![]() ![]() A 4 pound bag of sugar costs around $2 and can make more than 2 gallons of food! A bottle of concentrate that I found at Walmart was around $3 and made only half a gallon of nectar. The pre-mixed hummingbird food concentrate formulas are not necessary when it is so easy and inexpensive to make your own. What About Using a Hummingbird Food Concentrate? If you notice any mold growing in the food, be sure to dispose of it even if it hasn’t been refrigerated for up to 14 days. Hummingbird food can be stored cold in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. ![]() How Long Can I Store Hummingbird Nectar in My Refrigerator? Other ingredients might have harmful additives or not be easily digested by the hummingbirds.ĭo not use raw, unprocessed sugars corn syrup honey sugar substitutes such as Stevia or Sweet and Low brown sugar or powdered sugar, which could actually contain cornstarch and be harmful to the hummers. No, there is nothing better than regular granulated white sugar to use in hummingbird food. Is There A Sugar Substitute That I Can Use? Honey is also thicker than sugar and could cause problems for the hummingbirds. Not only is honey more expensive to make the formula, but it can possibly create fungal growth in the food. It is not recommended to use honey instead of cane sugar. Add the sugar to a heat-safe container and then pour in the appropriate ratio of hot water and stir. Yes, you can heat the water in a tea kettle instead of in a pot. Can I Use a Tea Kettle to Make Hummingbird Food? This method can take longer.Īlternatively, allow the sugar to sit in the water for an hour before stirring and it will probably dissolve on its own, especially if you allow the water to sit in the hot sun. Or put the sugar and water in a jar and seal the lid and shake until dissolved. If you are unable to heat water, you can stir the granulated sugar vigorously until it dissolves into the water. ![]() The birds love it and are happy! How Can I Make Hummingbird Food Without Boiling Water? If they don’t need it, there is no reason to feed the hummers artificial colorings which aren’t found in nature. Red food coloring is also made from chemicals, which may be harmful to birds. However, even without the color red, hummingbirds can find the sweet liquid using their senses. Many hummingbird feeders have red on them which is an alert to the tiny birds. No, you do not need to add red food coloring or red dye to hummingbird food for them to find the nectar. I have found that when tiny bubbles start to form on the bottom of the pan before boiling, that is hot enough and the sugar would have dissolved already if you are stirring it. You will want hot water to quickly dissolve the granulated sugar and save time, however it does not have to be boiling. You do not need to boil the water to allow the sugar and water to combine. Frequently Asked Questions Do I Need to Boil the Water? In cooler climates and in early Spring and early Fall, you might be able to leave your hummingbird feeder out 3 to 4 days without noticing mold growth. During the summer time, and in hot and humid climates, you will need to change your hummingbird food every 2 days to prevent mold growth. The frequency of changing your hummingbird food depends on the time of year and your climate. How Often Should I Change Hummingbird Food? If your water comes to boiling, that is fine, just remove it as soon as possible. That is a personal preference of mine because I don’t want to waste time heating the mixture any longer than necessary. In this DIY, I suggest heating the water until bubbles form on the bottom of the pan and not boiling the water. ![]() This is a printable how-to card so that you can print it to save for later. Here is the easy recipe for how to make hummingbird food. This is the ratio that has been handed down to be over the generations of my family, and also the sugar to water ratio that the Audubon Society’s hummingbird food recipe uses, as well.
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