How to save hummingbirds in my barn?

[Dargo]

Today it seems that 4 hummingbirds, possibly a 5th - they keep moving, flew into my barn and just keep bumping into the inside ceiling. They've been buzzing around inside there for almost 6 hours now with both 16' overhead doors open. I don't want to leave my barn open overnight with weather coming in but I fear the hummingbirds will be dead by morning if I close them in. I've found several hummingbirds dead in my barns over the years and I'd strongly prefer to not see others die in there.

I put up one of those red feeders from the trusses. My wife drove a forklift with me standing on a pallet to get me up to the 20' bottom of the trusses. Anyone know of something else I can do? I have about 4 more hours before I need to close the doors.

 

[NSBound]

I'd think the feeder in the trusses would encourage them to stay. I might be more inclined to hang it instead outside the garage door, where they can see it, maybe on a post or pole or something like that. Either that, or cut bunches of red or orange flowers from your garden and put them in a big vase outside the garage doors. And then be ready to close the doors when they leave! Good luck, let us know how you make out.

 

[Dargo]

I'd think the feeder in the trusses would encourage them to stay. I might be more inclined to hang it instead outside the garage door, where they can see it, maybe on a post or pole or something like that. Either that, or cut bunches of red or orange flowers from your garden and put them in a big vase outside the garage doors. And then be ready to close the doors when they leave! Good luck, let us know how you make out.

Okay, good point. I was just concerned about them dying right away. I'll go move the feeder outside the doors but within sight of most of the inside of the barn. My wife has some flowers in the landscaping around our pool that are orange (black eyed Susan flowers?) and I can put them by the feeder as well.

Thanks. I know it sounds trivial, but I like hummingbirds and hate to see them die in my barn. If I can do something within reason to save them I will.

 

[jinman]

Find something large and bright red to put on the ground in clear sight right outside the door. If they are not too panicked and flailing around, they will check out the red and then discover their freedom. A bright read t-shirt or a red dress belonging to your wife would work well.

 

[Stimw]

Kinda late but I second something red. I have a feeder in my yard and I watched a Hummingbird leave the feeder and fly straight to a red reflector on the rear of my old Crapsman tractor. It kind of pecked at it and then left at Warp Speed! (I think I heard him say "Nobody saw that". )

 

[jk96]

Dargo,

I posted a similar thread about a week ago and with Jinmans and others advise on the red solution, I parked my tractor just outside the 14' overhead. Within an hour or two he was gone.



jk

 

[JakeBrake]

We keep a long-handled net to rescue hummingbirds that can't figure out how to get out of our garage. After the hummingbird is tired, it is not difficult to net. Our garage has a 12' ceiling. we keep the door closed most of the time.

Even though we keep the door closed most of the time, a Carolina Wren managed to build a nest and lay eggs on a shelf in the garage this spring. After we discovered the nest, we left a 3" crack in the garage door. The wren had no problem navigating in and out of the garage.

Two of the eggs hatched. When the two baby wrens left the nest, they fluttered around on the garage floor for awhile and then took off to the great outdoors.

After a couple of days we were sure they were gone and we removed the nest. A couple of weeks later we saw two apparently adult Carolina wrens in the garage. We feel sure these were the two baby wrens returning to the nest.

 

[Charlesaf3]

Good for you for trying. I like hummingbirds too. So far haven't gotten them in the barn, though some bird is determined to nest in there...

Were you able to help them?

Didn't realize red lured them, but they do love red Monarda, (Bee Balm) so no surprise.

 

[20 20]

Had the same thing happen earlier this summer had to catch 1 by hand and carry it outside. I don't think he was very happy about me catching him, but atleast he lived to see another day.

 

[Dargo]

Since I have security cameras, I went ahead and left the doors open last night. We only had plain ole rain and I have floor drains in the barn. I looked all around as best I could and I didn't see any of them this morning. Yeah! It's a pretty big barn and I didn't look under each shelf or climb up and look on top of each shelf (in case they died there), but I'm hoping they made it out okay. With any luck I won't find the little fellas later in the barn. Thanks for the suggestions. You may have saved a few hummingbirds!