I love having my hummingbird feeder outside. It hangs right outside my kitchen window and I get to see all these beautiful hummingbirds while I am doing dishes.
Last summer my hummingbird feeder broke and I had to buy a new one. This new one I got I absolutely love. It is much easier to clean and it holds more liquid. It came with a package of hummingbird food powder that you dissolve in water. It turns the water red and has all kinds of strange stuff in it that I cannot pronounce. I figured this probably was not all that good for the birds. I knew you could make your own "food" from just sugar and water, but I didn't know exactly how to make it. I was super excited to find out it is really easy and inexpensive to make {thanks, Google!}.
What you need:
{See, I told you - super easy!}
The recipe calls for 1 part sugar to 4 parts water.
 |
| {1/2 cup sugar : 2 cups water} |
First you will add your sugar and water into a pan.
Heat the mixture on the stove until the sugar dissolves. This usually only takes a couple of minutes. {You can also boil the water first. Then add the sugar to the boiled water and stir until dissolved.}
Allow the mixture to cool and fill up your feeder.
Leftover hummingbird food can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. You want to clean out your hummingbird feeder each time with hot water and a bottle brush. I have read recommendations to not use soap to clean your feeder. During hot weather you may need to clean out your feeder and change your nectar daily, but at least every 3 to 4 days is recommended.
Hang your feeder outside and enjoy the beautiful hummingbirds you attract! (I keep trying to catch a picture of one, but when I open up my back door they hear me and fly away!)
Labels: garden, general
