Make your own hummingbird feeder solution….a fun way to save money.
Hummingbird feeder solution is inexpensive and easy to make. You can quickly make your own hummingbird feeder solution using just tap water and granulated table sugar. You will use a ratio of 4 parts water to 1 part sugar.
This 4 to 1 ratio will make a hummingbird feeder solution that is close to the nectar that hummingbirds get from the plants they feed on.
Hummingbird feeder solution instructions:
Measure out the 4 parts water and put it in a pan on the stove to boil.
Add the 1 part sugar to the water and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
Let the hummingbird feeder solution come to a boil and boil for about 2 minutes to remove chlorine and impurities.
Once the hummingbird feeder solution has cooled you can add it to your hummingbird feeder.
Store any unused nectar in the refrigerator for use later on. It will keep in the frig for up to a week.
To keep the hummingbirds happy and to keep them coming to your feeder, you will need to keep fresh nectar in your feeder. Nectar will only keep from 1 day up to a week, depending on how hot the weather is outside.
Heat will cause the sugar to ferment and mold will start to grow. Your nectar will become moldy and mold will grow on your feeder, if your hummingbird feeder solution isn’t changed often enough.
Below is a chart that will guide you on how often to change your nectar.
High temperatures…………Change nectar after
71-75……………………………6 days
76-80……………………………5 days
81-84……………………………4 days
85-88……………………………3 days
89-92……………………………2 days
93+………………………………change daily
Hummingbird Feeder maintenance:
Every time you change the hummingbird feeder solution you should rinse your feeder out with hot water. Don’t use soap because hummingbirds don’t like the taste.
It’s also a good idea to rinse your feeder out with a 10% white vinegar and water solution once a week or so to help clean it.
Keep changing your hummingbird feeder solution on time and feeder maintenance will be kept to a minimum. Let it go too long and mold will grow and cleaning will be a lot more difficult.
If you find mold growing in your nectar you will have to clean and sterilize your feeder using a 10% bleach and water solution.
Soak your entire feeder for an hour and brush out the dead mold from all the tiny crevasses. Use special hummingbird feeder brushes to make the job a lot easier.
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Here is a good set of feeder brushes that will help you remove the mold from the inside of your feeder. |
Then rinse your feeder thoroughly several times in running water. Be sure to remove all traces of the bleach water.
If you can, get a feeder that’s easy to take apart and gives you easy access to the inside of the feeder, so you can clean it thoroughly.
Now that your homemade hummingbird feeder solution 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 feeder solution 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 inexpensive 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 it from ants and other crawling insects, the ant moat below will do the job.
Trap-It Ant Moat for Hummingbird Feeders, Red
Product Description
The first and still the best to protect your Hummingbird 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.
Now that you know how to make hummingbird feeder solution, and how to keep your hummingbird nectar fresh and how to clean your feeder, you should be able to thoroughly enjoy feeding your hummingbirds.
Have fun feeding your hummingbirds and I hope you enjoyed this article on hummingbird feeder solution.
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