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We offer 100% customer satisfaction. If an item is not what you expected, it may be returned for a refund if it is unused and in the original condition and packaging. Please call 800-817-8833 Ext. 1 for a return authorization number which should be indicated on the shippping label when it is returned so credit can be issued. Shipping charges are not refundable. Some special sale items may be marked unreturnable.
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Please call 800-817-8833, ext 1 and indicate if the package was damaged or what item was missing. We will promptly send replacement items or parts.
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At Backyard Nature Products, we do our best to ensure that your personal information is protected and kept confidential. When you purchase items on our website, your address and your payment information are encrypted using SSL technology. We will not give or sell your information to any third party. Your personal information will be kept private and will only be used to complete your online purchase.
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The best way to deter bees from your hummingbird or oriole feeder is to fill your feeder only half full with liquid. The specially tappered holes on your Birds Choice feeder are designed to stop the bees' tongues from reaching far into the nectar.
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The garden hose adapter in your dripper kit is used to connect the copper dripper tube and the tubing. By loosening the compression nut on the garden hose adapter, it is often easier to slide the copper dripper tube into one end. If losening the compression nut doesn't work, you may need to take off the compression nut, slide the copper dripper tube in, and then screw the compression nut back in to the garden hose adapter.
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On occasion granite recirculating drippers after they are unpluged for cleaning, won't run when the customer plugs it in again. In most cases this is because there is water sitting in the pump and the tubing connected to the pump. To get your recirculating dripper running again, shake out the water in your pump and the tubing. There is a small hole in the tubing to help you get out the excess water. If shaking out the water, doesn't fix the problem, let your recirculating dripper sit for a day. After after day, shake it again to see if anymore water will come out and then plug it in.
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The 4 most frequent causes of mysterious water loss from a Bird-Creek or pond are:
1. The liner has a hole in it (this is actually the least frequent of the causes)
2. Tree roots have invaded your system and are "drinking" large amounts of water
3. Water is being lost at the waterfall
4. For a creek or cascade system, water is overflowing one of the edges of the creek liner or cascade
Following are steps to pin down where the water is being lost, and then once located, it is usually straightforward to correct the problem.
Step 1 - Turn off the pump and see if the water level still drops. If it does NOT drop, go to Step 3. If it does drop, you either have a hole in the liner, or tree roots are drinking up the water. First check for tree roots by removing edging rocks and inspecting. If NO roots are found, go to Step 2. If roots are found going into the water, trim them off to several inches beyond the outside edge of the pond. Then refill the system, still leave the pump off, and observe. If the water level again drops, go to Step 2.
Step 2 - At this point, you probably have a hole in the liner. Let the water stabilize at its lowest point, and then then carefully inspect the liner all the way around the pond AT the water line. If you find a hole and it is not too large, try to patch it. Use a piece of liner about 6 inches larger than the hole all the way around the hole, and glue in place with contact cement. The liner must be dry and clean when you do this, so pump another 6 inches or so of water out of the pond to gain access for cleaning and patching. Follow the instructions on the contact cement. This is like patching an inner tube. If the hole is not patchable, you will need a new liner. It can be installed on top of the old liner. Just be sure that if a rock or other sharp object has punctured the liner, that the sharp object is removed before you install the new liner.
Step 3 - If you only loose water when the pump is in operation, then you either have a leak at the waterfall, or the water is overflowing an elevated creek liner or cascade piece. Careful inspection while the pump is operating will usually reveal where the leak is occurring - remove the edging rocks and look for damp or wet soil. Settling after a heavy rain is a common cause of water escaping a creek system. Leaves can also partially obstruct a cascade overflow lip, causing water to back up and escape over the side of the cascade. If you trace the leak to the waterfall, we strongly recommend you place all of the waterfall rocks within the perimeter of the liner as the most fool proof way to stop waterfall water loss.
