The common formula is 4 parts water to one part sugar. Boil the water, then add the sugar and stir until dissolved. I add a little turbinado sugar as well, it is less refined and may contain additional nutrition. Never add food coloring, it coats the hummingbird tongue and will be fatal. Do not add honey, as it will turn rancid.
Keep the feeder in a shaded space, the sunlight will cause the sugar water to go rancid much faster. Watch the feeders, if the food gets cloudy toss it out. Hang additional feeders out of sight of other feeders, hummingbirds are very territorial and will chase others from their food source.
Cleaning your feeder: Some will suggest bleach, but our bleach is not pure, and has many chemicals added such as whiteners. I use hot water and soak the feeders before each refill, use a dedicated brush to scrub and clean the feeding holes (not used for any other purpose, no soap). The “cleaners” I will use are vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, in fact if you keep spray bottles in your kitchen with both those substances (separately), you can use them to clean your kitchen. They combine into a powerful disinfectant. Rinse all feeders thoroughly before refilling.
I keep my feeders within view of my living spaces, and my friends care not when I am outside with them during a feeding session.
Hummingbird Shaman Most Read