does seem a little cheap compared to other models made of glass and metal, but the price reflects the materials—and I like that it won’t rust and is less likely to break. I also like that the 16-ounce nectar bottle is clear so that I can easily see when more is needed or if the nectar is looking cloudy (meaning it needs to be cleaned out and replaced).
Ease of Use: Few complaints
The nectar bottle has a wide mouth that makes filling and cleaning a breeze—more on that later—but I do wish it had a flat bottom that could be easily set down once full without the risk of spilling. This feeder was easy to hang with the included S hook, but the initial spot we chose did not draw birds for a few weeks. and I was really starting to worry that we wouldn’t get any hummers. My daughter had been diligently monitoring the nectar and was pretty crestfallen. However, after moving the feeder to a location with more open space, new feathered friends arrive within hours. To my daughter’s delight, the same two to four birds have come back regularly every morning and evening since.
Ease of Cleaning: Simple
Hummingbird feeders need to be cleaned out regularly to prevent nectar from spoiling. Nectar should be replaced every few days to a week at most—hotter temperatures and more direct sun exposure require more frequent attention. Therefore, ease of cleaning is especially important, and this model is a gem in that regard. The wide openings make it super simple to wipe out with warm, soapy water (mild cleaners are best to avoid any possible contamination of the nectar). However, it can be a little tricky to open the two pieces on the base; I spilled it twice during the cleaning-out process. Avoid the dishwasher, as the high heat and chemicals can damage the feeder.
Price: A great deal
This inexpensive product retails for between $5 and $11. This is a very reasonable price for a great, hard-working feeder. Most other similar plastic feeders run around $10 to $20, so this is an excellent deal.
First Nature Hummingbird Feeder vs. Aspects 367 HummZinger Ultra Hummingbird Feeder
These feeders have very similar bases: Both are bright, candy red and have flower-shaped feeder ports molded from the red plastic. However, the Aspects feeder stores all of its nectar inside the base and only holds 12 ounces of nectar, while the First Nature feeder has a clear bottle that stores more (16 ounces) and lets you see how much fluid remains. I like that the Aspects looks less like a wide clear plastic bottle, but it is also quite handy to be able to see how much of the nectar has been sipped. I also like the long metal hook on the Aspects model better than the First Nature model’s short black plastic one. However, the Aspects model runs around $25 compared with around $10 for the First Nature model, so I’m giving the nod to First Nature. The First Nature Hummingbird Feeder is a hard-working product that checks off all the boxes: It’s easy to use and clean and offers lots of perching and feeding space—all at a reasonable price.
