Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
Bring 4 cups water to a boil and stir in 1 cup sugar. Stir to dissolve. When cool, pour into the pitcher and refrigerate until needed. As I refill the feeders, I make another batch for the next time. You do not need to add food coloring. In fact, I understand it is not good for the little hummingbirds.
By Jodi from Gary, Texas
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RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
Be sure to use non-chlorinated, non-fluoridated water to make the solution. These water additives aren't good for wildlife (plants or animals).
Post by elisebtx
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
I am just starting the hummingbird feeder in the back yard. I used to feed them 50 years ago and didn't remember the recipe. We always used the red dye. I consulted this web site to gain the sugar water ratio and learned its no longer acceptable to use the dye. I wanted to attract the birds so I added beet juice and got wonderful red color. Once the birds are established with the feeder I can stop the beet juice.
Post by llqfishbrew
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
I think you-all are off base on the boiling thing. I'm pretty sure it's to let you get more sugar in the solution (supersaturation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersaturation) rather than purify (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071008102235AAj8zHX)
Red is rumored to attract the birds, but wouldn't it be just as effective to wrap a piece of bright red paper around the liquid jar? In any case it doesn't sound like anyone here has a real controlled experiment. ("I use red and I get lots of birds, so..." doesn't prove or disprove anything.) Snopes is reasonable as always: http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/reddye.asp
Commercial feed suppliers are also necessarily interested in their customers believing they're doing something more special than repackaging and marketing some very expensive colored sugar water. So, neither the fact that they use red nor the fact that they exist nor the fact that what they sell seems to work is in any way an argument not to do it yourself.
So: make your own clear sugar water and maybe get a red feeder.
Post by dougbo
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
I have two HB feeders and use 4 parts water to 1 part sugar with no red coloring. Each feeder is 30 oz. and my hummies empty both feeders in 4 days. I have ground water with no chemicals but boil the water and then add sugar and clean the feeders often. Re: ants - I use wrought iron plant hangers and have had problems with ants. I spray the base of the hanger, near ground level, with a standard ant spray once a week. Works for me.
Post by sfn8iv
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food and a live HB nest web site..1 baby
Two years ago we began feeding Hummingbirds. We used the store bought red stuff. I sat out every afternoon and evening and didn't see any HBs! My hubby told me to give up we don't have any here! I said NO. I want to see one. I cant give up yet. So every 3 days I put out new nectar and washed the feeders. Then I ran out, so I found the recipe to make my own on the internet.
Summer 1 part sugar to 4 parts water- boil for one minute
cool and fill feeder.
August to Nov. 1 part sugar to 3 parts water -boil one min cool and fill feeders.
And I'm telling you after 10 minutes of the clear nectar being in there I saw my first hummer! I was so excited I couldn't breath! lol When it left I cant in to tell my husband and I barley speak :) I have made my own ever since!
Check out this site and bookmark it; a live close up Hummingbird nest. I think this is last clutch of the season.
I have watched her for 2 years. This nest is in California. http://cam.dellwo.com/
Post by Ariela
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
All this talk about "no red dye or food coloring". What do you suppose the commercial people use to make their store bought nectar and mix "red"? I absolutely agree that the red nectar attracts more hummingbirds than the Clear nectar, no matter if the feeder itself is red or not.
Post by bearcaller
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
In regards to the question about keeping ants out of the humming bird feeder, I've had the best results with an 'ant trap' which I purchased from a local grocery store with a garden/pet section (I'm sure you can probably find it at a local Walmart, Meijer, etc). It's just a little plastic bell, and there's a hook in the middle of the bell that you suspend the feeder from and then you hang the top of the bell to where you usually hang the feeder. Inside the bell, you just put a small coating of vaseline and this keeps the ants from being able to climb through the bell to get to the feeder. It works surprisingly well and costs only a few dollars. Below is what it looks like:
Post by azhou
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
I have one hummingbird feeder, and look forward every spring to thier return. I mix my own nectar. 1 parts sugar to 4 parts water. I boil the water before adding sugar. It purifies the water.
