How to Prepare Hummingbird Food

Watching hummingbirds hover and dip into the feeder outside your window is charming and fascinating. The wings of a hummingbird can beat as fast as 50 times per second, faster than we can see. To continue to attract these wonderful birds to your home, keep a steady supply of hummingbird food in the feeder. Making home nectar is inexpensive and easy and will help fuel these birds throughout the day.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

4 cups of water 1 cup of white cane sugar
4 cups of water
1 cup of white cane sugar

Step 1

Prepare the feeder by cleaning it with a solution of ¼ cup of bleach to one gallon of water. Use a bottle brush to get into the tube to scrub out any old solution that has stuck to the tube walls.

Step 2

Run hot water through and around the feeder to rinse thoroughly. Make sure that water runs through the feeding spouts the birds will use.

Step 3

Pour four cups of lukewarm water into a pitcher. The water can be filtered or regular tap water. You may boil it if you are worried about impurities in your tap water; just make sure to cool it down before adding it to the plastic feeder. Distilled water is not necessary but can be used without issue.

Step 4

Measure and add one cup of plain white cane sugar to your water. Whisk or stir until all the sugar has been dissolved.

Step 5

Add the water and sugar solution to the feeder and refrigerate the remaining liquid. It should remain fresh for up to two weeks.

Resources

More About Hummingbirds

Article Written By Nikki Jardin

Nikki Jardin began freelance writing in 2009 and focuses on food and travel articles. She has been a professional cook and caterer for more than 20 years. She holds a degree in environmental science from Humboldt State University.

Editor's Pick

Backcountry Camping Tips

You've already tried car and RV camping. You've camped at commercial campsites that had a convenient restroom and water supply. Now, you want to explore the road less traveled. Backcountry camping, also known as primitive camping, is a wonderful way to explore the remote...
More Backcountry Camping...
Popular Article

Beach Camping Near Pismo Beach, California

Pismo State Beach, California, has many attractions and activities including camping, swimming, hiking and wildlife viewing. Birdwatching is one of the primary activities in the area. The park also has the largest over-wintering colony of monarch butterflies in the natio...
More Beach Camping...
Featured Video

Common Sense Hiking Tips

The first and most fundamental thing is never hike alone. There are too many situations, especially as an unexperienced hiker, where you may find yourself without anyone to help you. So the buddy system works and applies very much in hiking.
More Camping Basics...