Hummingbird Feeding Solution

From: Sweetiebarbara

On Feb 13, 2008

This is a simple and easy recipe. I posted this same recipe here, but was "a dollar short, and a day late"! I had looked but did not find it, fortunately mine was taken off, and I was redirected here. The only changes I have, is that my feeder is only 1 cup, so I make it in 1 cup batches as I need it. (1/4 cup sugar to 1 cup water.) I don't like storing the nectar, as fresh is always better, so the hummers tell me. I like the idea of adding a drop of the almond extract. Thanks for posting this recipe.

From: Diana Shrome

On Jan 4, 2008

I have also added a dash of almond flavoring to the mixture...Hummingbirds love this stuff...and it is not as complicated as some people lecture about...Ty for sharing

From: Carla R

On Mar 28, 2006

I don't agree with this recipe. Boiling the solution for two minutes reduces the water concentration considerably so that the proportion is no longer 4:1 and the sugar concentration is actually higher. The sugar should be added to hot water only to dissolve. This following quote is from ornithology.com "What is the best ratio of sugar-to-water to use for feeding hummingbirds? Four parts water to one part sugar (a 4:1 ratio) has been shown to be the closest to the sucrose content of natural flower nectar. Concentrations stronger than this are readily consumed by hummers, but there may be the possibility that stronger solutions crystallize on the bill and attract bacteria, leading to a condition called bill rot. I personally recommend 5:1. "

From: Barb Gertz

On Aug 20, 2005

I have been making this same recipe for years. We use OVER 50 pounds of sugar in 3 weeks, YES 3 weeks. We have up 8 of the large Humming Bird Feeders. These feeders get filled everyday, during the spring and summer months. Where we live some of the humming birds over winter, so we keep up several feeders all year long. I use 4 cups water 1 cup of sugar. I mix it up in a big jar, stir, mircowave for 5 minutes. I DO NOT add any food coloring to the syrup as I have read that it is harmful to the Humming birds. The red on the birds feeders is what attracts the birds to the feeders. Thank you Kim, for posting this recipe so that others can enjoy feeding the humming birds.