We have our feeders hanging from the eves close to the house so that any radiated heat will keep them from freezing as quickly as ones out in the open. Maybe it won't help as much on newer better insulated homes. We use the flat type without the container above and they start to freeze from the side away from the house first leaving some ports on the house side usable longer. The house also give a little protection from the wind.

We also change the mix from 4-1 to 3-1. The extra sugar will not hurt them. We have read numerous articles that state that 4-1 is the preferred mix and use it most of the time. Switching to 3-1 is supposed to act like anti-freeze and it has to be colder before it will freeze. To be honest, we have not done a side by side test to know for sure but we think it takes a little longer before freezing. If we get out today, we will buy another feeder to be able to have two of the same type side by side to see. It will also be interesting to see which feeder they will prefer.

Hummers can only eat as much as their crop will hold by volume when they visit a feeder. When the syrup has a higher concentration of sugar, it has a higher percentage of energy per crop full. The hummer is able to sit longer before it has to fill it's crop again.

Bob & Bernie Meyer
Renton
BobnBernie at Comcast.net