How to Make Hummingbird Food

We must all acknowledge that hummingbirds are truly remarkable creatures. They seem to dance in midair, darting around like tiny, winged jaguars. Draw these little marvels to your garden by hanging a hummingbird feeder. Follow the steps below to keep these beautiful birds visiting your yard.

Create a sugar solution to attract hummingbirds to your garden. The sugar mix will encourage the birds to stay around. High-energy food is vital for hummingbirds during the spring as it replenishes the energy they've spent on migration.

• Don’t buy nutritional nectar boosters for hummingbirds. You’ll waste money, and the birds won’t truly benefit. Hummingbirds get the nutrients they need from natural nectar and insects. The sugar mixture you provide is like a quick snack (similar to the coffee we drink) when they are flying around and feeling tired.

Create the mixture by combining 1 part refined white sugar with 4 parts warm water. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved. Cane sugar is a carbohydrate, easily digestible, and provides instant energy to hummingbirds so they can keep their tiny wings flapping.

Boil the sugar water for 1 to 2 minutes. Boiling the mixture helps reduce the risk of bacterial growth. It also removes excess chlorine from tap water, which could be harmful to the small birds. You don't need to boil the mixture if you’re making a small batch for immediate use.

• If you don’t boil the mixture, you should replace the nectar every 1 to 2 days, as bacteria will grow and harm the hummingbirds.

Do not add food coloring to the nectar. While red may attract hummingbirds, red dye is considered harmful to them. Hummingbirds’ natural food (nectar) is colorless and odorless, so there's no need to add artificial color to homemade nectar.

Store the nectar until use. Keep the nectar in the refrigerator. If you make a large batch, you can store the leftovers in the fridge until the feeder runs out. This will save you time when refilling the feeder.

Choose the right feeder. Red feeders are the best because the color attracts hummingbirds. If possible, hang the feeder in a cool spot, as nectar stays fresh longer in the shade. Hang the feeder in your garden if you have one, or near a window (but out of reach of cats) so you can enjoy watching the beautiful little birds.

• Some hummingbird experts suggest hanging the feeder near a window only if the glass is cut to avoid the risk of birds flying into it and getting injured.

Be aware that food can be harmful if it ferments or molds. If the sugar mixture turns gray, it's time to replace it. Fermented sugar can be harmful to hummingbirds. Warm sugar mixtures also provide an ideal environment for mold and bacteria to thrive.

If possible, check your feeder regularly for black mold. Daily checks are ideal. Keeping an eye on the feeder will help minimize harm to the hummingbirds. If you find mold, mix ¼ cup of bleach with 4 liters of water. Soak the feeder in the bleach solution for an hour. Scrub off the mold and rinse the feeder thoroughly before refilling it with fresh nectar.

Clean the feeder before refilling it with nectar. Run hot water through the feeder. Avoid using soap, as hummingbirds dislike the scent of soap residue, and they won’t drink from a feeder that still smells like soap.

Change the nectar in the feeder regularly. Keep in mind that how often you need to change the nectar depends on the temperature where the feeder is placed.

• If the temperature is between 21°C to 26°C, change the nectar every 5 to 6 days.
• If the temperature is between 27°C to 30°C, change the nectar every 2 to 4 days.
• If the temperature reaches 32°C, change the nectar daily.

The Key to Attracting Hummingbirds with Food. Reduce the sugar concentration in your nectar after a few weeks. Doing so will increase the feeding frequency of hummingbirds at your feeder. A mixture of one part sugar to five parts water, or one part sugar to four parts water, will thin the solution. When the mixture is thinner, hummingbirds will visit more often.

• Don't dilute it more than a 1:5 ratio of sugar to water. If the sugar content is lower than this, the hummingbirds will need to use more energy flying to the feeder than they can get from the food.
• If you want to make a thicker nectar to avoid frequent refills, don't make it too thick, as this will reduce the number of visits from the hummingbirds. A high-sugar solution will provide the birds with more energy, helping them stay fuller for longer before returning to feed (which means they will visit your feeder less often).

Plant Flowers that Hummingbirds Love. If you've tried various nectar mixtures but the hummingbirds aren't interested, consider planting flowers that naturally attract them.

• Here are some plants favored by hummingbirds: Musk, Oleander, Lupine, Fuchsia, Trumpet Lily, Lantana, Coral Bells, Foxglove, Rose of Sharon, Five-Color, Fuchsia, Hibiscus, Trumpet Vine, Honeysuckle, Crossvine, Mountain Laurel, Spigelia.