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The hummingbirds diet requires nectar as a source of energy & for their protein source small insects. Hummingbirds love artificial nectar from man-made humming bird feeders. Such feeders provide the hummingbirds with a good supply of nectar, & at the same time allow people to observe & enjoy hummingbirds up-close. Homemade nectar can be made from 1 part white, granulated table sugar to 4 parts water, boiled to make it easier to dissolve the sugar & to purify the solution so that it will stay fresh longer. The cooled nectar is then carefully placed into the hummingbird feeder. You should avoid using diet sweeteners because, though the hummingbirds will drink it, they will not get the calories they need to sustain their metabolism.

While it’s true that bright colors attract hummingbirds, it’s better to use a feeder that has some red on it, rather than coloring the water. It’s possible that red dye is harmful to hummingbirds. Some commercial humming bird nectars contain a red dye that is not needed. Hummingbirds get all the nutrients they need from the insects they eat, not from nectar, so adding nutrients to the nectar is not necessary. Just plain sugar & water is all that is needed.

Prepared nectar can be placed into a refrigerator for 1 to 2 weeks before being used, but once placed outdoors it will only remain fresh for 2-4 days in hot weather before becoming cloudy or developing mold. Rinse the feeder thorouhly with warm water when changing the nectar to get rid of any contamination or build-up of sugar. If dish soap is used, it needs extra rinsing so that no residue is left behind.

Other animals are also attracted to humming bird feeders. It’s best to get a feeder that has very narrow ports, or ports with a mesh, to stop wasps & bees from getting inside where they get trapped. Woodpeckers, banaquits, & other animals are known to drink from hummingbird feeders, occasionally tipping them & draining the liquid. If this becomes a problem, it’s possible to buy feeders which are designed to support their extra weight & which hummingbirds will also be easily able to use too. If ants find your hummingbird feeder, one solution is to install an “ant moat”, which is available at specialty garden stores & online.

The Ant Moat is a small plastic cup that fits between the hummingbird feeder & your hanger. By filling it with water or petroleum jelly, ants can not get to the feeder!

More information on humming bird feeders can be easily found at our website by www.a1birdfeeders.com