Hummingbirds Eating and How to Make Their Food.

These are some of my California Hummers. I have 6 feeders that they empty in just a few days. Most of my hummingbirds stay all year.
I use 2 cups of white sugar to 2 quarts of water. First start with a clean feeder. When making the food... add about 2 cups of super hot water in a 2 qt. pitcher to dissolve the sugar, stir until you see no more crystals in the water, then add the cold water and stir again. Fill your feeders and store left overs covered in the fridge. No need for food color, I don't use food coloring anymore, I read that it's bad for the birds. After a week, dump out any left over food that your birds haven't eater and wash your hummingbird feeder, then refill with fresh food. Hummers can smell bad food and won't come back. If you allow the feeders to empty and don't refill them often, they won't come back either. You have to stay on top of cleanliness and refilling your feeders. If you see black mold forming, don't use soap, use white vinegar to clean the container and rinse well. You don't want your hummers getting sick or taking back rancid food to their babies., Hyummingbirds are very territorial and will protect the feeder from other hummers causing a lot of fighting over the feeder, If you see this happening all the time, it's best to set up another feeder around the corner or away from the first feeder. You will have much happier birds this way. I guess that's how I ended up with 6 feeders. LOL

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• hummingbirds
• birds
• hummers
• California
• hummingbird feeders
• hummingbird recipe

[ArthurDentZaphodBeeb]

You need to change nectar much more often than once a week. And you don't need such a concentrated nectar or spend so much time preparing it. Simply use one part (white) sugar to two parts tap water and mix with a spoon for 10-20 seconds to dissolve - no food coloring!. Tap water is good enough unless you have lousy water and wouldn't drink it yourself. Whatever mixture you use, keep the nectar fresh (only supply enough that gets used in 3 days or less) and keep the feeders clean.

[Tiels40]

@ArthurDentZaphodBeeb Thanks for your added info...I don't use food coloring anymore and my feeders get emptied before the weeks end so the nectar is fresh. If the birds haven't consumed all the food by the end of the week the nectar is replaced. I have happy hummers that stay year round here in California.

[arlenearmy]

You mentioned to not use bottled water. I'm reluctant to use our tap H2O due to chlorine & other bad stuff. So I've been using Berkey filtered water.

[Tiels40]

@arlenearmy Arlene....you can boil water also to remove the chlorine. If you use bottle water the food will go bad quicker..you'll need to change the feed more often.

[Tiels40]

@arlenearmy  How's that water working for you? Are the hummers drinking it for more than just a couple days?

[ravenyikimy9911]

I had no idea it went bad that fast. I live on the Central Coast and bought my feeder for a little hummer that is attracted to my pond. Very friendly little guy. He never even looks at the thing. Maybe it needs to be cleaned out. Is there a special kind of area to put the feeder? mines on the fence over my pond.

[Tiels40]

I would definitely clean it out and put fresh food in it. You can see my recipe if you click on read more. Does your feeder have red on it? Don't put the feeder in bright sun or near a branch that a cat can easily get too. Best on a porch. He'll find it and more will follow as long as you keep it refreshed about 2 times a week. Don't use bottled water or food coloring either. Let me know if I can answer any more questions for you. Good Luck and please report how it went for you.

[sue103smith]

So very good!!

[Tiels40]

If you go to the right of the video where you see thumbnail of the video, then there's the date and subscribe, right under the date it says "more info" click on that and the rest of my story and the receipe will open up. Very simple Me Me. Good to hear from you. Call me sometime.

[Charlene2tuff]

What is your recipe that is so attracting to the hummingbirds?