Making Your Own Hummingbird Nectar
Making your own hummingbird nectar is easier and more cost effective than buying powdered nectar mixes from the store. In addition, store bought hummingbird nectars often contain red dye, which isn't safe for hummingbirds. The following article provides instructions for making your own hummingbird nectar, which is a quick, simple process.
Ingredients for Nectar
- 1 cup white sugar
- 4 cups water
Directions
To make the hummingbird nectar, combine the water and sugar in a saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil. Once it has started to boil, you should take the pan off of the stove immediately and allow the mixture to cool. If you boil the mixture for too long, water will evaporate and the mixture will become too concentrated for hummingbird consumption. It's important to maintain a mixture of four parts water and one part white sugar, since this ratio closely resembles the natural makeup of nectar found in flowers. If you have multiple hummingbird feeders, you can double or triple this recipe to save time; simply store the excess nectar in the fridge until you're ready to use it. After the mixture has cooled completely, it's ready for use in a hummingbird feeder.
Suggestions for Hummingbird Feeders
Make sure your feeders are clean. It's easy for hummingbird feeders to become moldy during the hot summer months, so be sure to wash them every few days. If hummingbirds seem reluctant to visit your feeder, tie a few red ribbons around it to increase its visibility. You can also attract more hummingbirds by planting more flowering plants in your yard, such as butterfly bushes or trumpet vines. One of the best ways to attract lots of hummingbirds is to install multiple feeders in different locations, since male hummingbirds can become territorial and take over a feeder for themselves. Multiple feeders will allow several hummingbirds to feed at once without competition.
