Hummingbird Nectar
Hummingbird nectar is also known as hummingbird food. There are several commercially available products you can purchase to make hummingbird nectar. It is best not to purchase any products that are colored red as the red dye is unnecessary to attract hummingbird and is bad for their tiny little kidneys.
You can save money and make your own hummingbird nectar by using the following recipe.
- 1 cup
pure granulated sugar
- 4 cups hot boiling water
Boil more than four (4) cups of water on the stove top. Use more than four (4) cups to adjust to the loss of water from steam. Carefully measure out four (4) cups of boiling water into a large bowl. Add one (1) cup of pure granulated sugar. Mix the
pure granulated sugar
and water together until all of the sugar is dissolved. Carefully place mixture into the refrigerator to cool, usually overnight. When mixture is cold, take mixture out of the refrigerator. You now have a bowl of hummingbird food.
Very carefully, take apart your hummingbird feeder, following the manufactures instructions. Clean the hummingbird feeder with soap and water making sure your hummingbird feeder is clean and free from any debris and/or mold. Carefully pour the hummingbird food into the tank of the hummingbird feeder. Don't spill the hummingbird food or you will have an ant invasion in your house. Reassemble the hummingbird feeder according to the manufactures instructions.
Place the hummingbird feeder full of hummingbird food outside in a quiet location that is out of the way of noise and traffic. The best place is usually outside of a side window so you can watch the hummingbirds as they drink the nectar.
NOTE:
The recipe needs to be followed exactly as written. Hummingbirds are very sensitive creatures with tiny body organs. Not following the recipe exactly or using substitutions can harm the hummingbirds.
- Do not add red food coloring or dye to the hummingbird food. It has no nutritional value and can cause damage to their kidneys. If you have a good hummingbird feeder, there is no need to have red hummingbird food to attract hummingbirds.
- Do not use the microwave to boil the water for hummingbird food. Water boiled in a microwave has a tendency to start to rapidly boil over (sometimes described as an explosion) when the water surface is touched causing burns to the hands of the person making the hummingbird food.
- Do not put hot hummingbird food into a hummingbird feeder. This can cause the tank on the hummingbird feeder to break and could possible cut the hand of the person filling the tank. Putting hot hummingbird food into a hummingbird feeder can also burn the tongue of a poor unsuspecting hummingbird.
- Do not use brown sugar, powered sugar, maple syrup, karo syrup, Splenda, Equal, Sweet'N'Low, or any other type of sugar or sugar substitute. Only use
pure granulated sugar
(the white grainy stuff) to make hummingbird food. The chemical makeup of other types of sugars is not the same as pure granulated sugar
- Do not use Kool-Aid to make hummingbird food. The chemicals in Kool-Aid are not good for hummingbirds and can cause illness and death to a hummingbird.
Making hummingbird food is inexpensive and fun way to keep your hummingbirds happy and coming back for more.
