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.
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.
Warm the water in the microwave (it doesn't need to boil - just warm enough to dissolve the sugar). Store remainder in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or use for oriole nectar "starter" (see shortcut below).
The hummers will prefer homemade nectar to store-bought any day. Additives like flavorings, vitamins, and other supplements touted by commercial products aren't necessary for hummingbirds' health, but they are touted as a means of attracting more birds.
While boiling will help slow the fermentation of the nectar initially, the nectar in hummingbird feeders is contaminated as soon as a bird sips it. Therefore, you do not need to boil the nectar once the sugar has been dissolved.
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.
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.
If your nectar gets cloudy a few days after mixing, that would be mold, and it should be thrown away, and cleaned better and more frequently. Mold can develop even in refrigerated nectar.
Feeders should be either far away from windows or very close to windows to help avoid the risk of collisions. Consider a feeder with suction cups, like this Jewel Box Window Hummingbird Feeder, to help keep your hummingbirds safe.
Did you know there are peak times for hummingbird feeding? These little dynamos prefer to feed in the early morning – just after they wake up – and in the evening – just before settling in for the night. They need the energy boost before they hit the sheets and then again after the sunrise.
Believe it or not, the nectar in your hummingbird feeders should ideally be changed every 2 to 4 days with warmer or humid climates being closer to every 1-2 days. You might ask, "Why such regularity, Pop's?" It's all about ensuring freshness.
Some birds are just lighter and/or less colorful than others. Q: A friend of mine uses red Gatorade in his hummingbird feeder and says he sees them around all the time. Is this good or bad for the birds, and does it really work? A: No, no, no.
Perches that are out in the open and offer good fields of view will be most attractive to protective hummingbirds. Nectar can quickly spoil on hot summer days, and if your nectar has gone cloudy or shows a filmy substance or black specks inside the feeder, it is time for a thorough cleaning.
White granulated cane sugar the #1 preferred for use in hummingbird feeders. White granulated sugar is the closest we can come to the natural nectar in flowers. Spring water is preferred, but most tap water is acceptable.
That is close to the concentration in natural nectar from flowers. If you use too much sugar, the hummingbirds don't get enough water for the amount of sugar, and that is bad for them.
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.
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