Here's the recipe for hummingbird syrup.
- Boil four cups of water.
- Remove water from the heat.
- Stir in one cup of white sugar.
- Cool the syrup before filling feeder.
- Do not use honey, which can cause a fatal
fungal infection on the birds' tongues.
- Do not add food coloring to the
solution. It's not necessary, and it may be harmful. Even a small spot of red on the feeder will attract hummingbirds.
- You can store the
extra syrup in the refrigerator for a week.
Hang the feeder where you can see it from a window.
Clean the feeder at least once a week. In warm weather, you may need to change the syrup and wash out the feeder every day.
Don't let the syrup turn cloudy in the feeder — that's mold. It will make hummingbirds avoid your feeder, and it may make them sick.
If ants discover
the feeder, discourage them by applying petroleum jelly to the wire that
suspends the feeder. Or suspend a cup of water above the feeder. The Nectar Protector accomplishes this easily.
For a really easy start, try our easy-dissolving Hummingbird Food. It mixes even in cool water. Not a necessity, but sometimes very convenient. It's also nice when you're giving a hummingbird feeder as a gift to include a 24 oz. can of this food as a starter.
Keep it clean!
We recommend the Hummingbirds' Best Brush Kit to keep your hummingbirds clean and free from mold.
— Copyright 2012 Diane Porter