I always put a tiny bit of red food coloring..so it's more like pinkish. A few years ago I had tried a batch without food coloring. No hummingbirds! Up until this I had 3-4 visiting my feeder daily. After 2 days of inactivity I went back to using the food coloring. They all came back. I think the
red coloring is an attractant to them. I use only a tad bit just enough to make it pinkish. Every year they all come back, and have babies. It's wonderful. I also agree with purchasing feeders with perches. They will stay at your feeder longer. I just feel like why not let them sit and relax and eat? I have had issues with ants, usually in the late summer. I have used Raid on the post, but made sure I took down the feeder before I sprayed of course then let the Raid dry a little before re hanging the feeder. The feeder is hanging off a shepherds hook that is attached to a wooden post attached to our back deck. It worked and no harm was done to my hummers and kept the ants away. I bought a feeder last year that had an ant moat.
This year I may buy a moat you can attach to the feeder. But all in all the ants only last a few weeks in August. It's just gross seeing them floating in the nectar so I try to prevent them.
Post by tina1167
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
All this discussion boil dont boil, Red dye no Red dye. the truth is Most of us (me for example) dont know.
so be safe, and just boil the chlorine out anyway, and dont put dye in it. we are human we should be able to come up with a solution to the problem. instead of justifying why what we want to do is safe for the birds.
Im NOT a green piece guy,
I love animals they are delicious,
but common sence rules.
how about some red seran rap around your feeder with your food coloring in between the feeder and seran wrap and a couple of ruberbands.
Post by Jordan C
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
We hang our HB feeders with cat-gut or fishing twine or what ever you call it.. fishing string? Then the ants cant crawl down it to the feeder. But they can crawl down a wire. Most feeders come with a Ant mote. There's water in it and the ants go in it and drown there not being able to get to the feeders.
Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
How do you keep the ants out? I have had this problem in the past.
Post By Gloria (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
How do you keep the ants out? I have had this problem in the past.
Post By Gloria (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
Any ideas on how to keep it from freezing in cold weather. Not sure if there is something I could add that wouldn't be harmful.
Post By Sheilabeth (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
To Rose: Ok, I'm not a bird expert but I do feed 40+ hummers every single year at my house.
I heat the water, sometimes to boiling but sometimes not if I'm in a hurry. Boiling warer makes the sugar dissolve faster. We have well water so no clorine. If you let your water set for a few hours exposed to the air (no lid) clorine will disapate.
I've read several places (on bird sites from people who claim to be experts) that you should NOT add coloring to the water because it can cause a fungus on the birds tounge that makes it impossible for him to eat. I don't use it and my birds love the feed I give them.
I use 4 cups of water to 1 cup of sugar. Some people make it stronger but, as I say, my birds love what I feed them. I also have bird-feeding plants at my house to give them a variety and keep them at MY house. We have many catmint plants and they swarm them all day.
Ok, now you have another bunch of info to put in your file. This is just what works for me. My hummers have all gone for the winter and I'm glad because it's been in the 30's at night lately! Have fun!
Post by Glenn'sMom
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
What is the whole red dye sugar controversy? NO red dye? Sugar 1c to 3c water? Boil or not to boil? What is the answer? Just want to feed my hummers;)
Post By Rose (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
Everyone seems to have what they say works for them when in reality, no one really knows the long term effects of natural sugar, unboiled water or red Food color. Why not try the original idea? Buy hummingbird food from the store. Yes, it costs more than if you make it yourself but stores have used it for years and years. It has already been tested and proven.
Post By Sharon (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
I don't know if it hurts them or not, but I do know that it makes a difference with or without the red coloring. I ran an experiment by placing one with on one side of my yard, and one without on the other and then switched them the next day. They fought over the one with the red coloring, and hardly a one came to the one without. I'm mot for or against the coloring, just stating a fact. Try it for yourself. By the way, it was purchased mix at Walmart. I didn't put the food coloring in myself. Joan
Post By Joan Ambry (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
Well I have always had hummingbirds and stopped using red dye. I have not had one bird this year. Have some red on feeders but still no birds. I still am trying and feeding using no red food coloring but my friend uses the food coloring and has them fighting over the feeder. Who really knows?
Post By Kingshrimp (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
The red water makes absolutely no difference. We have always used plain unboiled water and white sugar/ Just a reminder, the sugar water is for energy only, they get their nutrition other ways. Also, I've noticed that our feeders with perches are most more popular. They don't expend precious energy hovering and tend to hang around the feeder a few extra seconds.
Post By njjan (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
I use the same formula but without the red I do not attract the birds. But by mixing the juices of strawberries and raspberries to the mixture they have been coming in droves. A pleasure to watch.
Post By Michel Emond (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
I ran across this pretty quickly doing a search to see what is recommended about replacing some of the sugar with corn syrup.
I haven't found a credible answer yet, but some postings here concern me.
