If you enjoy hummingbirds, you no doubt already have a hummingbird feeder or two. Did you know you can make your own sugar water for them? I’ve been making hummer food for years. It’s very easy and of course, cheaper. Besides, the red coloring in the commercial stuff is not good for the hummingbirds, and totally unnecessary. They will come without it.
I know they sell clear commercial solutions containing vitamins and minerals “for better egg laying”. But whenever I’ve tried it, the birds aren’t interested at all and it spoils. So I stick with homemade sugar water and trust the hummers will get enough nutrition from insects.
Here’s how to make your own.
You make a “simple syrup” just as you would for cocktails. For hummers, the ratio is one part sugar to four parts water. So 4 cups water, plus 1 cup sugar, will make one quart.
I like to make just two cups at a time, so I use a 2-cup glass measure in the microwave. (You can also make it in a pan on the stovetop.) Boiling the syrup is not essential, but doing so ensures it will keep longer, both in the feeder and the fridge. It also helps dissolve the sugar completely, which is important for their digestion.
What kind of water should you use? Whatever you drink yourself. Treated tap water, bottled, or filtered waters are all fine. If you have a lot of chlorine in your water, definitely boil it first to cook it off. I don’t recommend distilled water.
Use plain white granulated sugar only (table sugar). According to the National Audubon Society, honey or organic sugars can contain iron and other substances harmful to hummers. Do not add food coloring or anything else.
2 cups water
½ cup refined white sugar
- Add the water first, then the sugar. The level will rise above the 2-cup mark once the sugar is added. Whisk well.
- Bring the solution to a boil. Remove from the heat as soon as bubbles break the surface vigorously.
- Stir briskly to ensure the sugar has fully dissolved. It should be completely transparent and slightly viscous.
- Cool to room temperature before filling your (clean!) feeder. I find a small plastic funnel is very helpful for this. Store excess in the fridge. It will keep at least two weeks refrigerated.
In hot weather, check on the feeder often and clean it of any black mold every few days. Ants and yellow jackets are sometimes present but they generally don’t pose a problem. Cloudiness is a sure sign of spoilage; replace the liquid and clean immediately.
CLEANING TIP: Take the feeder apart and scrub it with an old toothbrush in hot soapy water. Place parts in boiling water for a few minutes, remove and let cool. A narrow bottlebrush (1/4″ bristle) that’s slightly bent will clean the inside of the glass. If desired, you may sterilize it with 1 part bleach : 10 parts water; be sure to rinse thoroughly. A Q-tip will clean the narrow feed tubes.
Hang your feeder out in the open, preferably in a shady spot. Hummers like to perch nearby because they are territorial and will chase rivals. For that reason, I hang two feeders in opposite areas of the property so there’s less competition.
Does Feeder Design Matter?
Yes, in my opinion. The best on the market is Perky Pet’s glass and red plastic style. For example, the purple glass feeder shown here is attractive to me, but not so much to hummers. They can’t sit down to drink, and the port holes are very long and rigid, making it awkward to hover. They come to it only occasionally. Meanwhile, they empty the Perky Pets several times over.
