We’ve found the easiest way to prevent fermentation and to keep the feeder clean is to fill them every day. The birds won’t eat it when that happens. After sitting in the broiling sun all day, sugar water can ferment. Living in the southeastern United States, it’s not uncommon to have 90-100 degree days. If you’re not careful, the sugar water can ferment. You’ll also need to watch the feeders more closely as they will be emptied out faster. During this time, you can help your feathered friends by making the sugar water sweeter by using a ratio of 3 parts water to 1 part sugar. Some birds will actually double their weight for their 500-mile migratory flight across the Gulf of Mexico. They’re bulking up for their annual migration to Mexico. How to Make Hummingbird Food for Fall MigrationĪs the weather gets colder, you’ll see your hummers eating more frequently – almost to the point of panic. As, I said, you don’t need anything fancy, just keep the proportions. We use a shot glass to measure the water and sugar. In our house, we generally run a small feeder out front and another out back. If, you only have a handful of birds, you may only need one or two smaller feeders. If you have a big crowd, you might need to get several feeders and restock them several times a day. Pay attention to how many birds you seem to have and how many frequent your feeder. I don’t think anyone has had more than 2 or 3 birds at their feeders at any given time. We all seem to only have one to three ruby throated hummingbird families in our yards as a result. There are a number of people in our neighborhood who put out feeders each year. Just mix until the sugar dissolves and you’re good to go. Just mix one part sugar with four parts water. The recipe amount should be based on what your birds consume in a day, not how big your feeder is…unless you like throwing your money away. How to Make Hummingbird Food, It’s All About Ratios It’s quick, easy and fairly cheap too – it’s just sugar and water. This article will teach you how to make hummingbird food. What they don’t want you to know is that they are really just packaging sugar and red dye and calling it hummingbird food. In fact, you don’t need anything that’s probably not already in your kitchen. But, unless you are trying to attract new birds to your yard, you don’t need red-colored hummingbird food. They truly hope you don’t learn how to make hummingbird food. It’s sweet and it sure looks pretty in the feeders. Your local home and garden store really hopes that you’ll buy their instant hummingbird nectar. The most important part is keeping your feeder clean and keeping it full. If they spend the warmer months in your area, a few flowers they might like and a feeder or two should be all you need. This post was first published in 2019 and has been updated.You really don’t need an expensive or fancy feeder to attract hummingbirds to your backyard. In the meantime, though, I’m happy to watch her come and go while I wash the dishes.ĭo you look forward to seeing hummingbirds every year? Have you ever made homemade hummingbird food? Let us know! With any luck, before the summer is over I’ll be able to get a few good photos. A female ruby-throated hummingbird zipped over, sipped from the feeder, and was gone before I could even reach for my camera. Yields 4 cups.Īfter filling and hanging our feeder, we watched and waited, and before long, we had our first visitor. Fill your feeder, and enjoy! Store leftovers in the fridge for up to two weeks. Boil for three minutes, then remove from heat and allow to cool. In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar and water and bring it to a boil. Remember to change the nectar and clean your feeder regularly. Homemade hummingbird nectar is so easy to make there’s really no reason to buy it, and by making your own, you can be sure it’s safe for the birds to eat.
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