Do not use food coloring. Even if the jury is still out about the efect on the birds, it does absolutely nothing to make them want to use the feeder or the food you make. Why risk it?
Boiling the water is not optional. It either needs done or it doesn't depending on your supply.
It is unneeded to disolve the small concentration of sugar. But if there is danger of pathogens or mold it must be done.
Know your water and know your sugar.
Boiling flashes off chlorine, which may or may not be harmful, but many other chemicals can be concentrated by boiling. This danger is real for you as well as the birds you like to watch.
As a rule well water should be safe.
Post By Ray the hummer watcher (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
Obviously you don't need dyes, And the FDA will tell you just about anything. Then recant their statement and says its gonna kill you. Like everyone has said either boil the water to extract chlorine or let stand 24 hrs thats what I do. And no red dyes.
Post By BK (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
I have used for years the 4 to 1 and it works great ,I put a little bit of red kool aid in my water to color it and it seems to work fine .....
I so love to watch these little birds they are great and fun to watch...
Post By Elizabeth (Guest Post)
Re: How to make protein food for hummingbirds
I have a baby hummingbird in my care. Does anyone know how to make a "bug", protein mixture?
Post By Tonya (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
NO RED DYE buy a red feeder
Post By debbie (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
I read this on Wikipedia:
Other things to avoid using in feeders include artificial sweeteners and non-nutritive sweeteners such as saccharin (Sweet'N Low), aspartame (Equal), sucralose (Splenda), and stevia. Though hummingbirds might drink feeder solutions containing these sugar substitutes, they will be starved of the calories they need to sustain their metabolism.
So I would suggest sticking to plain white sugar, or better yet plant a hummingbird friendly garden. If your friend wants the hummers near a window how about a hanging basket full of fuchsias?""
Post By Bonita (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
Any one have information about using stevia or other natural sweeteners (I know honey is not good). I fill a feeder for a friend who feels that if white sugar is bad for her, it can't be so good for hummers either. Thanks!
Post By JO YOUNT (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
Last year, I didn't boil my water and it didn't seem to cause any issues. However I read that the reason you boil the water is to reduce the amount of chlorine which is harmful to hummingbirds. I am going to start boiling it this year as our water is very chlorinated.
Post By Stephanie (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
I would think that even using just plain sugar without the color would be detrimental to the health of h. birds. I contains none of the trace minerals and vitamins that natural nectar contains. so, wouldn't it be better to use a pre-made mix? I want to attract h.birds, not kill them.
Post By jim (Guest Post)
hummingbird food
I have always, ALWAYS, been told and read that hummingbird food mixture is 4 to 1. That would be 1C of water to 1/4 cup of sugar. For larger amounts 4 to 1 could mean 4C of water to 1C sugar. Too much sugar KILLS and/or ROTS their beaks.
Post By Marigold Mama (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
Before I read this wed site I made some humming bird juice and put about 10 drops of red "dye" in it. "No pun intended." A few days later I found my cat gnawing on one of their precious little bodies. I felt terrible two more died later that week I figured that it was the dye and so I stopped using it.
PlEASE don't make the same mistake I did :)
Post By Bird killer (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
Thanks for all the info. We have just started getting some hummers, and also for the tip of NO RED DYE.
Post By John (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
Hi, Mrs.Rem05,
It is NOT okay to use a red dye in hummingbird food just because it is FDA approved! Red Dye is cancerous causing, especially if a lot of it is used and very often. Think of a hummingbird's size! Just a little bit of the red dye will overpower the little bird's liver...!!!
PLEASE do NOT use red dye!
Aimee
Master Herbalist student
Post By Aimee (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
We have lots of hummingbirds. I start off the season with a 1 sugar to 4 water, boiled a few minutes to make sure the sugar has changed. Never use honey! Later on, I go to a 1 to 5 ratio as it closest to nature's syrup in flowers. Aren't they amazing little birds! Just love them!
Post by SunnyBC88
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
Just a funny story about homemade hummingbird "juice" as we call it. My neighbor made some of the hummingbird "juice" and put it into a pitcher and refrigerated it. Her boyfriend drank some and said it was good, just a little bit too sweet. He really didn't like it, he was just trying to be polite. What a laugh they had when he found out what it really was!
Post By Laurie (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Hummingbird Food
Glad to hear not to add food coloring in feeders for birds. I will pass the word.
Thanks so much
Post By Sharon L Martin (Guest Post)
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