How to Make Food for a Hummingbird Feeder

Naomi Judd

Hummingbirds need to maintain energy for their extremely fast metabolisms and the energy they exert in catching insects. They get this energy from feeding on flower nectar or the sugar water from feeders left out for them by birdwatchers. Food can be made from a mix or from scratch in a matter of minutes.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

White cane sugar or hummingbird feed mix Mixing bowl Hot water
White cane sugar or hummingbird feed mix
Mixing bowl
Hot water

Step 1

Use a clean bowl for the mixture. One that pours well is preferable because most hummingbird feeders have a narrow opening. Also, make sure your feeder is clean and ready for a new batch of sugar water.

Step 2

Scoop two tablespoons of the feed mix (which is just sugar with red dye) or pure white cane sugar into the bowl you are mixing it in.

Step 3

Pour a half cup of hot water over the sugar. The water does not need to be boiled, just hot from the tap to dissolve the sugar. This is a small amount. It can be easily doubled to fill your entire feeder by using four tablespoons sugar and one cup of water.

Step 4

Mix the sugar crystals and hot water together by whisking for about one minute, or until the sugar is completely dissolved into the water.

Step 5

Carefully pour the sugar water into the feeder and then screw the feeder lid tightly so that the mixture does not dribble out. It's not necessary to purchase a feeder mix, which, other than the sugar, contains only red coloring. The dye is not necessary to attract the birds. Once the hummingbirds have tasted the nectar from the feeder and know it's there, they will return regardless of the color of the water.

Resources

More About Hummingbirds

Article Written By Naomi Judd

Naomi M. Judd is a naturalist, artist and writer. Her work has been published in various literary journals, newspapers and websites. Judd holds a self-designed Bachelor of Arts in adventure writing from Plymouth State University and is earning a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from the University of Southern Maine.

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