Other documented causes of mysterious water loss are:
Large furry dogs taking a bath
Strong winds stripping water off a waterfall
Large flocks of birds, such as grackles, bathing
Underestimating evaporation on hot dry days
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When pond kits become overrun by algae or black scum, some people's first reaction is to try to drain the water. This however is not the best way to keep your pond clean. Using barley straw, biological clarifier, and adding shallow plants will help maintain a clean pond. For information on how to maintain a balanced pond environment, read the article "How to Control Algae" which can be found in our Expert Article section.
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Orioles love grape jelly. Many people have had great success by using grape jelly to attract them.
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Before and after the flower season, is when the butterflies need the nectar in your feeder the most. You can also put ripe fruit like bananas on the top to attract butterflies. If you want to save on nectar, put small pebbles or rocks in the nectar base. This will raise your nectar level without using so much nectar.
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The best product to feed your hummingbirds, orioles, or butterflies is specially formulated nectar. We have two kinds of nectar. Our Birds Choice Butterfly Nectar is formulated with sugars, salts, and amino acids designed specifically for butterflies. We also have Oriole & Hummingbird Nectar that is also specially formulated and can be used in different proportions depending on which type of bird you are trying to attract.
NEVER use dyes or artificial sweetners in your feeders. Artificial sweetners have no food value and will harm your birds and butterflies. If nectar is not available, use 100% pure granulated white sugar.
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We ship most of our items using UPS ground.
The cost of shipping depends on the weight and size of the box. It also depends on where the package is being shipped. We won't know the exact cost of shipping until the order is packaged and put into the shipping computer.
If possible we will send smaller, light-weight items like replacement parts in a small bubble envelope in the mail, and customers will just be charged for the postage.
In some cases, the website shipping calculator may overestimate the shipping cost of these small items or multiples of the same item. If that is the case, we will charge the actual, lower shipping cost to your credit card and we will notify you through e-mail if a reduction in the shipping cost has been made.
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Most orders are shipped within one to two business days.
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A customer service representative can be reached by e-mail through the "Contact Us" page. To speak to a customer service representative, you can call 800-817-8833 Ext. 1. The best time to reach customer service is Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Central Standard Time.
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Your bluebird house should be mounted 4 to 5 feet above the ground in a grassy open area. Many specialty bird stores sell a bluebird pole and mounting kit or your can go to your local hardware store and make one yourself.
Check to see if your local hardware store carries 1" electrical conduit (metal pipe). You will need a 5 or 6 foot section of pipe and one or two conduit brackets with screws for securing the pipe to the back of your bluebird house. If your house is made out of 7/8" cedar, you will be able to insert the screws into your house with a simple screw driver. If your house is made out of 5/8" poly-lumber, you will need to pre-drill the holes for your screws. Be sure to tighten your screws in the brackets securely, so your bird house does not slide down your pole.
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Hummingbirds:
Disslove 6.4 oz nectar packet in 4 cups of boiled water. (Or approx. 1 cup of boiled water to 1/4 cup of sugar). Let cool before filling feeders. Store extra nectar in the refrigerator to prevent spoiling.
Orioles:
Dissolve 6.4 oz nectar packet in 6 cups of boiled water. (Or approx. 1 cup of boiled water to 1/6 cup of sugar). Let cool before filling feeders. Store extra nectar in the refrigerator to prevent spoiling.
Butterflies:
Dissolve 7.5 oz butterfly nectar packet in 6 cups of boiled water. (Or approx. 1 cup of boiled water to 1-1/2 tablespoons of sugar). Let cool before filling feeders. Store extra nectar in the refrigerator to prevent spoiling.
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The 16 oz Window-Mount Oriole Feeder (NP1014) and the 16 oz Window-Mount Hummingbird Feeder (NP1013) were originally designed to hang on a brass hanging rod like the 12 oz models. However, when the oblong feeders are filled with nectar, they do not hang straight. So the window mount bracket with 4 suction cups was designed for them. So even though the 16 oz model may still have the threaded center, we do not recommend hanging them.
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No, you will not attract bluebirds if you hang your house. Bluebird houses must be mounted. (Please refer to the FAQ "How do I mount my bluebird house?")
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