Homemade hummingbird food is such a simple recipe that can be made in less than 10 minutes, start to finish. As you can see from the photos, hummingbirds of all ages LOVE this homemade nectar recipe.
To Boil or Not to Boil?
You’ll note in the directions below that we boil the water first when making this hummingbird food recipe. From a health standpoint, this is not necessary as the microorganisms that cause fermentation are transported to feeders by the birds themselves, rather than in the water as is commonly believed.
The reason for boiling the water first is simply for the ease of dissolving the sugar.
Sometimes, if we’re in a hurry, we simply run a pot of plain water through the coffee pot and use the hot water to dissolve the sugar. This is known as the No-Boil method, directions for this method are further down.
You’ll Need: 2 cups water, boiling 1/2 cup white granulated sugar Hummingbird Feeders
Add sugar to boiling water, bring back up to a boil (for just under 2 minutes) Remove from heat, cool. Store in the refrigerator.
To Make 1 Gallon of Hummingbird Nectar
4 Cups of Granulated Cane Sugar 16 Cups of Water (1 gallon)
Bring the water to a boil, add the sugar, stirring occasionally. Make sure the sugar is completely dissolved. Boil for 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, cool completely before filling feeders.
Do Not boil longer than 2 minutes as you will create a thickened syrup that will attract bees/wasps/yellowjackets – making it more difficult for the hummingbirds to be able to eat in peace without having to fight for their food.
No Boil Method
You’ll Need: 2 cups very hot water 1/2 cup white granulated sugar Hummingbird Feeders
Ensure your coffee pot is thoroughly clean, then run a pot of water through it. Add sugar to the hot water, stirring constantly to completely dissolve. Cool. Store in the refrigerator.
To Make 1 Gallon of Hummingbird Nectar 4 Cups of Granulated Cane Sugar 16 Cups of Water (1 gallon)
Ensure your coffee pot is thoroughly clean, then run a pot of water through it. Add sugar to 5 cups of hot water, stirring constantly to completely dissolve, add remaining 11 cups of water, stir to ensure it’s evenly mixed. Cool completely. Store in the refrigerator.
How long does Homemade Hummingbird Nectar last?
Homemade Hummingbird nectar should be changed every 3 days, depending on the temperature. If it becomes “cloudy” or stringy, remove it immediately and wash the feeder in hot soapy water (using dish detergent).
High temperatures
Change nectar after:
71-75F
6 Days
76-80F
5 Days
81-84
4 Days
85-88
3 Days
89-92
2 Days
93+
Change Daily
WARNING: Do not vary the ingredient amounts, it can be deadly to birds. Do not substitute artificial sweeteners or honey as both are lethal to birds. Also, do not add food coloring to the water, it is unnecessary and unhealthy.
Other Interesting Facts you might enjoy about these sweet little birds:
Hummingbirds collect lichens & spider web fibers to build their nests; They will not use string, yarn or other nesting materials if you put them out, so save those items for the songbirds
Hummingbirds have little to no sense of smell and are drawn by bright colors rather than fragrances.
Be sure to put feeders up in early spring and leave them well into late fall. It is a MYTH that hummingbirds will not migrate if the food is still available. Migration takes place due to their own internal clock and by leaving the feeders up in place, you will be helping any stragglers and ensuring their successful migration.
Male Hummingbirds will often fly in a U-Shaped Pattern, this display is called the Pendulum Display. It is done to attract the ladies and to impress them enough to get them to mate. You’ll frequently see this behavior in Late Spring/Early summer while the females are on the feeders.
“Bully” hummers on your feeder? Hummingbirds are territorial. If you’re seeing a number of so-called “bullies” chasing off other hummers, simply put up more feeders. This “bullying” is natural selection hard at work and you shouldn’t interfere with it.
Perhaps you’re wondering why you should boil the water at all when making homemade hummer food.. well, boiling the water removes any impurities, over chlorination (or other chemicals) and naturally occurring bacteria that may be unhealthy for the hummingbird. Again, as a reminder, do not boil the hummingbird food solution longer than 2 minutes as this creates a syrup that will only attract bees/wasps/yellow-jackets and other undesirables.
Here's the ratio: Combine four parts hot water to one part sugar. (Do not use honey, brown sugar or artificial sweeteners in your hummingbird mixture). Mix it up until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Here's the ratio: Combine four parts hot water to one part sugar. (Do not use honey, brown sugar or artificial sweeteners in your hummingbird mixture). Mix it up until the sugar is completely dissolved.
While boiling the water will help slow the fermentation of the nectar initially, the nectar in hummingbird feeders is contaminated as soon as it is sipped by a bird. Therefore, it is not necessary to boil the nectar once the sugar has been dissolved. If you use extra fine sugar, no boiling or heating may be needed.
'Not only does cinnamon create some delicious desserts, but it also can stop ants from approaching the feeding zones for hummingbirds! ' says Zach Hutchinson. 'Spread a heavy layer of cinnamon around the base of the hooks or other infrastructure used to hold your hummingbird feeders.
Here's how to make your own homemade hummingbird nectar recipe: Combine a ratio of 4 parts water to 1 part table white sugar Bring the water to a boil to break down the sugar completely Once the mixture is cool, fill feeders
Too much sugar is hard on their liver and kidneys, and too little sugar will not provide the needed calories and may cause them to lose interest in your feeder. Do not use red dye in the nectar. Most feeders are designed with red parts to attract the notice of hummingbirds. Never add red food color to sugar water.
However, some writers suggest feeding hummingbirds a 3:1 or stronger mixture in cold weather when the nectar flow of many flowers decreases. That being said, I recommend that you stick with a 4:1 mixture. I give scores of programs on hummingbirds each year.
How often should Hummingbird Feeder Nectar be changed? If the weather is cooler, 60 degrees, then leaving the nectar for two or three days is acceptable. However, on a 90? + day, the possibility of spoilage would require that you change the nectar after one day.
During hot, dry weather, when hummingbirds risk dehydration, it's best to make your mixture no stronger than a quarter cup of sugar per cup of water. But during cold, rainy spells, making the mixture a bit stronger, up to about a third cup of sugar per cup of water, will not hurt your birds and may help them.
These can include items like peppermint oil or lemon juice, which contain strong smells that will drive away these insects. You should also try placing Rubbermaid or Tupperware containers around your home since sugar ants hate the smell of plastic.
If you find that ants are holding an ant convention in your home, it's actually the outside that you need to concentrate on if you want the little buggers gone for good. Diatomaceous earth (DE) is not only inexpensive and effective; it's non-toxic to kids, birds, and pets.
Mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts water (for example, 1 cup of sugar with 4 cups of water) until the sugar is dissolved. Do not add red dye. Fill your hummingbird feeders with the sugar water and place outside. Extra sugar water can be stored in a refrigerator.
An unsafe hummingbird feeder can hurt birds, and feeders should always be hung high enough that cats or other predators will not be able to jump at feeding birds. The feeders should also be either very close to windows or far enough away that birds can avoid the glass rather than risk collisions.
Read Next. These include perennials such as bee balms, columbines, daylilies, and lupines; biennials such as foxgloves and hollyhocks; and many annuals, including cleomes, impatiens, and petunias. Here's a list of flowering plants that attract hummingbirds. Choose varieties in red and orange shades.
Many birders advocate for 1:2 or 1:1 as "high octane fuel" to replenish a hummer's energy reserves during migration, but until there's more robust information to prove that too much sugar without enough water won't cause problems for hummers, it's best to err on the side of caution.
Introduction: My name is Allyn Kozey, I am a outstanding, colorful, adventurous, encouraging, zealous, tender, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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