Customer Reviews

Perky-Pet 203CP Pinch Waist Glass 8-Ounce Hummingbird Feeder

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

The fact that this is one of the most popular hummingbird feeders on the market is mostly due to its wide availability, cheap price, and gaudy styling rather than its quality. I used these feeders for years before discovering better designs, and I came to hate them. The first thing I noticed was that they're hard to clean, with too many small parts and hard-to-reach tubes and crevices. It takes way too long to take the feeder apart, get all the parts clean, and reassemble it.

The next thing that became apparent is that the "bee guards" really don't do a very good job. Honeybees and wasps can't reach the solution through intact guards, but some long-tongued bumblebees can, and tiny bees just crawl right through the guards (and often right into the bottle!). They're also bright yellow, the same color as many bee-pollinated flowers (what was the manufacturer thinking?). The insects really swarm around when the solution oozes out, as it's prone to do on warm days (particularly if you refill the bottle with refrigerated solution).

It didn't take long to discover that this feeder is also not very durable. The plastic parts don't hold up to exposure to sunlight, becoming brittle and loose over time (more quickly in sunny or high-elevation areas, where intense UV light seems to deteriorate the plastic more quickly). The hardened glass bottle is actually the most durable part of this feeder, while the bee guards are the first parts to break down. The size is okay, though if you've only got one or two hummingbirds visiting you won't want to fill the feeder completely.

The best hummingbird feeders cost about twice as much as this model, but they will last at least 10 times as long. The feeders I use most now are the Hummzingers from Aspects and the Droll Yankees LF, both saucer-style feeders. For high-traffic times such as late summer, I switch to the Nature's Best bottle feeder. I never use anything in my feeders except the solution recommended by all hummingbird experts: sugar water made from 3 to 5 parts water to 1 part white table sugar (do not add food coloring!). This is much more economical and probably also healthier (and tastier) for the birds than overpriced chemical-laced commercial mixes such as Perky Pet's "Instant Nectar." The solution should be changed every 2 to 4 days and the feeder cleaned thoroughly at least once a week, no matter what kind of hummingbird feeder you use.

I love this feeder and so do the hummingbirds! Last year I had a different type (plastic bottle and without perches) and only had the occasional hummingbird. This year I bought one of the Perky Pet Pinch Waist feeders and I had a hummingbird in less than 20 minutes, within a week I bought two more to keep up with demand. I like the design of the feeder - the "pinched waist" gives it a little bit of character, and the size is large enough to be practical without being invasive. The three feeders are suspended by plant hooks under the eaves on the deck, which places them very close to the house. I have 10 "regulars" and several "visitors" that feed from dawn to twilight every day. I have to fill the feeders every morning - because they are empty and the little buggers have taken to scolding me when I'm not up early enough for their breakfast! I make half a gallon of nectar (4 parts water to 1 part sugar, brought to a low boil to extend freshness, per the wild bird experts) twice a week - yes that's a full gallon. I thought about getting larger capacity feeders, but this way I can do a hot water rinse of the bottle and reservoir every day and a thorough cleaning weekly. Although ants and hornets are a problem in our area, so far they haven't discovered the hummingbird feeders.

When I have company they are absolutely fascinated by the "show" they get from these cheeky little birds. They bicker (loudly), display, duel and chest bump each other to establish territory (the hummingbirds, not my guests). Some of them will share willingly with others and sit side-by-side at the feeder; some don't want any other hummers - at any of the feeders - while they are feeding. Most will perch, some will not. Most are used to me at the kitchen window and don't seem bothered when I watch them feed less than two feet away. I don't know how long the feeders will last, but for the price and the entertainment value, even if I have to replace them next year, it's been money well spent.

Just bought the second feeder. Yes, it does require some cleaning, but I now have a fresh one ready to hang while I wash the first feeder. Inexpensive and the birds are lapping up my homemade nectar-no red dye !!!!

