What to feed your hummingbirds? Follow this simple hummingbird recipe to keep your hummers happy and healthy.
Last fall I wrote about our new hummingbird and butterfly friendly yard. Since then, I’ve been filling up my hummingbird feeder weekly to keep the little hummers happy. Here in California, I keep my feeders out all year.
If you live in a colder climate, don’t put your feeder away until you’ve gone several weeks without spotting a hummingbird, just to make sure you don’t miss any late birds!
Hummingbird Recipe
Wondering what to feed hummingbirds? The golden rule for making a great hummingbird solution is 1 part sugar to 4 parts water.
Directions:
Bring the water to a boil. Take the water off the heat and add the sugar. Using the correct ratio mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts water. Stir to dissolve all the sugar granules completely. Let the hummingbird solution cool completely before placing in your feeder.
Any extra hummingbird recipe mix can be stored in the refrigerator.
What to Feed Hummingbirds and What to Leave Out
- Always use white cane sugar, never artificial sweeteners, honey, brown sugar, etc.
- Never add red dye. The hummers don’t need the extra chemicals so there’s no reason to put that in your hummingbird solution.
- Check your feeder every few days. More often if it’s hot. If the hummingbird feeder mix ever looks cloudy or moldy, toss it, clean the feeder and start over.
- Clean your feeder between refillings with mild detergent and water and make sure to rinse well.
My Favorite Hummingbird Feeders
I have several feeders in my hard to accommodate my usually very territorial hummingbirds. These are my favorites. If you click on the photos, you’ll find them on Amazon.
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