4092 Dupont Parkway, Townsend, DE 19734 / 302-378-8441
The Bird House
Our latest project, The Bird House, is our newest retail space here at Willey Farms. In it's former life, it was one of our growing greenhouses and has served us well over the years. Now, the growing will be done at Chris Willey's home farm. In our search for more space to grow, we upgraded the exterior of the growing house and put in a brand new concrete floor. When we open on Saturday, March 11th, the new building will be home to bird houses, bird food, bird feeders, hummingbird food, feeders and houses. Backyard farmers will find chicken & rabbit supplies too. We have Beaverdam dog foods, plus dog and cat treats and toys. Yard decor like garden flags, outdoor rugs, chimes and metal signs will have a home here as well.
We will also be working with the folks over at the Delaware Park Service to provide you with maps and information on area parks and trails.
Hummingbird Feeder Tips
Officially, there are about 5 hummingbird varieties seen in
Delaware, but generally, the ruby throated hummingbird will
be the regular visitor to your backyard. Most people report
having their first sighting in April but depending upon the
temperature, some have sightings as early as late March.
When it comes to the care of your hummingbird feeders, there are a few things to remember. In hot weather, the feeder should be emptied and cleaned twice per week. In cooler weather, once per week is enough. If your hummingbirds empty the feeder with greater frequency, clean it every time it's empty. Cleaning with hot tap water works fine.
Put your feeder in a spot that gets a moisture of sun and shade throughout the day. If the sun is too intense, the nectar can spoil or ferment in a short period of time. During hot weather, change the nectar every two days or so. In cooler temps, once a week is fine.
And when it comes to the all important nectar, it's not as hard as you may have heard! It does not have to be the color red and the water does not have to be boiled. Water out of your tap as hot as you can get it, is just fine. Combine water and sugar in a ratio of 2 to 1 and be sure to shake or stir the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved.