Customer Reviews

Perky Pet Products 217 8-Ounce Window Mount Hummingbird Feeder

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I discovered the existence of the Perky Pet Window Mount Hummingbird Feeder last year at the dentist's office. While sitting in "the chair" waiting for my checkup, I noticed this feeder stuck to the long plate glass window opposite me. To my amazement, within minutes at least three different hummingbirds arrived to take a drink. I was fascinated to observe them so closely and thought how clever an idea it was to manufacture a feeder to bring the birds right to your window. I asked the dentist where he got the feeder and went out after my appointment and purchased one (not from Amazon).

The pluses and one minus follow:

++Easy to set up.++
After opening the box, attach the bird perch onto the feeder with the included screw. Pick a spot on the outside window where you want the feeder. Wet the inside of the included suction cup with water and press it on the window. You can even do this from inside your house if you want to attach your feeder to an upstairs window. Just test and make sure that the suction cup won't get knocked off when you open and close the window!

++Easy to clean.++
It is very important to clean the feeder prior to the first use, as well as when you change the sugar water solution, which should be done every 2-3 days, especially in hot weather. For cleaning, buy an inexpensive baby bottle brush cleaner that also has a smaller nipple brush attached to the other end. The large brush can clean the main sugar water container and the smaller brush works fantastically to get into the reservoir section to really scrub it out. Just use warm water and dish soap, rinse, and you're ready to fill.

++Easy to fill.++
The base (reservoir) of the feeder is removable and there is a wide area to pour in your sugar solution without needing a funnel. Once the base is off, just turn the feeder upside down, fill it, and reattach the base. Keep holding it upside down until you're ready to place it on the suction cup. Turn it carefully but quickly right side up, hang it on the suction cup, and you're done!

++No ant problems!++
Knock on wood, but I have never had problems with ants getting into the feeders. Perhaps it is because the feeders are on smooth glass and the ants can't walk across the window? I'm not sure why, but no ants have bothered them.

--The plastic brackets that click the base into place can break.--
Although this is a minus, it is not a big deal and does not take away from the 5-star rating. Why? Because even with the brackets broken off, the base has absolutely no problem staying attached. The fit is snug to begin with, so the brackets are more of an insurance thing than an absolute necessity. The feeder I've been using for almost 2 years has never had the base fall off even without the plastic brackets.


Since I bought my first feeder over a year ago, I have since purchased three additional ones. My children have one in each of their rooms and I put the third one in another downstairs window. Every single one of them is visited many times a day by our area hummingbirds. It is a joy to be standing at the kitchen sink, making beds, or doing everyday chores and look up to observe a hummingbird fly in, perch, and take a long drink from one of our feeders. Being able to see hummingbirds "up close and personal" is always a treat!

Here are some tips (not all related to the product, but helpful nonetheless) that I have found useful in feeding hummingbirds:

**Don't fill the feeders completely.**
Since I change my sugar water every 2 days, I only fill the feeders about 1/4 full, if that. Unless your feeders empty out quickly, not filling them up the whole way will save on sugar water waste and will take less time to dump out, clean, and refill.

**Make your own sugar water solution.**
It is easy to do and less expensive than commercial nectar. You don't need to boil the water (unless your water isn't safe; if that's the case, you should boil it before YOU even drink it! :)). Add 1/4 to 1/3 cup granulated sugar to 1 cup water in a clean container. Mix well until the sugar has dissolved and you're good to go. The sugar water will last for a week in the refrigerator. Make sure you cover the top of the container. On a side note, I have heard that Domino pure cane sugar is what the hummingbirds prefer; don't know why, but it does seem to make a difference!

**When you take the feeders down for cleaning, keep them as upright as possible until you can get to your sink.**
I have forgotten this on occasion and had to clean up some sugar water spills. This is especially important if you are removing outside feeders from the inside of your house (e.g., if your feeders are in upstairs windows). Try to keep them as level as possible when moving them into the room from the window. You may want to have some paper towels to place underneath the feeders as you move them to catch any spills.

The above tips have helped me to attract and enjoy hummingbirds over the last year and a half. I look forward to spring when they arrive and am sorry to see them go in the fall. The best thing is, once they know you'll feed them consistently, they will come back year after year.

I've got two of these, but will not be getting any more. As indicated in other reviews, the tabs holding the two pieces together break off very easily, making the feeder all but unusable. The other problem is that these feeders leak sugar water at the joint between the two pieces, which means they're constantly covered with bees and wasps, which chase the hummers away.

