Hummingbird drink/food recipe?

coral keeper

Active Member
Hello everyone!
There is a little Hummingbird that has been coming back to my porch for about a week and at the same time every day. So, I did a DIY Hummingbird feeder. Its not fancy or anything like that, but it works. I was wondering, how much sugar or honey do I add to the water? Which is better for the Hummingbird, sugar or natural honey?
 

newreeferpa

Member
1 part sugar to 4 parts water (food coloring is nor necessary). never use honey as it can ferment easily and cause sores in a hummingbirds mouth- so no honey. hope this helps
 

hlcroghan

Active Member
Actually I don't believe either. I actually think sugar is really bad for them. You can get hummingbird food mix at the pet store I think. I am not positive on this though, you may want to wait for others to chime in.
 

chilwil84

Active Member
i went for the store stuff because the homemade stuff can foul easier and breed bacteria, but the manmade stuff might be full of preservitives that might hurt them in the long run so it can be a tough choice.
 

lovethesea

Active Member
4 to 1 is what I have been using for years. My little ones even flap on my patio door to let us know they are here and sometimes out of food.

I actually microwave the water/sugar to get everything disolved.
 

dplantz

Member
Just make sure that the holes aren't large enough to let wasps or bees get in as they do here and then they foul the mix and the birds won't eat. Also try moving it around as the hummingbrids find it eaiser then the wasps, and if the wasps find it first, they are actually large enough to chase the humminbirds away lol
 

alexknight

Member
its one cup of sugar to 4 cups of water boil on stove into clear ( you cant see any sugar ) let cool down to room temp and put in feeder, the rest you can store in your fridge. BUT REMEMBER once you start feeding them you CAN NOT STOP or they will die, hummingbirds when they find food they stay in that area and will not go off looking for more. Keep the feeder under a tree or porch out of the sun. hope that helps. btw they love the red feeders from wal-mart the cheep kind anyway the ones at my house do. I guess you could call me the hummingbird expert LOL.
 

alexknight

Member
I would say yes, remember that video I posted a week or so back? we only had one or two at a time. and then like 1000+ lol not really but it seems that way. Now its slowing down I think they are starting to migrate back..
 

cranberry

Active Member
I like the prepared stuff personally that has the non-toxic red dye. Certain times of the season the hummingbirds get on my nerves as they fight outside my window (I'm a nightworker and they can be noisy if you are trying to sleep). I use to have 2 feeders so I could fill the clean one as I am taking down the "old" one because they would attack me as I was trying to take in the used one to clean it. Be really careful of mold and bacteria because if you don't change them enough you can kill the birds.
No matter how annoying and mean they can get.... I LOVE to watch them.
If you use regular sugar, use the white granulated stuff... that's what I heard when I was started out my "flock".
 

keri

Active Member
Make sure you change and clean the feeder very regularily as the mold really does kill them. If you can wash and change it every day that is best. (Just add enough sugarwater mix to last a day or so and keep the rest in the fridge is the cleanest) They are not the easiest birds to feed but if you were in to easy stuff you probably wouldn't be into SW, right?!

take pics!
 

coral keeper

Active Member
Hey everyone, thanks for all the help/info!! I set up the hummingbird feeder!
Now, I'm waiting for the hummingbird to come. The humming bird normally comes around 11:00AM my time.
 

alexknight

Member
pre mix or make ur own is good whatever is easy for you. I forgot to say DON'T use dye!!! and try to get some pics!
 

coral keeper

Active Member
Why on earth would I want to color up the sugar water lol? I didn't see the hummingbird yet, it will come, soon. I'll take a few pictures when I see it.
 

hlcroghan

Active Member
Most of that hummingbird food comes colored a bright red color. I am not sure why. Maybe the birds are attracted to it. But it prolly would be bad for them.
 

kclester

Active Member
If you buy the pre mix it will usually have some typr of bright color.....it attracts the hummingbirds i guess it looks like the flowers they usually feed on
 

alexknight

Member
yes they dye the food because hummingbirds go for red mostly so I do know people feeding them food that has been dyed ( I guess they think more will come if it is colored? ) think about it, would you want to eat all of your food if it was dyed and would you think it was good for you?
 
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