The DIY Disaster: Building a Hummingbird Enclosure That Bankrupted Me

The Dream Was Pure: I just wanted a peaceful backyard haven filled with fluttering hummingbirds and blooming flowers.

Planning Spiraled Fast: What started as a $500 budget exploded as I watched DIY YouTube videos that made everything look easy.

Wrong Materials, Big Money: I used glass panels (for “a better view”), which cost 10x more than mesh.

Permits? What Permits?: The city fined me for building a structure without a permit. That $1,000 mistake could’ve been avoided with one phone call.

Foundation Fiasco: I tried pouring concrete myself. I underestimated how much I’d need—then overcompensated and cracked my driveway.

Professional Help = Debt: Midway, I panicked and hired a contractor to “fix” it. Turns out, he had to demolish most of it. $7,200 down the drain.

Hummingbirds Didn’t Care: I finally set it up—sugar feeders, flowers, misters—and not a single bird visited for weeks.

Mold and Mosquitoes: The water features created standing water issues. Now my backyard is a breeding ground for bugs.

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