hummingbird at a feeder

Source: Magnus Brath, cc-by, via Nakna Sanningen

Homemade hummingbird nectar is cheap, simple, environmentally friendly, and healthy. It’s so easy to make that there is almost more effort involved in buying hummingbird nectar than in making a batch at home!

So let’s get started! You’ll need to gather a few things (a small pot, hummingbird feeder, sugar, and water.) One thing you won’t need is food coloring (it’s actually not good for hummingbirds.)

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 cups water


Instructions:

  1. Measure out 1/2 cup of sugar and two cups of water and add to a small saucepan.
  2. Stir while bringing the mixture to a boil. The mixture is done when all the sugar is dissolved.
  3. Let the mixture cool to room temperature.
  4. Add the mixture to a clean hummingbird feeder. Voilà! You’ve made your own hummingbird nectar. Hang up the feeder and watch your birds enjoy the tasty meal!

 

Why Homemade Hummingbird is Better
If you’re short on extra time and can’t make hummingbird food, you can purchase it in any garden supply store (Lowe’s, Menard’s, etc.) However, commercial hummingbird food often contains extra chemicals that can actually harm your feathered friends.

While the red food looks tasty, do not buy any hummingbird food with added dye. Food coloring can cause kidney damage in hummingbirds.

Hummingbirds are attracted to a pretty red color, but as long as you have a colorful bird feeder (most of them seem to have a red or yellow flower design), you’ll have no problem attracting hummingbirds.

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