This has been, by far, my most used feeder for over 20 years. Unlike many of the Perky Pet feeders, the base opens up, and it can be visually, manually cleaned. I use a hummingbird feeder sponge mop or brush on the bottle, and a regular dishwashing sponge mop for glasses, a toothbrush, a finger, and either a Q-tip or hummingbird portal brush for cleaning the parts of the base. Moldy beeguards get soaked in 10% Chlorox. This, plus the inverted glass bottle design and the small reservoir base, keeps the solution clear for extended periods, with little wastage. It's easy to tell when the solution is gone or cloudy, and I mix it up fresh, without dye, shaken inside the bottle with cold tap water and ready to be hung. Hummingbirds definitely like the perches, and I've never seen or heard of a hummer being injured on it. I haven't had significant problems with bees, wasps, or house finches. Migrating orioles can get a bit of nectar from underneath the beeguards, and, when I see them, I remove a few beeguards to try to keep them around. I use water-filled ant moats, shorten the tethers, and place them under the eaves outside windows to maximize viewing and to limit insects, sun, wind movement, and spillage. This size is good for small numbers of hummers, but I try out other and larger feeders during peak migration from late August to late September. I have 7 of these, and use all of them during the peak fall migration, scattered about the house to try to decrease jousting. Replacement parts are available.

It's difficult in our area to buy feeders w/perches so this one is great; we like to watch the hummers at rest. I'm happy to have found them at Amazon! We've had our identical original Perky Pet pinch waist feeders over 6 years now ~ just ordered up another!

They've held up very well; one hangs in an east-facing tree the other faces west. Hanging in dappled light the solution stays fresher longer and plastic parts don't degrade in the sun. The red 'flower' part can be removed if you don't care for the look.

Cleaning has never been a problem with this model. Besides the perches, that's the other reason why I've been searching for more of these feeders. I've always put the parts in the dishwasher and just don't use the heat cycle to dry (bee guards in silverware compartment).

I fill it with a 1:4 sugar/water ratio; NO food coloring; boiled and cooled. This feeder holds just about 1 cup of solution. Mix 1/4 c sugar to 1 c hot water, stir to dissolve and boil. If making larger proportion just keep remaining amount covered and refrigerated until needed.

To prevent ant visitors I coat a metal hanger with Vaseline or Tanglefoot Pest Barrier before hooking the loop of the feeder onto it.

re: hanging assembly ~ make a knot in one end of the plastic coated hanging wire (which comes packaged inside the glass feeder) using pliers (if needed, I didn't) to tighten down. Unscrew the red lid from top of feeder and slip the straight end from the bottom of lid up through the hole. Bend to make a small loop at end of the straight part, wrapping free end once or twice around base of loop to secure the wire. Screw lid back onto glass feeder portion. Screw perch onto the bottom of feeder base with provided screw, fill glass w/nectar, screw on base, upend, and hang loop onto a wire hanger.

re: bee guards ~ though customer service is very helpful w/bee guard issues, they can be purchased relatively inexpensively at many nature, pet, or discount stores...

Attracted several hummingbirds all summer. Used natural sugar and water solution (1 part cane sugar to 4 parts water). You'll need a bottle brush and a pack of pipe cleaners to keep it clean once a week.

We've had this feeder for a year and have had good success attracting hummingbirds with it. The bright red color apparently does a good job luring them to our window. It's a little inconvenient to clean but I don't mind because my wife does it.
We have it hanging on a hanging device attached to a deck rail in front of a window. The only problem with this set up is that I can barely see the hummingbirds who invariable decide to perch on the opposite side of the feeder.
Watching the hummingbirds is a joy. It might be a good idea to add a water baffle to the top to discourage ants. It really works.

I've tried all kinds of hummingbird feeders and I keep coming back to this because of the bee guards. Without these, and this is about the only one I know of with these, at least this type, you attract ALL KINDS OF BEES so bad sometimes the hummer can't get a word in edge wise. The guards are a pain cause sometimes they fall off and get lost or you just have to keep putting them back, but you can get replacements and this one works good. Kind of hard to clean, but overall if you want to attract hummers with a reliable performer, this is it.

I have had one of these for about ten years and only purchased another because the bees started robbing it and had lost the bee gaurds. Hummers have no trouble getting past them but bees and finches are kept out. The bottom is easy to overtighten and strip so some care must be taken there. Tighten until the threads just bottom out and it should last for years. Only real drawback is it's kind of a pain to clean inside of bottle because of the shape.

Many small plastic pieces. It does work as there are always hummingbirds. The ants love it too.
Easy to refill.