The hummingbirds like them while they last, but there are better options out there. I'd recommend the Opus model 455 window feeder instead. It doesn't break or leak, and the birds like it a lot.

Although our hummers love this feeder, and a window feeder lets us see them readily, this feeder is difficult to fill and difficult to clean. There are 2 plastic hooks that you compress to open it; the first broke within the first two fillings, and the second broke a few weeks later. I've jury-rigged it with wire, but you have to clean and refill these feeders often, so another design that opens more easily would be much better.

I found this product to work well, generally: it lasted about a season for me and being able to watch the birds up close was really neat. If you're new to hummers, it's an easy, fairly inexpensive way to get started. However, after using it for a few months the piece that connects the reservoire to the base broke and I ended up having to go buy a new one. I bought 3 of these (the same thing happen with each) before deciding to spend a bit more to avoid that hassle. (And by that point, the hummers had discovered the feeder and were visiting regularly, so I had to replace it quickly!)

The clear plastic that holds the clear part to the red bottom to the is way too easy to break. It's a shame because the hummingbirds like to use it -- and it's a great way to watch them. I have bought four of them and no matter how careful I am it breaks sooner or later!

I love this feeder. I've had quite a few of them over the years. You have to be careful when you mount it on the window that it is totally secured - I've managed to break a few by thinking it was secure and then having it fall from it's high perch. But other than that it's great. Good design! I actually take out one of the flower petals that is used to cover the larger hole so that it's the right size for a hummingbird and then the Orioles can use it too.

We built our home in a rural area 14 years ago, and are lucky to have hummingbirds in our back yard. So getting them to come to a feeder has been a breeze. They're highly entertaining, and making nectar is a lot easier than messing with bird seed!

From the start, I put a hanging feeder in the front yard on a shepherd's hook. On the patio window, I placed a Perky Pet Window Mount feeder. From the living room, I can see both feeders. There's almost always someone at one or the other, sometimes both. Hummer fans will surely understand how special this is.

The reason I bought Perky Pet is because locally, that's what every store carries. This is the only window mount feeder available in the brick and mortar stores. It's a frustrating product though. I've never had a problem with the suction cup. I've had petals blow off, but the hummers don't mind that. The problem is the prongs on the back of the reservoir. Sometime, they're going to break. I've had them break on first filling and fiftieth filling, and even if I can get the well to stay on the reservoir for awhile, eventually it slides off. I only mount one of these at a time, and have bought as many as 3 in a season. I've also had them last more than one season but never more than two. The hummers get frustrated if the food disappears. They chase us around!

I've emailed Perky Pet about this issue, which they acknowledge. That's been a couple years ago, and I bought a new one this spring, because last year's broke. Well, two weeks ago, a prong broke off, and I know I'm on borrowed time. I will not buy another of these, since the problem hasn't been resolved. I'll look for a window feeder by another manufacturer. This is the only Perky Pet feeder I've had a problem with, and I would not recommend it. I know I've bought at least 20 of these, and every single one has broken. I've only bought two for the shepherd's hook!

I've had one of these feeders for over 3 years now and it's still working fine. I've read other reviews that say it broke quickly and I'd have to attribute it to putting the feeder in the sun. I had a different type of hummingbird feeder that I hung at an east facing window and it began to crack after one summer and failed after less than 2 years. Sunshine will break down any plastic feeder quickly, causing it to crack and eventually fail. Direct sunlight will also cause your sugar water to spoil faster so you have to change it more often. Find a northern exposure window or place it under a shady awning or eve and it will last for many years. If you want a feeder in a sunny window, you'd better stick with a glass model.

Pros: Easy to clean and fill and a wonderful design for watching hummingbirds from the comfort of your living room.

Cons: The clips that connect the base are a little fragile, but as long as you don't squeeze too hard I don't think they will break. I also wish it held more nectar--I have a lot of hummers and they can drain it quickly.

The clips that you have to press in to remove the container to fill it are so cheap that they snap off with the slightest pressure. I ordered three and the shipment was cheaply packaged and one was cracked. All in all, just cheap junk and I won't order this brand again. So very disappointed. I might as well have taken my money and burned it. Of all the items i have bought off of Amazon, I'm surprised they would have such a shoddy vendor and item. ][...]

I had to replace my old feeder (same style) only because I gave it to an admirer. I'm even more pleased with my new feeder as they have improved the mechanism that unlocks the base. I've ordered several more to give away as gifts and add to my collection.