How To Make Hummingbird Food
Hummingbird food Here in Sacramento we mostly see Anna’s Hummingbirds. They love to drink from my fuschias and the neighbor’s trumpet vine. Since the males like to fight over the flowers, I put a hummingbird feeder right outside my kitchen window so they have an alternative dining area. This also gives them a constant food supply.
Did you know that hummingbirds eat half their body weight in bugs and nectar each day? Yes, these tiny birds are omnivores and sometimes eat insects and spiders in addition to plant nectar. But I’m guessing that you’d rather install a feeder full of hummingbird nectar than a feeder full of spiders and bugs, right?
Important Tips for Making Hummingbird Food
Keep the ratio exactly as listed. If you dilute the solution with more water, they’ll have to drink too much and won’t get enough nutrients.
Only use plain white granulated sugar. Don’t use brown sugar, agave nectar, honey–which can kill hummingbirds–or powdered sugar, which contains cornstarch.
Don’t add any food coloring to the water. A good hummingbird feeder has plenty of color to attract them, and the birds can’t process all the chemicals in the food coloring.
Not all hummers migrate! You can keep your feeder out all year as long as you keep it full and clean.
Place your feeder out in the open, out of reach of Neighbor Kitty.
full Recipe For Hummingbird Food
If ants start invading the feeder, put some Vaseline in a ring on the pole or on the feeder itself. It’s like a giant oil slick that keeps them from the liquid. Or you can use this clever gadget called an ant moat for your hummingbird feeder.
Change the solution and wash the feeder every 2-3 days, more often if it’s hot. Be sure and wash the feeder every time, even if they’ve drained it dry.
- READY IN: 10mins
- SERVES: 1
Indegrients For Hummingbird Food
- 4 cups filtered water
- 1 cup regular white sugar (Organic if possible)
Method For Hummingbird Food
- Bring the water to a boil.
- Take the water off the heat and add the sugar.
- Stir to dissolve completely.
- Let the nectar cool.
- Place in a clean hummingbird feeder and hang outside for the birds.
Note:
- Change the food at least every three to five days with a new batch to keep it fresh. Remember don’t use food coloring.
- Check the bird feeder regularly and every time you change the food to see if any gray mold has formed inside the feeder base, or, any ants have crawled inside to get at the sugar water.
- If you see any take the feeder down and throw the bird food away. It’s not good for the birds to drink this. Chances are they won’t drink it anyway.
- Clean the hummingbird feeder by rinsing with warm water. Then, put a few drops of bleach into the water inside the feeder and clean with a bottle brush.
- Once clean, rinse thoroughly with fresh water and let dry.
- Fill up with new food and place outside.
- The birds will love you for it!
#fullRecipeForHummingbird Food #Hummingbird Food
