Cold Weather Care For A Hummingbird Feeder & Apple Graft Fruiting

Question:

Should Hummingbird Feeders be stored for the winter? If not, how do I go about protecting it from the cold? Also, could I capture one and keep it as a pet?                 

Answer:

  • Hummingbirds are active during winter as long as they have a food source. Hummingbirds have the highest energy expenditure of any warm-blooded animal. A hummingbird must take in more than its body weight in nectar daily, which can be difficult during the winter. With little to no flowers for nectar, a liquid feeder is the only option.
    • So, I wouldn’t be inclined to take it down. I’d also replace my Hummingbird food with Kaytee Hummingbird ElectroNectar.  Kaytee Hummingbird ElectroNectar is the first-ever hydrating energy drink for Hummingbirds. This naturally clear nectar was developed to mimic flower nectar with added electrolytes and no added colors for overwintering hummingbirds. It’s available online and elsewhere.
    • On those nights when the temperature will dip below thirty-two degrees, you have two options. You can bring the feeder inside at night and put it back out early in the morning. Hummingbirds must start feeding early in the day after coming out of a’ torpor’.
    • The torpor stage is similar to hibernation, which occurs when their metabolism slows down or food is in short supply. Your other option is to insulate the feeder by wrapping the bottle in bubble wrap.
    • Keeping a hummingbird as a pet is possible with the right size structure and food sources; however,  it is illegal. In the United States, capturing a hummingbird violates the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This law makes possessing or capturing any migratory bird, including hummingbirds, illegal.
      • In addition to the prohibition of holding or capturing a hummingbird, the act also makes it unlawful to keep a hummingbird's nest, egg, or baby. The penalties for breaking this law include a steep fine.

NOTE: Hummingbird facts from a variety of sources:  Hummingbirds can flap their wings more than fifty times a second. They can fly in any direction at speeds of thirty miles per hour or more and have a heart rate of over twelve hundred beats per minute. Hummingbirds can flap their wings at a staggering eighty times per second and lick their food at about thirteen licks per second. They do not use their feet for walking or jumping but for perching. Hummingbirds have a lifespan of about four years, grow to about eight inches in length, and weigh less than an ounce.

Question:

How soon would I get fruit if an apple graft were successful? Also, does the fruitless portion of the tree impact the graft?

Answer:

  • You’ll get fruit on a successful graft in one to two growing seasons.
  • Your biggest concern is not allowing the fruitless portion of the tree to overgrow the new graft. Also, it must be braced when the fruit matures so the weight doesn’t cause it to break off.