Every time I spot a hummingbird, it feels like I’m witnessing something special. In fact, I get such a thrill from seeing these high-speed aviary creatures in my yard, I’m taking it to the next level by installing feeders. Here, I put the More Birds Vintage Hummingbird Feeder to work. Read on to find out if the local hummingbirds, or hummers, return my affection.
Design: Retro cool
The design of the Vintage Hummingbird Feeder from More Birds is lovely. I appreciate that the detachable base is not plastic, as many on the market are, but instead metal with a burnt penny finish. Five little flowers (red, as the hue is known to attract the birds) adorn the base and double as feeding stations, and five corresponding metal perches allow ample space for multiple birds to feed at once. The wide-mouthed, vintage-inspired bottle twists on and off of the base for easy cleaning (more on that later). It’s made of aqua-tinted but transparent glass, so you can monitor the nectar level. The only problem with this feeder is that the metal ring around the top of the feeder does not fit snugly. This causes the attached metal loop for hanging the feeder to also not fit. Because the pieces are metal and glass, there is no give, so the feeder doesn’t easily hang straight and bows out to the side slightly when in a hanging position. These metal pieces are not easily adjustable, so I ended up just hanging it as is, and it looks a tad awkward. Birds probably won’t care about this, however, and the flaw didn’t end up detracting from the feeder as much as I expected.
Ease of Use: A snap
I was worried this feeder’s awkward attachment mechanism would make the nectar-filling process more challenging, as it’s harder to hold the feeder level when using the hanger. Happily, I discovered that the More Birds feeder is very easy to use. The bottle, which holds 20 ounces of fluid, easily attaches to and from the base, so filling with nectar is a snap. I have filled it numerous times now, and it has been an entirely mess-free experience—not so with other feeders I have tried. The feeder has a flat bottom, which means it can be flipped over and set down on a surface after filling. This is important because you can fill it without immediately taking it out to hang. Again, this is not the case with other feeders, with which you often end up holding a tube filled with sticky liquid that can’t be put down without spilling. We didn’t get a ton of hummingbirds at this feeder (I imagine because it doesn’t have the same bright red wow factor of other feeders we tried—beyond the feeding stations, anyway), but we did have a few regular visitors that seemed as enchanted as we were.
Ease of Cleaning: Simple
It’s important to clean out and replace the nectar in your hummingbird feeder on a regular basis (every few days or every week, depending on the weather and sun exposure); otherwise, it will become rancid and moldy. Thankfully, as previously mentioned, the bottle and the base come apart, so the feeder is easy to clean with a brush in warm, soapy water. Do not put the feeder in the dishwasher, as the high temperatures can damage it.
Price: Fair
This feeder retails for about $25, which is pretty standard for glass hummingbird feeders. I think it is a fair price for such a lovely feeder, which, in addition to attracting birds, adds beauty to the yard. Some of the other glass feeders on the market are made of red-colored glass, which appeals to me visually and draws in more birds in my experience. However, those make it harder to gauge the nectar level. It’s worth noting that replacement parts are available from Classic Brands, the parent company of More Birds.
More Birds Vintage Hummingbird Feeder vs. First Nature Hummingbird Feeder
I tested both of these feeders and found them to be similar in functional design. Both offer a central container of fluid and stations surrounding the base of the feeder. The More Birds product holds 20 ounces and costs around $25, while the First Nature feeder holds 16 and is priced around $10. The More Birds model also boasts more visual appeal (at least for humans) with its vintage glass bottle design and flowers that double as feeding stations, whereas the First Nature feeder is made of simple clear and red plastic. I give the edge to the More Birds product, as I love its floral motif. However, the First Nature product is a good alternative for less money that attracted more birds. I love the style and simplicity of the More Birds Vintage Hummingbird Feeder, even if it doesn’t hang exactly right. This feeder brings not only more birds to our backyard but also more beauty.
