Feeding
Hummingbirds
©alice-madar
While native flowering plants are the best source of nectar for hummingbirds, supplementing with a well-tended sugar-water feeder, or many, can provide additional sustenance during nesting season and migration. It is important that if you are going to be supplementing your favorite hummers diet with feeders, you know how to make the sugar-water nectar, the best location and how to clean.
©hilary-joy
Nectar Recipe
Making the hummingbird nectar to put in your feeder is easy. It has just two ingredients: white sugar and water.
Follow the rule of thumb: 4 parts water to 1 part sugar. For example, 4 cups of water to 1 cup of sugar. Why? It is the closest we can come to the natural nectar in flowers.
INGREDIENTS
-
White granulated sugar (not brown, raw, or organic sugar)
-
Spring water or purified water (not distilled water)
INSTRUCTIONS
-
Add 4 parts water to 1 part sugar.
-
Thoroughly mix to dissolve the sugar in the water.
Boiling the water will help remove impurities, which is helpful if you are planning to store it. Unused mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. If you are planning to use the mixture immediately boiling is not necessary.
Note: In winter you can reduce the water to 3 parts, making the mixture 3 parts water to one cup sugar. This higher sugar content is slightly more resistant to freezing and offers increased calories for helping hummers stay warm in the cold. In the summer, going back to 4 parts water helps the nectar stay fresh longer and is less inviting to bees (although they will still love the nectar if they can get to it.)
This is important: No red food coloring, honey, molasses, artificial sweeteners, or any other kind of sweetener.
Nectar in flowers is clear, and red food coloring may be harmful for hummingbirds. It’s the flowers that are brightly colored, not the nectar—and that’s why hummingbird feeders typically are designed with red parts to attract the attention of hummingbirds.
The cane sugar should be pure white, not brown, raw, or organic. These may not have been sufficiently purified to remove trace amounts of molasses. As we know, molasses is rich in iron; this is helpful to humans but is a toxin to hummingbirds in all but the tiniest, tightly monitored amounts. Exception: our sponsor Hummingbird Momma has developed a line of sugar for hummingbirds that is organic but has been processed in a way that makes it safe and extra healthy for hummingbirds.
Choosing Your Feeder
To inspire hummingbirds to visit your garden, and create your own hummingbird haven, you'll need a feeder that is built to attract them, and also easy for to clean.
When deciding on which feeder is right for you, and your hummingbirds, here are a few things you are going to want to consider.
Color: Hummingbirds are attracted to red. Avoid white and yellow feeders as these tend to attract ants, bees and wasps.
Material: Feeders are generally made from glass or plastic. Plastic is more lightweight and less likely to break. Glass is more like to break if a wind blows down your feeder, but tends to be easier to clean. Mold tends to adhere to plastic better. The decision is yours.
Design: The key here is the clean-ability. Get a design that is easy to clean as no hummer wants to drink moldy nectar.
Protect against unwanted guests: Your sugar-water nectar will attract hummingbird, but it may also attracted some unwanted guests - ants and wasps. Look for a feeder that has the ports above the pool of liquid to avoid drips, because drips will attract ants and bees.
Size: Look for a feeder size that size matches your hummer population. If you have one or two hummers, then a smaller is ok. But if your garden is a haven for hummingbirds, you may want to invest in a larger feeder. You may also want to invest in multiple feeders to support more hummers and help reduce territoriality.
©hilary-joy
©hilary-joy
Maintaining Your Feeder
LOCATION
-
Hang your feeders at least four feet above the ground so they are beyond the reach of cats and other predators.
-
Never place a feeder too close to a nest, because doing so may cause predation.
-
Position in an area with shade, especially one that gets afternoon shade to protect it from the hottest temperatures. Nectar can spoil quickly on hot days, and if a feeder is in full sunlight all day long, it may not be suitable for hummingbirds for more than a day or two.
-
Place the feeder where you can see them through the window. There is nothing like watching hummingbirds come in to feed, especially when one gets protective of their food source.
FILLING
-
Change the mixture every two to three days - more frequently if temperatures are over 90° F.
-
Don't fill the feeders all the way if they aren't being fully consumed between fillings. If there is still nectar in the feeder after three days, reduce the amount that you are putting in the feeder.
-
If the liquid appears cloudy or you see mold, wash the feeder thoroughly right away. However, you should not let your feeders get to this point. You should change and clean them so often that they never get cloudy or moldy.
CLEANING
-
Feeders must be cleaned between refilling - don't "top off" without cleaning.
-
Use white vinegar as a way to disinfect feeders and rinse thoroughly with water. Do this especially if you see black mold on any part of your feeder. You should not be able to smell vinegar if you have rinsed it well enough.
-
About once a month, soak the feeder in a solution of bleach and water (1 Tbsp. of bleach per quart of water); rinse very thoroughly! You should not be able to smell bleach if you have rinsed it well enough.
-
Some feeders can be put in the dishwasher for sterilization.
-
If your feeder is attracting ants, use a moat or AntGuard® to stop them.
