Homemade Hummingbird Nectar
Recipe:
We love hummingbirds and love to watch them
throughout the day, especially after a long day, relaxing in our backyard
nature retreat.
We have 4 feeders that are strategically
located throughout our gardens. The red, hummingbird nectar feeders ( red
attracts hummingbirds) are placed in areas that are naturally defined
“territories” ( as you know, hummingbirds are very territorial) which helps
cut down on the fighting.
Our homemade hummingbird nectar recipe is
derived from the old standard recipe, but please be aware that a lot of
research has gone into making sure that we are providing the most beneficial
source of hummingbird food replacement.
Our homemade hummingbird nectar recipe starts with cane sugar. As you know,
there are two sources of sugar: cane sugar and beet sugar, of which 70% of
the world’s supply comes from cane sugar. Both are chemically “sucrose” and
fall into the carbohydrate family. Carbohydrates are easily digested and
provide the immediate “energy boost” that hummingbirds need to sustain their
incredibly high metabolism. (Comment: I guess if we humans had that kind of
metabolism we wouldn’t be facing our obesity crisis! Wow…what a concept
…more exercise …increased metabolic rate …burn more calories …less fat).
Sorry! Back to the topic…the second constituent
our homemade hummingbird nectar recipe is water. Ever thought about the type of water
you use for your hummingbird food? We have. The hummingbird’s source water
comes from the naturally occurring water sources available: dew, rain water
and deposits of rain water, people provided (bird baths), and finally that
provided in the hummingbird’s diet.
We use our tap water in our homemade hummingbird nectar, which is supplied from our
well. The water’s chemical composition is generally hard ( contains calcium
and magnesium) but has a TDS ( Total Dissolved Solids) of 275 ppm with no
measurable concentrations of lead or arsenic. Its safe for us to drink so
the hummers get the benefits of some added minerals. We feel its better than
using distilled or purified water in our homemade hummingbird nectar recipe.
Now, if you’re a city dweller, you may have
chlorine or fluoride added to your water. I’d recommend boiling that water
to flash off the chlorine or fluoride, 5 minutes of boiling should be
sufficient.
Next ingredient ….RED COLORING….No way!
Lets look at it from a hummingbird’s
perspective. They like red and are attracted to the color due to genetics
and environmental stimuli … flowers. If your hummingbird feeder is red… why
do you need more?
Naturally occurring nectar is clear and
odorless ( Hummingbirds are not attracted by scent). So why buy these
colored or scented mixes?
The red coloring (Red #40) has been banned in
countries due to its mutagenic properties ( can cause cancer). Why would you
want to introduce chemicals into the hummingbird’s diet that are foreign to
their digestive system?
Several experienced, licensed wildlife
rehabilitators have reported seeing disturbing damage in hummers that were
known to use dyed syrup, including tumors of the bill and liver.
Here is our researched homemade hummingbird nectar recipe:
1 part cane sugar/ 4 parts water ( no chlorine
or fluoride) Measure and add sugar, at the rate of 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 cup
of water. Let cool and store excess in refrigerator until ready to use.
Fill one-third of the container and be sure to
change the mixture twice a week. You will need to clean your feeder every
few days, with hot water and a mild (10%) bleach solution to inhibit
bacteria/mold. Rinse thoroughly before refilling with water syrup.
George Steiner
www.hum-ming-bird.com
George and wife Judy are empty nesters (ah ha
no wonder the affinity for birds!) who enjoy the outdoors, stained glass and
eagerly awaiting for the truckloads of laundry that their two college
daughters bring home. Of recent, the internet has played an integral part in
George's lengthening "To Do" list and Judy's search for a internet
rehabilitation center.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Steiner
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Now that your homemade hummingbird nectar recipe is
done, you will need to get a feeder that is easy to take apart and clean, and
one that will also protect your hummingbird food recipe from bees ants and
wasps.
My favorite choice of hummingbird feeders to use
with the homemade hummingbird nectar recipe is 
Aspects
12oz Hummzinger Ultra With Nectar Guard
It's only
$28.18 and has several
features that makes it well worth the price.
The
HummZinger has
patented Nectar guard tips which are flexible membranes attached to the feed
ports that prohibit entry from flying insects, but allow Hummingbirds to feed as
usual. The HummZinger also has a built in ant moat that will stop crawling
insects from getting to the nectar. It also has raised flower ports that divert
rain.
This mid-size nectar feeder has a 12 oz. capacity
and can be hung or post mounted with hardware provided. It has four feeding
ports for hummingbirds and is made of unbreakable polycarbonate. Easy to clean.
For ease of cleaning and protection from bees,
wasps and ants, this feeder can't be beat.
If you already have a
hummingbird feeder, and you want to protect your homemade hummingbird nectar from ants and other crawling
insects, the ant moat below will do the job.
Product Description
The first and still the best to protect your
homemade hummingbird nectar and Oriole feeder from ants and other crawling insects. Insert
between hanger and feeder and fill with water, providing a barrier to crawling
pests. Red color to attract hummingbirds.
Hope you enjoyed the article on
homemade hummingbird nectar recipe.
copyright 2006 how to enjoy hummingbirds/ homemade hummingbird nectar
