We, and the hummingbirds, are indebted to Dr. “It is not wise to substitute or add honey or artificial sweeteners to hummingbird mixtures. Unprocessed sugars like honey can also introduce pathogens into the food that the birds aren’t prepared to handle: It’s simply not our risk to take in their food. No one wants to be unwittingly consuming unknown doses of a variable, mineral-concentrated substance. Even if product labelling of minerals was super-accurate across the board, there isn’t yet a definitive consensus on a “safe limit” of various minerals for hummingbirds. Many other sugars don’t list the iron content of the batch. Recall that molasses contains so much iron it’s sometimes advertised as an iron-rich dietary supplement. Molasses and other concentrated sugars are man-made products that hummingbirds would not encounter in their natural habitat. Raw, unrefined granulated sugars and dark sugary liquids (like molasses) contain iron and other minerals which can be harmful to the birds in concentrations higher than would be found naturally in flower blossoms. Shipment and shelf storage times give bacteria and fungi increased opportunities to multiply in these preparations.” Hummingbirds of North America: Attracting, Feeding, and Photographing, by Dan True Hummingbirds enjoy homemade hummingbird food during their high-energy migratory journey (courtesy vo) Why not to substitute sweeteners in hummingbird food recipes “Commercially mixed hummingbird preparations often contain preservatives that may be harmful to birds. Its better for the birds and cheaper for you! If you do buy nectar mix, opt for a brand that doesn’t contain the red dye. Just use regular plain old refined white sugar and boil it up with tap water. Skip carrying the stuff home from the store. Skip the opportunity for harmful pathogens. Use this simple hummingbird food recipe instead of buying “nectar”. Red store-bought nectar and nectar mixes are not recommended by hummingbird experts. You’re not feeding them baby formula…you’re not re-creating their entire diet…they’re just getting some fake flower nectar to give them a boost while they hunt. The point of artificial feeding is to provide a few easy, quick calories to give them the energy to hunt down protein-rich bugs. “Nectar, which contains water, highly calorific natural sugars, and not much else, is processed by the birds within 15 to 20 minutes, the waste products emerging as little more than a few crystal-clear droplets.” Hummingbirds: A Life-Size Guide to Every Species, by Michael Fogden, Marianne Taylor, and Sheri L. ![]() Plain, freshly-made, sugar-water solution is the best artificial feed for the birds. Hummingbird experts developed the classic 4:1 sugar-water hummingbird food recipe to closely mimic the flower nectar hummingbirds naturally love to lap up. Why making homemade hummingbird food is better than buying store-bought nectar or mix Yes, there is such a thing as hummingbird swings, lol! Give them some adorable little perches.Add a hummingbird birdbath that’s specifically sized for these tiny birds.Plant some flowers that hummingbirds love.Learn about the features and setup best practices for hummingbird feeders.Please consider checking out my YouTube channel and subscribing if you’d like to watch more videos about gardening and backyard birds. Use a lid to prevent escaping vapours from concentrating the solution.” Hummingbirds of North America: Attracting, Feeding, and Photographing, by Dan True Video version of hummingbird food recipe “Every batch of feeding solution should be stovetop boiled two minutes to retard fermentation. ![]() Extra sugar-water hummingbird food from this recipe can be stored in the fridge for a few days. The cooled solution can then be poured into a clean hummingbird feeder. After boiling, allow the solution to cool off to room temperature. Research has shown that this ratio most closely approximates the sugar concentration found in many hummingbird flowers.” Enjoying Hummingbirds In the Wild & In Your Yard, by Larry & Terrie Gates If you use two cups of sugar, use eight cups of water. “If you use one cup of sugar, use four cups of water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover the pot, and allow the solution to boil for 2 minutes. Put the plain sugar and tap water in a saucepan and heat on the stove, gently stirring the sugar into solution. NOTE: Adding red food dye is completely unnecessary and probably harmful to the hummingbirds Steps for how to make hummingbird food
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