Bugs for Hummingbirds
Did you know that hummingbirds need to eat bugs for protein? They are great little hunters and are very resourceful. They have even been known to steal little bugs out of a spider's web, eat the spider, and then steal the web to build their own nest.
The hummingbirds like to eat small soft bodied insects made up of small arthropods such as gnats, spiders, mosquitoes, aphids, caterpillars, and insect eggs.
Don't use pesticides with hummingbirds around. The hummingbirds will do the exterminating for you. Plus, if a hummingbird eats insects with pesticide on them, the hummingbirds can get violently ill or die.
We have heard of a way that you can grow bugs for your hummingbirds to eat by doing the following:
- Get a large, empty, clean plastic bucket with a lid
like the one in the image to the right.
- Punch a bunch of really tiny holes in the lid (or use a piece of loose woven fabric secured over the top).
- Put a banana or two in the bottom of the bucket with the lid off.
- Leave the open bucket outside for a day or two until you see those little tiny bugs buzzing around the fruit (fruit flies).
- Put the lid (or piece of loose woven cloth) on top and make sure the bucket is not in direct sunlight. After a while, the bugs will start to breed, making more bugs.
- Then, at the same time every day, go to where your hummingbirds are and bring out the bucket. Take the top off the bucket very quickly to let out a few bugs and put the top right back on. The hummingbirds will soon learn what the bucket means and associate it with a quick and nutritious meal.
- Every few days, toss another old banana or apple in the bucket to keep the little bugs breeding more bugs for the hummingbirds.
Note: Our hummingbird farm is located in the middle of bear territory. We do not feel that it would be advisable to teach our local bears where to find some nice squishy fruit (and hummingbird feeders) and therefore have not tried this. If you live in a safe location to try this, please let us know how it worked. We would love to hear from you.
